Columbia University Architecture Undergraduate Program: A Comprehensive Overview

Columbia University offers a diverse and enriching undergraduate architecture program that emphasizes the integration of architectural studies with a broad liberal arts education. This overview delves into the various aspects of the program, including its philosophy, curriculum, course structure, and opportunities for specialization and research.

Program Philosophy and Structure

The architecture program at Columbia University, with Barnard College as the administrative location for all undergraduate architecture studies at Columbia University and its partner institutions, distinguishes itself by offering a Bachelor of Arts degree, firmly rooted in the liberal arts tradition. This approach encourages students to critically examine the multifaceted conditions in which architecture is conceived and practiced, and to understand how architecture inevitably alters those conditions. Instead of solely focusing on professional training, the program challenges students to confront and interpret the complex social, cultural, political, and environmental processes that shape architectural design and urbanism.

The curriculum introduces design at a variety of scales, acknowledging that integrated design thinking is effective for problem-solving at any scale and in any discipline. Students will experiment with full-scale installations and devices and make small-scale models of the built environment from which they extract, interpret, and invent new possibilities of inhabitation and use.

Students enrolled at any of the undergraduate colleges, including Columbia College, Barnard College, and The School of General Studies, can declare a major or minor in architecture through our department, while those at Columbia Engineering can pursue a minor. When applying to study architecture at Columbia University, prospective students can apply to whichever undergraduate college they prefer. Our department does not review applications or play a role in admissions.

Curriculum and Course Offerings

The architecture curriculum at Columbia is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the field, encompassing design, history, theory, technology, and visual studies. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, critical thinking, and exploration of the built environment in a broader context.

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The program offers studio, lecture, seminar, and project-based courses that can be counted toward a major or minor in architecture. Courses taught by our department are often supplemented by courses from other departments, colleges, and schools at Columbia University, such as the Columbia Art History Department, the Barnard Art History Department, and the Barnard and Columbia Urban Studies Program.

Course Levels

The Department of Art History and Archaeology offers a variety of courses at different levels to cater to students with varying levels of experience and knowledge. These courses are generally structured as follows:

1000-level courses: Broad survey lectures open to all undergraduate students.
2000-level courses: Survey lectures focusing on a particular subject area.
3000-level courses: Seminars open to undergraduate students only. These are limited‐enrollment classes which offer students the opportunity to explore a topic in‐depth with the instruction of a faculty member who is an expert in that field. Seminars typically require intensive reading and discussion, culminating in an extended research paper and oral presentation.
4000-4499-level courses: Advanced bridge lectures open to undergraduate and graduate students.
4500-4999-level courses: Advanced bridge seminars open to undergraduate and graduate students. As with undergraduate seminars, these courses require an application. Advanced knowledge within a field is typically expected.

Specific Course Requirements

The specific course requirements vary depending on whether a student is pursuing a major, minor, or concentration in architecture. For example, the History and Theory of Architecture major emphasizes research and writing in Architectural History. This program of study is only open to Barnard College students.

Major Requirements

Students must take AHIS UN1007 Introduction to the History of Architecture; ARCH UN1020 Introduction to Architectural Design and Visual Culture; three art/architectural history courses covering three of four distinct historical periods; one art/architectural history course covering one of four distinct geographic regions; any additional elective course in art/architectural history; two art/architectural history seminars; and the Majors Colloquium.
These courses may be taken in any order, though the seminars and the Colloquium are usually taken in junior and/or senior year.
The four historical period distribution categories are pre-400 CE; 400-1400 CE; 1400-1700 CE; and 1700-Present.
The Majors Colloquium should be taken during junior year. Sign-up information will be circulated via the department listserv.
The Senior Thesis is an optional project open to Art History, History and Theory of Architecture, and Art History+Visual Arts majors. All thesis writers are required to enroll in the year‐long (YC) course AHIS UN3002 Senior Thesis Seminar, which is offered as a 3‐point seminar in the fall and a 3‐point seminar in the spring. This 6‐point year‐long seminar may substitute for a single elective lecture course.

Minor Requirements

Students must take AHIS UN1007 Introduction to the History of Architecture; three art/architectural history courses covering three of four distinct historical periods; and one art/architectural history course covering one of four distinct geographic regions.
Three courses (not counting AHIS UN1007) must focus on architectural history.
The four historical distribution categories are pre-400 CE; 400-1400 CE; 1400-1700 CE; and 1700-Present.

