Bachelor of Science in Architecture
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:- Register as a non-program student and take courses of interest to them.
- 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.
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:
| 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:
| MATH 209 | Finite Math | (3) |
| MATH 215 or MATH 216 | Introduction to Statistics or Computer-Orientated Approach to Statistics | (3) |
Computing course:
| COMP 210 | Introduction to Information Systems and Computer Applications | (3) |
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.
| 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)
| 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)
| 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)
| 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)
| APST 470 | Building Envelope and Assemblies | (3) |
| APST 480 | Mechanical Equipment of Buildings | (3) |
Architectural elective courses
(6 credits)
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
Updated June 22, 2023 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)