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Architecture  (ATS4)

BArchSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2024/2025
School
School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Bachelor Architectural Science
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Dr Peter Cody
Overall Programme Credits:
240
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 60 Electives: 0
Stage 2
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 3
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 4
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 60
Stage 2: 55
Stage 3: 55
Stage 4: 50

Curricular information is subject to change.

UCD Architecture is at the forefront of the architectural and urban design debate, both in Ireland and internationally. It plays a central role in society, leading innovation and development on every scale. The Architecture course at UCD offers a means to engage creatively and constructively with society. If you have a capacity and passion for creativity, for making things through technological invention or artistic experimentation, and you’re excited by the idea of designing buildings, urban environments and landscapes, then this course is for you.

The design process is central to Architecture, developing spatial, analytical, and creative skills to produce innovative solutions to everyday and future challenges.

This studio and lecture based programme, led by academics and practitioners at the forefront of the discipline, aims to provide an engaging, exciting and innovative learning environment that encourages students to develop their individual professional capacities while placing equal emphasis on research and critical enquiry. We do this through design projects, academic writing, technological and constructional investigations and practical experiments, valuing innovation, investigation and original creative work underpinned by a due regard for rigor, depth and precision. Students are provided with a firm foundation in advanced methodologies and skills and develop a close familiarity with the broader disciplinary, regulatory and societal frameworks within which professionals must operate.



The programme uses teaching, learning and assessment approaches such as individual and group design projects, live-projects, case students, scenario-based learning and written research and dissertations. Each has a focus on individual development and reflective learning, while developing effective group-work, written, verbal and visual communication and presentation skills


1 - On successful completion of the programme students should be able to: Embed in their visual and written work evidence of their ability to use conceptual and critical thinking and know the appropriate use of both.
2 - Use analogue and digital methods of visual communication, drawing, presentation, model making, and show judgment in utilising such methods appropriately in order to achieve their design intentions and ambitions
3 - Communicate and present their design and research questions and the knowledge and rationale underpinning their conclusions
4 - Utilise a range of investigative and design skills, showing in their work their ability to use the appropriate skill at the appropriate stage and an ability to synthesise knowledge to achieve original and excellent design outcomes.
5 - Understand structural, environmental, envelope, services and life-saving systems to the extent that the student can clearly evidence their ability to synthesise these within a comprehensive building design programme.
6 - Apply their knowledge and problem solving abilities to the design of an architectural project in response to functional brief and site conditions, including an understanding of social and physical contexts and show this in visual and written documents.
7 - Demonstrate an ability to work with established research methods in evaluating, analysing and designing architecture.
8 - Understand and operate within the discipline of architecture as it pertains both to the art and science of building and, in an broader sense, to the inherent order of organisms, structures and societies.
9 - Represent and communicate the design decisions in drawings, models and through other media and be able to present their decisions in a public forum.
10 - Develop a capacity for the close observation and analysis of physical and cultural contexts and of design precedents.

A period of study at a university abroad on exchange is encouraged and UCD Architecture has a very extensive list of partners in Europe and worldwide for students to choose from. This would usually take place in 4th year for students who have continued onto the Master of Architecture Degree Programme. Recent opportunities to study abroad have included options in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, China.

There are also field trips, site visits and workshops organised as appropriate during the various stages of the programme including a class study trip to a European city of architectural interest.

Most architectural graduates go into architectural practice and this degree will equip graduates to work in architecture anywhere across the world, whether in major global centres or in particular regional contexts. However, this degree also provides our graduates with broad knowledge and a range of transferable skills applicable in many contexts.

Graduates have pursued careers in related professions and creative practices like landscape architecture, planning, heritage management, cultural practice, curatorial work, policy making, consultancy, product design, or research.

