Architectural Design Program
2022-23 Program Requirements
The Architectural Design major seeks to integrate engineering and architecture in ways that blend innovative architectural design with cutting-edge engineering technologies. Combining hands-on architectural design studios with a wide variety of courses, students can choose from a broad mix of elective courses in energy conservation, sustainability, building systems, structures, as well as design foundation and fine arts courses.
The program’s courses also benefit Civil Engineering majors who want to develop a "concentration" in architecture. In addition, for students majoring in related fields such as Urban Studies, Product Design, and Studio Arts, the course offerings in architecture and engineering can be used to fulfill the requirements for a minor in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Mission of the Undergraduate Program in Architectural Design
The mission of the undergraduate program in Architectural Design is to develop students' ability to integrate engineering and architecture in ways that blend innovative architectural design with cutting-edge engineering technologies. Courses in the program combine hands-on architectural design studios with a wide variety of other courses. Students can choose from a broad mix of elective courses concerning energy conservation, sustainability, building systems, and structures, as well as design foundation and fine arts courses. In addition to preparing students for advanced studies in architecture and construction management, the program's math and science requirements prepare students well for graduate work in other fields such as civil and environmental engineering, law, and business.
AD Careers and Graduate Study
In addition to preparing students for advanced studies in architecture and construction management, the program's strong math and science requirements prepare students well for graduate work in other fields, such as civil and environmental engineering, law, and business. The major provides a background for individuals wanting to explore a diversity of careers in architecture, engineering, construction, and structures.Completion of the undergraduate program in Architectural Design leads to the conferral of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering. The subplan "Architectural Design" appears on the transcript and on the diploma. This engineering major is not an ABET-accredited engineering degree, nor is it designed to lead directly to professional licensure in architecture. In order to become a professional architect or engineer, additional graduate training may be required.
Exploring Architectural Design
Here is some advice on courses accessible early in your undergraduate career that will help you explore your interest in our major. If you end up joining our program, this early start on fulfilling requirements will pay off by giving you more flexibility in class scheduling for your junior and senior years.
For an introduction to Civil Engineering, classes required for all of our declared majors that are readily accessible to you are:
- ENGR 14. Introduction to Solid Mechanics (A,W,S); prerequisite of PHYSICS 41 or 41E
- CEE 31(Q). Accessing Architecture Through Drawing (A, W, S)
- CEE 32 series
- CEE 33 series
The following Science/Math classes are required for almost all majors within the School of Engineering:
- Up to 10 units of MATH 19+20+21 or AP or IB calculus (go to AP page for approval process)
- PHYSICS 41. Mechanics (W) [co-req: MATH 21] or 41E
- STATS: AD majors may use STATS 60 (A,W,S) or take a calculus-based STATS course that will transfer to many other SoE majors (STATS 110, STATS 116; CME 106, CEE 203, etc)
AD Program Sheet: Excel or pdf version, see the Plans & Program Sheets page on this site.
Requirements
Explore Degrees lists all School of Engineering major program requirements, as well as other major and minor programs across the University.
Mathematics and Science (32 units minimum)
- MATH 19, 20, 21 (or up to 10 units AP credit and placement into Math 51 or CME 100)
- Statistics: One course required (see Approved Courses page)
- PHYSICS 41 (score of 5; 4-5 units) or AP Mechanics C credit with Physics Diagnostic placement.
- CME 100: Vector Calculus for Engineers (recommended)
For other courses, choose from the School of Engineering approved list of math and science courses (see Approved Courses section of this site), and the following lists of additional approved or recommended courses for the major.
Recommended math and science courses for the AD Major
- EARTHSYS 101. Energy and the Environment
- EARTHSYS 102. Fundamentals of Renewable Power
- CEE 64. Air Pollution & Global Warming: History, Science, Solutions
- CEE 70*. Environmental Science and Technology
- GEOLSCI 1. Intro to Geology
- PHYSICS 23 or 43. Electricity
* Courses used for the Science requirement may not also be counted as Fundamental or Depth/Core requirements.
Technology in Society
One course required; the course must be on the SoE-approved list the year it is taken. Choose from the approved list of courses on the Approved Courses page.
