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Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Regulations effective September 1, 2022.

Athabasca University and Architecture Canada, Royal Architecture Institute of Canada (RAIC), have formed a partnership dedicated to offering a high quality online architecture program. This is Canada’s first online architecture program and it is a component of the renewal of the RAIC Syllabus which constitutes an alternative path to professional licensure as an architect in Canada. The RAIC Syllabus consists of studio, work experience and academic components taken while working under the supervision of a licensed Canadian architect.

The academic components of the Syllabus program are shared between first, a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSc Arch) and second, a Graduate Diploma in Architecture (GDA). Together, the studio and work experience (offered by RAIC) and the academic components (offered by Athabasca University) fulfill the requirements of the RAIC Syllabus Professional Diploma in Architecture.

The BSc Arch program, which has a strong focus on environmental and community sustainability, will also be beneficial for public and private careers in urban and construction planning and design, as well as studies of the built environment.

The BSc Arch program has open admission, however students who have an approved diploma or credentials in architecture may apply for the Post Diploma route and will be awarded 30 credits towards the Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma) Architecture Major. Students may receive additional credits pending review of course content completed through the diploma program.

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BSc Arch) program at Athabasca University provides a new way to study architecture and it is designed for the adult learner who wishes to earn a quality university education regardless of age, gender, culture, ability or disability, geographic location, career and family commitments.

Planning your program

Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, Mapping Your Future.

Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.


Students with a recognized degree

Students who hold a recognized first degree, outside of the field of Architecture, and who are interested on the BSc Arch program and/or courses, have two options:
  1. Register as a non-program student and take courses of interest to them.
  2. Enrol in the BSc Arch program at which time those students with an existing undergraduate degree will be admitted to the second undergraduate degree. These students' previous courses can be considered for credit up to 50 per cent of their AU degree requirements. The second degree must include 60 credits that were not part of the first degree, at least 30 of which must be completed at AU. Preparatory (100 level) courses cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a second undergraduate degree.

Program requirements

Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.

Students are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in their program.

The English Writing Skills Requirement (ENGL 255) will be waived (students must replace the three credits to satisfy the credit requirement) if you satisfy one of the following:

  • have a grade of B- (70 per cent) or better in an AU English course above the preparatory (100) level;
  • or received transfer credit for a university-level English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.

Program structure

program structure
Total credits in the program 120
Minimum Senior level (300/400) credits required 75
Science and Arts breadth and senior-level requirements are fulfilled by a combination of specific Science, Arts, and Architecture courses (many of which are disciplinary in nature and cover both requirements). As a result, the BSc Arch requirements replace the breadth and depth of the BSc requirement.  
Residency Requirement. A minimum of 30 credits at the senior (300/400) level must be obtained through AU. 30
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through AU in order to be considered. 24
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits 30

Core course requirements

(39 credits)

Note: To better meet Architecture needs, a few requirements vary from the general BSc requirements and are replaced with similar, discipline-related courses.

Students in the BSc, Architecture Major must complete the following core course requirements as they are specific to this major.

A total of 18 credits from:

a total of 18 credits from
APST 230 Materials, Properties and Applications (3)
PHYS 200 Introductory Physics I (3)
PHYS 201
or
PHYS 202
Introductory Physics II
or
Introductory Physics III
(3)
APST 240 Introduction to Structures (3)
APST 340 Advanced Structures (3)
APST 350 Applied Architectural Sciences (3)

6 credits in mathematics from:

6 credits in mathematics from
MATH 209 Finite Math (3)
MATH 215
or
MATH 216
Introduction to Statistics
or
Computer-Orientated Approach to Statistics
(3)

Computing course:

computing course
COMP 210 Introduction to Information Systems and Computer Applications (3)

The following courses:

the following courses
PHIL 252 Critical Thinking (3)
PHIL 333
or
PHIL 371
Professional Ethics
or
Ethics in Science and Technology
(3)
PSYC 432 Psychology and the Built Environment (3)
ENGL 255 Introductory Composition
(see English Writing Skills Requirement above)
(3)

Architectural Major courses (75 credits)

Design Workshop courses

(36 credits)

Note The courses below with "RAIC" course codes are offered to Syllabus students through RAIC.

