Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Honours) - Cultural History and Theory

University of Waterloo

The Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree provides the foundation of skills, knowledge, judgment and practical experience required for subsequent professional studies in architecture. Though the Academic Program is pre professional, it is fully dedicated to imparting to students the culture and practice of design. Design is a synthetic activity. To do it well and serve the needs of the individual and society requires an extremely broad education. Students acquire an understanding of the workings of society and culture, of the principles of physics, of materials and techniques of construction, of the human interaction with the natural and built environment, of historical process, of critical thought and of the diverse forms of creative expression. In one of North America’s top schools of architecture, you’ll get a broad education that covers everything from building materials and construction techniques to cultural history, social context, green architecture, and more. Not to mention you'll combine it all with paid co op work experience. However, the core of pre professional program is design courses, starting right in year one. You’ll get your own dedicated space in our studio where you’ll develop your ideas and skills through a series of hands on projects. Learn about society and culture, the principles of physics, materials and techniques of construction, human interaction with the natural and built environment, critical thought, and the diverse forms of creative expression. It all happens in a beautiful historic building in the city of Cambridge, about 30 kilometres south of the main Waterloo campus, complete with labs, exhibition galleries, and a world class design library.The cultural history and theory sequence is concerned with the human imagination, the forms through which it expresses itself, and the larger socio political contexts within which it is enacted. In these courses students are exposed to works of history, philosophy, literature and the arts, learning about architecture, urbanism and landscape within a broad cultural context that enriches their understanding. Architecture is thus conceived as a form of cultural expression and the creative activity of all students takes place against a background of humanistic study. The academic program fosters critical, discursive and expressive abilities that are essential to the quality of the School and its graduates.