Engineering Fundamentals and Depth
62 units minimum required from Engineering Fundamentals, Required Depth Core, Options, and Electives
Engineering Fundamentals; two courses required:
- ENGR 14. Introduction to Solid Mechanics (req’d), 4 units
- Fundamentals Elective, 3-5 units
Required Depth Core
| CEE 31 | Accessing Architecture Through Drawing | 5 |
| or CEE 31Q | Accessing Architecture Through Drawing | |
| CEE 31B | Mad Skills: Graphics and Presentation | 4 |
| CEE 100 | Managing Sustainable Building Projects (CEE 100 or CEE 32B or CEE 32D can fulfill WIM) | 4 |
| CEE 120A | Building Information Modeling Workshop | 3 |
| CEE 130 | Architectural Design: 3-D Modeling, Methodology, and Process | 5 |
| CEE 137B | Advanced Architecture Studio | 6 |
| ARTHIST 3 | Introduction to World Architecture | 5 |
| Depth Options: 12 units; see Note 2 | 12 | |
| Depth Electives: Elective units must be such that courses in ENGR Fundamentals, Core, Depth Options, and Depth Electives total at least 62 units. One of the following must be taken: | ||
| CEE 131C | How Buildings are Made -- Materiality and Construction Methods | 4 |
| CEE 131D | Urban Design Studio | 5 |
| Construction: The Writing of Architecture | ||
| Architecture Since 1900 (Not given 2021-22) | ||
| Responsive Structures | ||
| Architectural Design Lecture Series Course (S) | ||
| Making and Remaking the Architect: Edward Durell Stone and Stanford (Not given 2021-22) | ||
| California Modernism: The Web of Apprenticeship (Not given 2021-22) | ||
| Making Meaning: A Purposeful Life in Design (W) | ||
| CEE 33B | Japanese Modern Architecture (S) | |
| CEE 33C | Housing Visions (A) | |
| Design Portfolio Methods (A) | ||
| Total Units | 97 | |
| 1 |
School of Engineering approved list of math, science, ENGR Fundamentals, and TiS courses available on the Approved Courses page |
| 2 |
Engineering depth options: Choose at least 12 units from the following courses: CEE 101A, CEE 101B, CEE 101C, CEE 120B, CEE 120C, CEE 134B*, CEE 156, CEE 159, CEE 172, CEE 172A, CEE 176A, CEE 180, CEE 181, CEE 182, CEE 183, CEE 226, CEE 241, OR CEE 242; ME 203. *Though CEE 134B may be repeated for credit, it may only be counted once in the Depth Options portion of the AD program. Students should investigate any prerequisites for the listed courses and carefully plan course sequences with the AD director. Electives:
|
| 3 |
A course may only be counted towards one elective or core requirement; it may not be double-counted. All courses taken for the major must be taken for a letter grade if that option is offered by the instructor. Minimum Combined GPA for all courses in Engineering Fundamentals and Depth/Core is 2.0. |
Suggested Course Concentrations and Sequences
Subject to the requirements outlined above, students have considerable leeway in choosing their depth electives and other courses to best suit their background and interests. By careful selection of technically-oriented depth electives, students can complement their studio experience with courses in structural analysis, construction, cost estimating, and energy efficiency.
Students intent on applying to architecture graduate school are encouraged to take studio art courses as early as possible in their academic career and to take more than the required number of architecture studios. In preparation for architecture graduate school applications, students should plan on taking the portfolio preparation class (CEE 139). It is also recommended that students take computer modeling courses which will enable them to pursue summer internships. Internships are valuable since they allow students to test their interest in architecture as a profession.
AD 4-year plans and program sheets
Instructions on Declaring Major in Engineering: Architectural Design (ENGR-BS)
- Print your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess and download the Architectural Design (AD) program sheet from the Program Sheet pag
- Complete the AD program sheet, indicating how you plan to fulfill the major requirements and which electives you plan to take. Fill in every course you intend to take as well as courses you have already taken for your major. Please include full titles of the classes. Refer to the Approved Courses section for allowed math, science, Engineering Fundamental, and TIS courses. Complete as much of the program sheet as possible on your own and print out.
- Declare on Axess; use Engineering as your plan and Architectural Design as your subplan.
- Make an appointment with Program Director John Barton (Y2E2 Bldg., Room 267), bringing your SU transcript and program sheet to the meeting. Review your program sheet and clarify questions regarding your academic plan.
- Jill Filice will email you when you can go on Axess and declare online.
- If your program sheet changes as you progress in the program, you should submit revisions in consultation with your advisor. Note that any deviations from the approved program need to be petitioned; see below. Submit a final program sheet at the beginning of the quarter you plan to graduate.
Other information:
Procedures and the relevant forms and instructions for requesting transfer credits and program deviations can be found on the Transfer-AP-Exceptions page of this site. If you are requesting transfer credits or program deviations for the Depth portion of your program, you should bring a copy of your completed petition form and your unofficial transcript to the CEE Student Services office; obtain your program sheet from your file and attach to your other forms for processing.