design workshop courses
ADST 200
and
ADST 205
or
RAIC 200
Foundations of Design I
and
Foundations of Design II
or
Foundations of Design (6 credit course)
(6)
ADST 300
or
RAIC 300
Foundations of Architectural Design: Elements
or
Foundations of Architectural Design – Elements
(6)
ADST 350
or
RAIC 350
Foundations of Architectural Design: Simple Habitat
or
Foundations of Architectural Design – Simple Habitat
(6)
ADST 400
or
RAIC 400
Foundations of Architectural Design – Collective Habitat
or
Foundations of Architectural Design – Collective Habitat
(6)
ADST 450
or
RAIC 450
Architectural Design: Cultural, Recreational and Institutional
or
Architectural Design – Cultural, Recreational and Institutional
(6)
ADST 490
or
RAIC 490
Architectural Design, Workplace
or
Architectural Design, Workplace
(6)

Applied Communication courses

(9 credits)

applied communication courses
APST 215 Introduction to Graphic Representation (3)
APST 220 3D Modelling, Digital Representation and Presentation (3)
APST 255 Computer Aided Design (3)

Architectural Theory

(15 credits)

architectural theory
ARCH 330 Architectural Design Theory Fundamentals (3)
ARCH 340 History and Theory of Modernism (3)
ARCH 350 Landscape (3)
ARCH 400 Urbanism (3)
ARCH 420 Contemporary Architectural Theory and Research (3)

Architectural History

(9 credits)

architectural history
ARCH 200 History of Ideas in Architecture I (3)
ARCH 300 History of Ideas in Architecture II (3)
ARCH 320 History of Canadian Architecture (3)

Advanced Architectural Technologies

(6 credits)

advanced architectural technologies
APST 470 Building Envelope and Assemblies (3)
APST 480 Mechanical Equipment of Buildings (3)

Architectural elective courses

(6 credits)

architectural elective courses
Any 300 or 400 level Science courses (3)
Any 300 or 400 level courses in:
ORGB
and/or
MKTG
(3)

Specific program regulations

Given the professional nature of the BSc Architecture program, the following regulations supersede some of the general policies governing academic studies at Athabasca University:

  1. Athabasca University will not grant transfer credit for science courses that were completed more than 10 years ago. Computer Science (COMP) and Computer Management Information Systems (CMIS) courses older than 5 years will be staledated if students are not currently working in the field of Architecture.
  2. To be awarded a BSc Architecture degree, a minimum grade point average of 2.3 is required in all Athabasca University courses used towards the degree.
  3. Upon graduation in the BSc Architecture degree students may subsequently complete the Graduate Diploma in Architecture in order to apply for the RAIC Professional Diploma in Architecture.

There are two ways to complete this degree:

General interest students may complete the BSc Arch program. This approach does not involve a work/study component and can lead to licensing through the more traditional route of a Masters of Architecture (from another university) and internship.

Both the academic courses and the studios within this route will be completed online although there may be some face-to-face immersive studios as well.

The BSc Arch by itself can also lead to a variety of design careers.

Students may also complete the BSc Arch as part of the RAIC Syllabus program which is a work/study program that can provide an alternative pathway to licensing as an architect in Canada.

Students who are interested in this route of the BSc Arch program should first register with the RAIC to ensure they qualify for professional certification at the end of the program. In the Syllabus, students will complete 9800 hours of work experience while taking academic courses and design studios. The design studios are run by the RAIC in major cities across Canada and are face-to-face rather than virtual. The academic courses are run by Athabasca University and are online. The RAIC also supervises the work experience component.

The terminal credential in this program is the RAIC Syllabus Diploma. There are two routes to this diploma.

  1. The Degree Route: Beginning in July 2014, students may choose to complete the BSc Arch, the Graduate Diploma in Architecture (GDA) and 9800 hours of work experience under the supervision of a licensed Canadian architect.
  2. The Existing Route: Students may also choose to only complete the courses and studios required by Part I, II and III and 9800 hours of work experience under the supervision of a licensed Canadian architect. There are fewer courses in this route but students do not earn the BSc Arch or GDA.

In both cases successful students will receive the RAIC Syllabus Diploma and may then apply for individual certification by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). This, in turn, will make a student eligible to apply for membership with a provincial architectural association – although students may be required to complete exams and additional internship hours.

You will find the Syllabus Diploma application steps listed at the following link: https://www.raic-syllabus.ca/application

For further information pertaining to the Syllabus Diploma registrations please contact the Syllabus Assistant Registrar at 613-241-3600, ext. 204

Information effective Sept. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2023.

Updated July 18, 2022 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)

https://www.athabascau.ca/calendar/ 8d68df0c0a2a55f3406c70627e40c761