UCD Engineering and Architecture College Office

Tel: +353 1 716 1916
e. katie.oneill@ucd.ie

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10010 Architectural Design I Autumn  15
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10070 Survey I: History and Theory of the Built Environment I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10160 Drawing & Making Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10170 Introduction to Regenerative Practice Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10020 Architectural Design II Spring  15
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10040 Architectural Technologies I – Introduction to Building Envelope Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT10090 Perspectives: History and Theory of the Built Environment II Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
CVEN10060 The Engineering and Architecture of Structures 1 Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT20040 History & Theory of the Designed Environment III - Survey Course 2 Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT20050 Architectural Design III Autumn  15
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT20100 Architectural Technologies II – Building Frames and Skins Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT20130 Imagining Architecture Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT20010 Architectural Design IV Spring  15
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT20580 Architecture & Environment I Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
CVEN20040 The Engineering & Architecture of Structures 2 Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Additional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
ARCT20170 Intro to Computational Design Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Additional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
ARCT20570 Enhancing Digital Drawing Skills Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30010 Architectural Design V Autumn  15
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30030 History & Theory of the Designed Environment IV - Architecture, Urban and Landscape Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30090 Building Renovation and Energy Retrofit / Architectural Technologies III Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30130 Framework for Practice Autumn  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30040 Architectural Design VI Spring  15
Stage 3 Core Modules
ARCT30100 Architectural Technologies IV – Integrated Building Process Spring  5
Stage 3 Core Modules
CVEN30100 The Engineering and Architecture of Structures 3 Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Additional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
ARCT20170 Intro to Computational Design Spring  5
Stage 3 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Students must register to a minimum of 55 Programme Credits (Core/Options). Students may register to 5 Elective Credits or select an Additional Option Module from the list below, in order to fulfill their Stage requirements.
ARCT20570 Enhancing Digital Drawing Skills Spring  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
ARCT40010 Design Technologies I Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
ARCT40020 Research & Innovation in the Designed Environment Autumn  5
Stage 4 Core Modules
ARCT41120 Architectural Design VII - Comprehensive Design Studio Autumn  15
Stage 4 Core Modules
ARCT40050 Architectural Design VIII Spring  15
Stage 4 Core Modules
ARCT40080 Research and Innovation in the Designed Environment II Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A)1 of:
TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS: Important - All students must select 1x TECHNOLOGY OPTION Module. HOWEVER, Students going out on Exchange programmes in the Autumn Trimester MUST take ARCT40870 Agency: Design / Build as their Technology Option in the Spring Trimester.
ARCT40870 Agency: Design / Build Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - A)1 of:
TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS: Important - All students must select 1x TECHNOLOGY OPTION Module. HOWEVER, Students going out on Exchange programmes in the Autumn Trimester MUST take ARCT40870 Agency: Design / Build as their Technology Option in the Spring Trimester.
ARCT40970 Irish Timber & Sustainability Spring  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of:
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ELECTIVES:Students may select up to two Elective Modules from anywhere in UCD, one in EACH Trimester. Alternatively, students may prefer to select up to two Additional Option Modules, one in EACH Trimester from this list.
ARCT40030 Realising Built Projects Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of:
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ELECTIVES:Students may select up to two Elective Modules from anywhere in UCD, one in EACH Trimester. Alternatively, students may prefer to select up to two Additional Option Modules, one in EACH Trimester from this list.
ARCT40170 Conservation History, Theory and Policy Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of:
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ELECTIVES:Students may select up to two Elective Modules from anywhere in UCD, one in EACH Trimester. Alternatively, students may prefer to select up to two Additional Option Modules, one in EACH Trimester from this list.
ARCT40660 Street Life: Urban Design, an Introduction Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of:
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ELECTIVES:Students may select up to two Elective Modules from anywhere in UCD, one in EACH Trimester. Alternatively, students may prefer to select up to two Additional Option Modules, one in EACH Trimester from this list.
ARCT41210 Architecture in a Climate Emergency Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of:
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ELECTIVES:Students may select up to two Elective Modules from anywhere in UCD, one in EACH Trimester. Alternatively, students may prefer to select up to two Additional Option Modules, one in EACH Trimester from this list.
PLAN40030 Planning, Society and Diversity Autumn  5
Stage 4 Options - B) Min 0 of:
ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ELECTIVES:Students may select up to two Elective Modules from anywhere in UCD, one in EACH Trimester. Alternatively, students may prefer to select up to two Additional Option Modules, one in EACH Trimester from this list.
ARCT41240 Urban Resilience and Ethics Spring  5

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHARCH007 Stage 4 - 50.00%
Stage 3 - 50.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47