CourseBachelor DegreeBArchDes

F2001 Bachelor of Architectural Design

Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture

Bachelor of Architectural Design (F2001) is a 3 years full-time, 144-credit-point, bachelor degree course from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, taught at Caulfield. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.

Credit points
144
Duration
3 years full time
Campus
Caulfield
On campus
Guaranteed ATAR
75

This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisite map

Overview

Architecture at Monash is a five-year academic program starting with the Bachelor of Architectural Design and leading to the Master of Architecture course. These together will qualify graduates to start their professional practice.

Creativity is the cornerstone of the three-year Bachelor of Architectural Design course. Central to the course is the design studio where you will investigate ideas and experiment with design processes, mentored by academics and architects from around the world. You will construct models and build full scale structures, both in class and in the community, and experiment with diverse materials in our glass, woodwork and metal studios.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Architectural Design you will automatically progress to the Master of Architecture, which focuses on research-led architectural design teaching and learning through advanced studios and depth-unit architectural studies electives.

Architecture offers substantial career opportunities in Australia and internationally. Our graduates work in private practices and for government. Some become specialists - in heritage buildings, sustainable design or commercial projects. They work on homes, complexes, entertainment precincts and purpose built facilities. Opportunities also include roles in government as policy advisors, in project management or in development.

Course structure

Part A. Architecture design studios72 credit points
Part B. Architectural performance studies24 credit points
You must complete the following units. Note: If you are in the double degree E3009 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Architectural Design, you do not complete these units since civil engineering studies provide the knowledge and skills.
Part C. History and theory studies24 credit points
Part D. Communication studies12 credit points
Part E. Occupational health and safety study (0 credit points)
Part F. Free elective study12 credit points
Deepen your knowledge by selecting electives from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, including gaining workplace experience by selecting an internship unit as an elective and enriching your degree by using free electives for Monash Abroad opportunities: https://www.monash.edu/mada/current-students/course-information/electives.

Alternatively, you may choose to select electives from across the university (provided you satisfy the unit rules) to broaden your interdisciplinary perspectives.
The handbook's description of this structure

The course develops through theme studies in architectural design, architectural performance, history and theory, and communication. These will come together in the form of a graduand exhibition normally developed during the final studio unit in the third year of the course.

Part A. Architecture design studios

Architecture design studio units bring together a range of complex issues inherent in the production of architecture: material, structure, program, site, history and representation. They focus on the architectural project as a process of investigation, critical observation and experimentation. Design studios foreground the development of architectural designs through material and three-dimensional testing of ideas. They combine various design, technical, conceptual, historical and professional issues into creative architectural outcomes across a range of scales and types of projects.

Part B. Architectural performance studies

Architectural performance studies units cover the integration of material, structural, construction and environmental conditions within the context of responsible and sustainable practices. Studies begin with the exploration of construction and materials through models and drawings. They expand to consider structural systems and environmental systems, including human comfort and energy usage. Studies culminate with a comprehensive integration of building systems and the introduction of relevant professional practices. Across the units, issues are explored through design projects including the use of physical and digital models for performance analysis.

Part C. History and theory studies

History and theory units provide the skills to research and analyse architecture issues, and develop awareness and critical understanding of architectural and urban developments across local, national and international contexts. Through the prism of history, you will begin to situate the built environment in relation to broad social, cultural, environmental and theoretical developments. These units introduce the languages of architecture - formal, visual, written, and verbal - and enable you to become more articulate in all of these modes.

Part D. Communication studies

In communications units you will learn various representational techniques relevant to the technical, conceptual and intuitive practices of architectural design work. The investigations develop through a series of clearly defined exercises that build upon one another and increase in complexity and scale over time, from drawing to key software applications and design media necessary for professional practice. You will be introduced to tools, techniques and media for developing and expressing architectural ideas.

Part E. Occupational health and safety study

This will introduce you to occupational health, safety and environmental training particularly within the context of studying art, design and architecture.

Part F. Free elective study

Deepen your knowledge by selecting electives from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, including gaining workplace experience by selecting an internship unit as an elective and enriching your degree by using free electives for Monash Abroad opportunities. Alternatively, you may choose to select electives from across the university (provided you satisfy the unit rules) to broaden your interdisciplinary perspectives.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 144 points, of which 132 points are focussed on the study of architecture and 12 points are free electives. The course is structured in six parts: Part A. Architecture design studios (72 points), Part B. Architectural performance studies (24 points), Part C. History and theory studies (24 points), Part D. Communication studies (12 points), Part E. Occupational health and safety study (0 points) and Part F. Free elective study (12 points).

Elective units may be at any level, however no more than 9 units (54 points) are to be completed at level 1.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Architecture design studios (72 points)

You must complete:

  • ARC1001 Foundation studio 1 (12 points)
  • ARC1002 Foundation studio 2 (12 points)
  • ARC2001 Architecture design studio 3 (12 points)
  • ARC2002 Architecture design studio 4 (12 points)
  • ARC3001 Architecture design studio 5 (12 points)
  • ARC3002 Architecture design studio 6 (12 points)*

Part B. Architectural performance studies (24 points)

You must complete:

  • ARC1102 Architectural performance 1*
  • ARC2101 Architectural performance 2*
  • ARC3101 Architectural performance 3*
  • ARC3102 Architectural performance 4: integrated design and professional studies*

* Note: If you are in the double degree E3009 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Architectural Design, you do not complete these units since civil engineering studies provide the knowledge and skills.

