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Program Contact
Martina Kohler, Program Director
During their sophomore year, students develop an understanding of the vocabularies, skills, techniques, practices, and contexts of architectural design and investigate concepts of scale, space making, and systems in architecture. The program scaffolds this knowledge across several years as students develop a more differentiated design vocabulary and the capacity to respond to more complex design briefs. During their junior and senior years, students develop fluency with core concepts of architectural practice, researching issues of architectural and urban significance and applying their findings in design solutions of varying scales. Students explore critical issues driving transformation in the field, such as climate change, urbanization, sustainability, decarbonization, equity, and justice.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is awarded for completion of 120 credits as designated by the program. A maximum of 60 credits may be transferred from another institution. Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and fulfill all requirements in a timely manner.
Parsons’ position within a major university—The New School—informs its interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and practice. University electives broaden your skills and perspectives with a wide range of liberal arts courses in the humanities, the social sciences, media studies, and business.
To view degree requirements from prior years, visit the Academic Catalogs archive. For a complete listing of courses and course descriptions, visit the university course catalog.
| FIRST YEAR | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| PUFY 1000 Integrative Studio 1 | 3 | - |
| PUFY 1010 Integrative Seminar 1 | 3 | - |
| PUFY 1100 Sustainable Systems | 3 | - |
| PUFY 1020 Space/Materiality | 3 | - |
| PUFY 1030 Drawing/Imaging | 3 | - |
| PUFY 1040 Time | - | 3 |
| PUFY 1001 Integrative Studio 2 | - | 3 |
| PUFY 1011 Integrative Seminar 2 | - | 3 |
| PLHT 1000 Objects as History | - | 3 |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | - | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | 15 |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| PUAD 2010 Architecture Design Studio 1 | 6 | - |
| PUAD 2020 Representation and Analysis | 3 | - |
| PLSD 2100 History of Architecture: Lecture | 0 | - |
| PLSD 2101 History of Architecture: Recitation | 3 | - |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 | 3 |
| PUAD 2011 Architecture Design Studio 2 | - | 6 |
| PUAD 2030 Materiality and Assembly | - | 3 |
| PLxx 2xxx / 2xxx Intro to [Area of Choice]: Lecture / Recitation | - | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 | 15 |
| JUNIOR YEAR | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| PUAD 3010 Architecture Design Studio 3 | 3 | - |
| PUAD 3000 Environmental Design: Architecture and Energy | 3 | - |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 | - |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 | 6 |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 | 3 |
| PUAD 3011 Architecture Design Studio 4 | - | 6 |
| Subtotal | 15 | 15 |
| SENIOR YEAR | F | S |
|---|---|---|
| PLSD 3500 Advanced Research Seminar: Constructed Environments | 3 | - |
| PUAD 4010 Architecture Design Studio 5 | 6 | - |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 | - |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 | 3 |
| PUAD 4011 Architecture Design Studio 6: Capstone | - | 6 |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | - | 6 |
| Subtotal | 15 | 15 |
Objects as History and Sustainable Systems can be taken in either sequence, one in the fall semester and one in the spring.
The three first-year studio courses—Drawing/Imaging, Space/Materiality, and Time—can be taken in any sequence, two in the fall semester and one in the spring.
BA/BFA students completing a BFA in Architectural Design: Please speak to your advisor to see how your course requirements are spread across your five years at The New School.
BFA Architectural Design students who wish to pursue graduate study can also take advantage of our BFA/MArch pathway. This enables students to take specific courses in the MArch program during their undergraduate course of study and complete a 90-credit graduate degree in just two years. Please contact your program director or advisor for more information.
The New School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.