BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE

The B.S. in Environmental Architecture emphasizes the importance and preservation of the environment as well as a sustainable society. This liberal arts educational program of the highest quality offered to a globally diverse student population, promotes humanism, fosters respect for the fundamental rights of individuals and is particularly important nowadays given that the construction sector in industrialized countries is responsible for the majority of environmental impacts, (a third up to 40%), those being: primary energy consumption, emission of greenhouse gasses affecting climate changes, and generation of waste.

The B.S. in Architecture is a pre-professional degree and is not accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Students who aspire to work as licensed architects shall obtain a Master in Architecture (M.Arch), which is also offered by SJIU. However, the pre-professional B.S. degree is useful both for preparing students to an advanced professional degree program leading to a M.Arch and, on its own, for students seeking foundation in the field of architecture as well as employment in architecture-related areas.

Educational Objectives and Methodology

This program is firmly grounded both in the history and theory of Environmental Architecture as well as practical aspects such as project planning, modeling, electronic publishing and drafting. 
Main objectives of this program are the following:
- provide students with the knowledge of methods and tools to survey and analyze the built environment with particular attention to the cultural and historical heritage;
- develop an educational step-by-step process leading students to an energy-conscious and environment-sound building design;
- provide students with a knowledge of innovative building technologies based on the use of renewable material and energy sources;
- stimulate in students the ability to combine aspects of regional pre-modern architecture with the most advanced contemporary building techniques;
- stimulate in students a curiosity for scientific and technological innovation without forgetting the social aspects of architecture.

The didactic methodology of the B.S. in Environmental Architecture is based on the integration between a technological pragmatism - learning by doing, typical of USA's schools - and a theoretical rigor characterizing the European educational system. This symbiosis is founded on the priority given to the teacher-student relationship as well as the importance of harmonizing creativity and artistic value of architecture with its scientific and technological basis. This approach is, on one hand, innovative with regard to the current teaching methods in the architecture field, on the other hand, rooted in the eclectic and creative tradition reckoning the great renaissance masters of Europe and Italy.
Based on these premises, the didactic activity of B.S. in Environmental Architecture is focused on the architectural design studios, conceived as frameworks of modular and specialized units. Such units are lead by professors, researchers, and professionals, experts on various architecture sectors with a background of experience and skills related to environmental sustainability. All other core courses have a part of their programs directly focused on the themes developed within the architectural design studios.

Curricular Program - Students must satisfy these curricula requirements:

A. The General Education Requirements: 

Humanities and Fine Art (five courses - 15 CH)
English Composition III
One course in English Literature
Three courses in Art History or Fine Arts:
DHM-ARH 2130 - Architectural History I 
DHM-ARH/2140 - Architectural History II
DFA-SAC/2000 - Drawing and Representation

Social/Behavioral Sciences/Business (four courses - 12 CH)
DSE-ENV/2240 - Environmental Anthropology and Introduction to Sustainability
DHM-PHI/2100 - Environmental Ethics
DBE-ECO/2250 - Environmental Economics
One course free elective

Mathematics, Natural Science and Computer Science (three courses - 9 CH)
DNP-MAT/1100 - Fundamentals of Calculus  
DNP-MAT/1200 - Calculus I
DNP-COM/2400 - Introduction to CAD

Environmental Studies (two courses - 6 CH)
DSE-ENV/1010 - Introduction to Environmental Science
DSE-ENV/2230 - Psychology of Sustainability

Writing intensive indicated with a W in the catalog, (one course - 3 CH)

Global Perspectives/Diversity indicated with a G in the catalog, (one course - 3 CH)


B. Core Curriculum 

DAP-AGC/1010 - Introduction to Architecture
DAP-EDC/1020 - Introduction to Environmental Design
DAP-ADC/1100 - Architectural Design Studio I 
DNP-PHY/2000 - Building Physics  
DAP-AGC/2050 - Architectural Technology
DAP-AGC/2070 - Building Technology
DAP-ADC/1200 - Architectural Design Studio II
DAP-ADC/2100 - Architectural Design Studio III
DAP-EDC/2700 - Climate and Architecture I
DAP-EDC/2800 - Climate and Architecture II
DAP-ADC/3100 - Architectural Design Studio IV
DAP-ADC/3200 - Architectural Design Studio V
DAP-EDC/3500 - Environmental Control Systems I
DAP-EDC/3550 - Environmental Control Systems II
DAP-AGC/3600 - Architectural Refurbishment
DAP-AGC/3650 - Architectural Programming
DAP-AGC/3700 - Structures I
DAP-AGC/3800 - Structures II
DAP-ADC/4100 - Architectural Design Studio VI
DAP-ADC/4200 - Architectural Design Studio VII
DAP-AGC/4400 - Architectural Restoration
DAP-AGC/4990-4991 - Senior Project

C. General Electives 
It is sufficient to obtain an overall total of 120 credits. 

The following is a typical 4-year course schedule of B.S. in Environmental Architecture: