Architecture
Architecture is a creative and exciting design-based profession concerned with most aspects of the built environment.
Design is integral to the degree, however, to enrol, you are not required to have previous drawing or design experience. You will learn to develop your work using the latest modelling and rendering software as well as traditional techniques through studio-based classes contributing to a creative and challenging learning experience.
By the end of a three-year Bachelor of Environments degree with an Architecture major, you will have developed a strong base of design competence and knowledge across a wide range of architectural issues.
Course Planning for an Architecture Major
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Environments should take no more than 125 points of 1st year level subjects. Students must complete at least 75 points worth of 3rd year level subjects, including at least one 3rd year level breadth subject. Students will need to be mindful of this when course planning.
In order to complete a major in Architecture, you will need to undertake the following subjects:
1st year level
- 880-101 Natural Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 880-102 Reshaping Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 880-103 Constructing Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
- 880-104 Designing Environments (Sem 1 or 2)
2nd year level
- 702-245 Construction Analysis (Sem 2) (named Construction Methods in 2009)
- 702-244 Environmental Building Systems (Sem 2)
- 702-242 Foundations of Architecture (Sem 1)
And at least one of the following 2nd year level subjects:
- 702-239 Architecture Design Studio 1: Earth (Sem 1)
- 702-240 Architecture Design Studio 2: Water (Sem 2)
3rd year level
- 702-382 Architecture Design Studio 3: Air (Sem 1)
- 702-366 Architecture Design Studio 4: Fire (Sem 2)
- 702-372 Construction Design (Sem 1) (named Hybrid Construction in 2009)
- 702-386 Formative Histories of Architecture (Sem 2) (702-243 Architecture of the Enlightenment in 2009)
- 702-383 Modern Architecture: MoMo to PoMo (Sem 1)
Students should familiarise themselves with the Bachelor of Environments Course Structure.
Breadth information for Architecture major
The Melbourne Model aims to produce graduates who are trained in a particular discipline (depth) as well as knowledgeable across disciplines (breadth). The breadth component of the new degrees aims to build multiple competencies in students by exposing them to different ways of knowing through cross-disciplinary learning and teaching.
In the first year of the Bachelor of Environments, students can take any two 100-Level subjects from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Science as well as the University Breadth Subjects and the non core subjects available as breadth.
In the second and third years of the Bachelor of Environments, students will choose their major field of study and they must choose breadth studies that contrast with their major. The eleven major areas of study are grouped into four clusters based on the types of knowledge they represent: scientific, socio-cultural, design and business.
For example, a student taking a Design major such as Architecture will take breadth studies that contrast with the design way of knowing, such as commerce, languages, politics, maths, science or psychology. Due to the Architecture major falling under the design category, students are not permitted to take Art History, Planning or Design subjects as breadth.
A search engine of breadth subjects available to Bachelor of Environments students may be found here. Some students may also choose to take breadth study from within the Bachelor of Environments as long as these subjects come from a different cluster to their major area of study – see breadth elective subjects for a list of approved subjects.
Environments Electives
Bachelor of Environments students will undertake 37.5 (3 subjects) of Environments electives within their degree. A list of possible Environments Electives can be found here.
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
| Semester 1, Year 1 |
Natural Environments 880-101 | Constructing Environments 880-103 | Virtual Environments 880-108 (Recommended) | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | Urban Environments 880-107 (Recommended) | Designing Environments 880-104 | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective (Architecture Design Studio 1: Earth 702-239 recommended) | Foundations of Architecture 702-242 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Architecture Design Studio 2: Water 702-239 |
Construction Analysis 702-245 |
Environmental Building Systems 702-244 | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Architecture Design Studio 3: Air 702-241 |
Construction Design 702-372 |
Modern Architecture: MoMo to PoMo 702-383 | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Architecture Design Studio 4: Fire 702-366 |
Bachelor of Environments Elective | Formative Histories of Architecture 702-386 | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Architecture
SAMPLE COURSE PLAN for MID YEAR - NB. Subjects DO NOT have to be taken in this order
| Semester 2, Year 1 |
Virtual Environments 880-108 (Recommended) |
Constructing Environments 880-103 | Urban Environments 880-107 (Recommended) | Designing Environments 880-104 |
| Semester 1, Year 1 | Reshaping Environments 880-102 | Architecture Design Studio 1: Earth 702-239 | Natural Environments 880-101 | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 2 | Bachelor of Environments Elective (Architecture Design Studio 2: Water 702-239 recommended) |
Construction Analysis 702-245 |
Environmental Building Systems 702-244 | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 2 | Architecture Design Studio 3: Air 702-241 |
Construction Design 702-372 |
Foundations of Architecture 702-242 | Breadth |
| Semester 2, Year 3 | Architecture Design Studio 4: Fire 702-366 |
Formative Histories of Architecture 702-386 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth |
| Semester 1, Year 3 | Modern Architecture: MoMo to PoMo 702-383 | Bachelor of Environments Elective | Breadth | Breadth |
| first year subjects in blue | |
| major subjects (2nd and 3rd year) in white | |
| breadth subjects in green | |
| Bachelor of Environments elective subjects in orange |
Careers and Further Study
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Environments with a major in Architecture, you will have the option of either finding employment or applying to continue into the two-year Master of Architecture program, which will allow you to become a professional architect.
Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture is a two-year professional degree that emphasises the central role of design in the studio.
The Master of Architecture provides you with:
- Design knowledge that will contribute to the improvement of our built environment
- A grounding in the rich lessons of architectural history, theory and technology so that you can develop innovative architecture, relevant to its time and place, its people and their culture
- The knowledge to manage an architectural practice and work within teams
- The ability to use resources, materials and technologies to produce responsible and sustainable architecture.
Master of Architecture - Career Outcomes
Most of our graduates find employment in private architectural firms where they work on residential, commercial and institutional projects of many scales. There are also opportunities to work on interiors and historic building conservation and renovation.
Many graduates will realise their ambition to run their own architectural practice and others will seek work overseas where their skills are recognised.
For more information, please visit the Melbourne School of Design website.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact the Environments Student Centre on:
Ph: 8344 6432 | 8344 6417 | 8344 8150
Web: envs-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au
Visit: Environments Student Centre
Ground Floor, Old Commerce Building
University of Melbourne