Part C. History and theory studies (24 points)

You must complete:

  • AHT1101 Introduction to the history and theory of art, design and architecture
  • ARC2401 Contemporary architecture
  • ARC2402 19th and 20th century architecture
  • ARC3401 Architecture and the city

Part D. Communication studies (12 points)

You must complete:

  • ARC1301 Architecture communications 1
  • ARC2301 Architecture communications 2

Part E. Occupational health and safety study (0 points)

You must complete:

  • OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety

Part F. Free elective study (12 points)

Deepen your knowledge by selecting electives from the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, including gaining workplace experience by selecting an internship unit as an elective and enriching your degree by using free electives for Monash Abroad opportunities. Alternatively, you may choose to select electives from across the university (provided you satisfy the unit rules) to broaden your interdisciplinary perspectives.

Free electives can be identified using the [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search][browse units]] tool and [[http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/][indexes of units]] in the current edition of the Handbook. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; undergraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 1-3. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties.

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

  1. 1

    engage imagination, creativity, analysis and critical judgement in resolving design issues

  2. 2

    independently develop design strategies and concepts, refined through an iterative process of reflection

  3. 3

    communicate design ideas verbally and visually through multiple media

  4. 4

    demonstrate critical awareness of building materials, construction processes and structural service systems and their integration into professional architecture practice

  5. 5

    engage reflectively with other professionals involved in the design, development and construction of the built environment within an ethical and environmentally-aware framework

  6. 6

    critically assess international architectural discourses and speculative design theories and engage with design research

  7. 7

    integrate global and local practices and understanding in the process of design

  8. 8

    identify and apply occupational health and safety measures appropriate to the area of study.

Entry requirements

Guaranteed ATAR and selection rank

75; International: UERT Year 12/Foundation Band 2 (75-77.49); UERT Post-Secondary Band 2 (Credit)

Other applicants

All applicants must satisfy the equivalence of the VCE subject prerequisites. 

VET Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma graduates: To be considered, applicants will normally require at least 60% average. Preference may be given to students whose prior studies are related to the course in which they are seeking admission. Programs that involve competency-based assessment without grades or marks will not meet the admission requirements.

University: Two single units at an Australian higher education institution satisfy minimum entry requirements, but more units may be useful for selection, especially in areas of study related to the course in which admission is being sought.

English language

Monash Level A, that is: IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test

Pathways

Monash College - Diploma of Art & Design
Architectural Design (Indigenous Entry)
Articulation agreement: National Institute of Technology, Akashi College (2+1) Exp: 28-July-24

More information

Progression to further studies

If you successfully complete the Bachelor of Architectural Design (F2001) you will automatically progress to the course Master of Architecture (F6001), the second part of the Monash University architecture program. Graduates will be trained to have the vision to design progressive architecture that responds to the needs of contemporary society.

Notes for students

You can enrich your degree to hone your academic and professional skills with a range of Flagship Rich Educational Experiences (FREE). These flagship rich educational experience units may be credited utilising your free electives, or alternatively in place of your discipline specific electives (up to 6 credit points) if approved by the faculty. There are both 6 and 12 credit point unit options available.*

For information on eligibility please see FREE.

*If you are enrolled in a double degree it may be possible to utilise credit from one or both of your degrees to do a 6 and/or 12 credit point flagship rich educational experience. For information on eligible double degree combinations please see FREE.

Other information

Architecture at Monash is a five-year academic program starting with the Bachelor of Architectural Design and leading to the Master of Architecture course. These together will qualify graduates to start their professional practice.

Creativity is the cornerstone of the three-year Bachelor of Architectural Design course. Central to the course is the design studio where you will investigate ideas and experiment with design processes, mentored by academics and architects from around the world. You will construct models and build full scale structures, both in class and in the community, and experiment with diverse materials in our glass, woodwork and metal studios.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Architectural Design you will automatically progress to the Master of Architecture, which focuses on research-led architectural design teaching and learning through advanced studios and depth-unit architectural studies electives.

Architecture offers substantial career opportunities in Australia and internationally. Our graduates work in private practices and for government. Some become specialists - in heritage buildings, sustainable design or commercial projects. They work on homes, complexes, entertainment precincts and purpose built facilities. Opportunities also include roles in government as policy advisors, in project management or in development.

Common questions

How long is Bachelor of Architectural Design?

3 years full time, 144 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 6 semesters of full-time study.

What ATAR do I need for Bachelor of Architectural Design?

The guaranteed ATAR listed for 2023 entry is 75.

Where can I study Bachelor of Architectural Design?

At Caulfield.

How do I plan my Bachelor of Architectural Design units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification
Bachelor Degree
AQF level
Level 7
Credit points
144
Full time
3 Years
Maximum time
8 years
Faculty
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
CRICOS code
059372G
Abbreviation
BArchDes
Award title
Bachelor of Architectural Design