Combined Major in Art History+Visual Arts Requirements

The combined major in Art History+Visual Arts requires 16 total courses and can range from 49 to 57 points depending on which classes a student takes to fulfill the requirements. This is a large major and students are encouraged to begin coursework toward the major in sophomore year.
Students must take three art history courses covering three of four distinct historical periods; two art history courses covering two of five distinct geographic regions; any two additional elective courses in art history; seven three-point studio art courses including Basic Drawing and either Ceramics I or Sculpture I; the Majors Colloquium; and either a senior project in visual arts or a seminar in art history.
The four historical period distribution categories are pre-400 CE; 400-1400 CE; 1400-1700 CE; and 1700-Present.
The five geographic region distribution categories are Africa; Asia; Europe/N.
The Majors Colloquium should be taken during junior year. Sign-up information will be circulated via the department listserv.
The art history Senior Thesis is an optional project open to Art History, History and Theory of Architecture, and Art History+Visual Arts majors. All thesis writers are required to enroll in the year‐long (YC) course AHIS UN3002 Senior Thesis Seminar, which is offered as a 3‐point seminar in the fall and a 3‐point seminar in the spring. This 6‐point year‐long seminar may substitute for a single elective lecture course.

Concentration Requirements

Concentrations are available to students who entered Columbia in or before the 2023-2024 academic year.
Students must take three art history courses covering three of four distinct historical periods; two art history courses covering two of five distinct geographic regions; and any two additional elective courses in art history.
The four historical period distribution categories are pre-400 CE; 400-1400 CE; 1400-1700 CE; and 1700-Present.
The five geographic region distribution categories are Africa; Asia; Europe/N.
Students must take AHIS UN1007 Introduction to the History of Architecture; three art/architectural history courses covering three of four distinct historical periods; one art/architectural history course covering one of four distinct geographic regions; and any two additional elective courses in art/architectural history.
These courses may be taken in any order.
The four historical period distribution categories are pre-400 CE; 400-1400 CE; 1400-1700 CE; and 1700-Present.

Studio Art Requirement

For students pursuing a major in Art History, History & Theory of Architecture, and combined Art History+Visual Arts majors, the curriculum includes a studio art requirement. This requirement can be fulfilled by any studio course in the Visual Arts Department.

Global Core Requirement

Students may be interested in course offerings in Art History that can be taken in fulfillment of the Global Core requirement of the Core Curriculum.

Specialization

All majors are asked to complement their work with a thematic unit (three courses) called the "specialization." Each student develops a specific specialization that broadens their architectural studies in one of the following areas or combination of areas: History, Society, Environment, Global, Design, Media, and Technology. Courses may be taken from across various departments. All majors, in consultation with their advisers, will develop a short (100 word) description of their specialization and advisers will approve their course selections.

Research Opportunities

Columbia University offers several avenues for undergraduate students to engage in research within the field of architecture. These opportunities allow students to delve deeper into specific areas of interest, develop critical thinking skills, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

Senior Thesis

The Senior Thesis is an optional project open to Art History, History & Theory of Architecture, and combined Art History+Visual Arts majors. It is a year‐long project encompassing the senior year, as well as the summer before, and will consume much of winter break and all of spring break. Substantial research and preparation is completed in the summer before the senior year. Submitting a senior thesis qualifies students to compete for departmental honors and (indirectly) strengthens dossiers for university honors.

All thesis writers are required to enroll in the year‐long (YC) course AHIS UN3002 Senior Thesis Seminar, which is offered as a 3‐point seminar in the fall and a 3‐point seminar in the spring. This 6‐point year‐long seminar may substitute for a single elective lecture course. Students receive a grade at the end of the spring term which is applied to both semesters of the seminar.

Securing faculty sponsorship is critical. Speaking with potential advisors during the spring semester of junior year (or earlier) is highly recommended. With approval of the DUS, students may work with a faculty sponsor outside the department. Written confirmation from the advisor is due in May of junior year.

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Prospective thesis writers should have a GPA of at least 3.7 in art history courses and should have completed at least six courses counting toward the major requirements, preferably including at least one seminar. The DUS reviews the applications with the goal of ensuring that the student has the academic qualifications to succeed and has identified a credible project.

Independent Study

Students interested in exploring a specific topic with a faculty member may choose to pursue an independent study project. Students should contact the faculty member who they would like to work with directly. If the faculty member agrees to supervise the independent study, the faculty member will contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator to have the student registered. Students may complete an independent study project for 3 points.

Typically, Independent Study is reserved for students at an advanced level within their major who have demonstrated initiative and serious engagement with the material in their previous coursework. All senior History and Theory of Architecture majors are required to enroll in one semester of Senior Seminar and to write a thesis which can be done through enrolling in Independent Study (ARCH UN3997 or ARCH UN3998).

Majors Colloquium

At the heart of the major is the Majors Colloquium (AHIS UN3000 INTRO LIT/METHODS OF ART HIST) which introduces students to different methodological approaches to Art History and critical texts that have shaped the discipline.

Departmental Honors

To be considered for departmental honors, students must have a GPA of at least 3.7 in classes for the major and have submitted a senior thesis of distinction. The faculty of the Department of Art History and Archaeology submits recommendations to the Committee on Honors, Awards, and Prizes for confirmation.

For Columbia College students, graduating seniors must have a grade point average of at least 3.6 in classes for the major to be eligible for departmental honors. Several awards and prizes are sponsored by Barnard College, Columbia College, and the School of General Studies that graduating architecture majors may be nominated for.

Faculty and Advising

The Columbia-Barnard faculty include specialists in the art and architecture of an impressive spectrum of cultures and geographies from the Ancient Near East to Contemporary Global Art History. Director of Undergraduate Studies: Professor Branden W.

The department does not assign individual advisors to majors or minors/concentrators. After a student has officially declared their major in architecture, they will be assigned a faculty advisor in our department who will meet with them once per semester to review their progress in the major. Students majoring in architecture should meet with their major advisor, while those minoring in architecture should consult the DUS.

Our department offers weekly advising appointments for students who are interested in our courses and potentially pursuing an architecture major or minor. If you have any questions or need help interpreting departmental requirements for the major or minor, please sign up for an appointment with one of our faculty advisors. Faculty advising appointments are offered throughout the fall and spring and are open to anyone who is interested in learning more about our department.

The department holds Open House events in the fall and spring for interested students.

Additional Opportunities

Study Abroad

Classes taken abroad through Columbia-led programs (i.e., those administered by Columbia's Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement and taught by Columbia instructors) are treated as Columbia courses, equivalent to those taken on the Morningside Heights campus. Classes taken abroad through other institutions and programs are treated as transfer credit to Columbia and are subject to the same policies as other transfer courses.

Accordingly, the number of study abroad courses taken at other institutions that can be counted toward the major or minor will be limited. Typically, no more than 3 study abroad (toward a maximum of three total courses taken outside of Barnard College or Columbia University) will be allowed to fulfill the major requirements. To use a study abroad course toward the major or minor (whether taken through a Columbia program or another institution/program), students must submit a Study Abroad Approval form through Slate and obtain the approval of the Department Chair.

Summer Courses

Summer courses at Barnard are equivalent to those taken during the academic year. Summer courses at Columbia are offered through the School of Professional Studies. Courses taken in a Summer Term may be used toward requirements for the major/minor only as articulated in department/institute/center guidelines or by permission of the Director(s) of Undergraduate Studies.

Internships

A large majority of Architecture students expand their education by interning in Architecture or a related field during their undergraduate studies.

Career Paths

A major, minor, or concentration in the Department of Art History and Archaeology lays the basis for pursuing a variety of careers in and beyond the scholarly pursuit of the history of art, museum work, and work in the commercial art world of galleries and auction houses.

Alumni of the Department are leaders in architecture and design fields around the world. Students interested in obtaining a professional degree in Architecture continue on to graduate programs after their undergraduate degree, and students from the Barnard Columbia program have enjoyed enormous success in their admissions to the most competitive graduate programs in the country.

Applying to the Program

Most architecture courses have a restriction on online enrollment (meaning that you will automatically appear on the wait list when you try to register online) and require an application in order to be admitted. Admission to our courses is at the discretion of the department and instructor. Due to very limited space in our courses, it is possible that a student who has applied and joined the waitlist during an early registration window will remain on the waitlist until the start of classes.

First-year students are discouraged from applying for admission to our introductory-level studios Architectural Design: Systems and Materials or Architectural Design: Environments and Mediations; these courses are more appropriate for second and third-year students, and those students will be given priority for admission to these studios. Please note that first-year students interested in majoring in architecture should not enroll in ARCH UN1020 Introduction to Architectural Design & Visual Culture, as this course is intended for third and fourth-year students minoring in architecture or non-majors interested in an architecture studio.

Tuition and Fees

During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at Columbia paid an average of $2,102 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.

	In State	Out of State
Tuition	$64,526	$64,526
Fees	$3,645	$3,645
Books and Supplies	$1,392	$1,392
On Campus Room and Board	$16,800	$16,800
On Campus Other Expenses	$2,350	$2,350

Please note that tuition and fees cover the costs for general supplies and specialized materials needed during the full course of study. The Cost of Attendance (COA) estimates tuition, fees, housing, food, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, health insurance, and personal expenses. It assumes 9 credits for graduate students and may be reduced for students who live with their parents. Students may opt out of the university-sponsored health insurance.

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