To meet these goals, students are enrolled in an instructional core of seven required professional courses, plus elected liberal arts courses that meet University Core Curriculum requirements. The core courses are:

Design

• CAP 101: Environmental Design and Planning 1 (3 credits)
• CAP 102: Environmental Design and Planning 2 (3 credits)

These design studios provide a comprehensive introduction to environmental design and planning. Common to the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and planning is the objective of supporting human activity through the design and planning of sound environments. In seeking to attain this objective, the three disciplines share a common approach of processing information--focusing on the definition, analysis, synthesis, judgment, and communication of environment design and planning problems and of the theories and concepts inherent in their solutions.

Students are introduced to the conceptual disciplines of design, spatial studies, and a broad range of environmental design theories and issues. Focus also is placed on developing skills in problem solving, time-task management, design communications, and working independently and in teams. 

Each student receives an individual work/study space in a fully equipped studio. Interdisciplinary faculty teams provide lectures and extensive individual instruction through critiques and evaluations of the student's work in progress. A variety of studio projects challenge students to apply concepts and principles through creative exploration. Field study opportunities throughout the region, professional exhibitions, and guest lecturers enrich the educational experience.

Design Communications

• CAP 161: Design Communications Media 1 (2 credits)
• CAP 162: Design Communications Media 2 (2 credits)

These courses focus on the communication of ideas as objects and products of thought, introduce principles of conceptual and diagrammatic drawing, and encourage explorations with a variety of media. Students develop and learn to coordinate all modes of communication--drawing, writing, and speaking--as tools for discovery and analysis. Instruction and studio exercises introduce freehand drawing, diagramming, orthographic drawings and projections, perspective drawing, writing and speaking, and computer applications for professional graphic communication.

As in the design studio, students learn through their own studies, through informal discussions with classmates and faculty members, and through the presentation and evaluation of class projects.

Environmental Design and Planning Disciplines

• ARCH 100: Introduction to Architecture (2 credits)
• LA 100: Introduction to Landscape Architecture (2 credits)
• PLAN 100: Introduction to Urban Planning and Development (2 credits)

These lecture courses are designed to provide an overview of the disciplines in CAP, the societal and environmental issues the disciplines address, and the role of the professional in a broad societal context. If a student is undecided about career goals, these courses provide information concerning professional challenges and career opportunities that may assist the individual in selecting a major.

View the first year course schedule.

Entry Tracks
Students proceed through the First-Year Program in three different tracks: fall, spring, and accelerated. Learn more about the First Year Program studio tracks.

Program Faculty
In the First-Year Program, students study with architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning faculty members in studio and lecture courses. This exposes students to many individuals with varied backgrounds of professional education and experience, areas of expertise, and divergent philosophies and points of view. Learn more about the CAP faculty.

Selecting a Major
During their first year, CAP students have opportunities to meet with faculty members and professional advisors to discuss career and curriculum options in all of the college's disciplines.

After successful completion of the common First-Year Program students will declare a major offered by any of CAP's three departments (architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning).  However, in an effort to manage enrollment, each department has instituted an enrollment management plan.  In the event the number of students declaring into the second year exceeds one of the departmental limits, students will be advised about other available degree programs of the college and the university.  Consequently, please note that admission into the second year at CAP is subject to departmental enrollment review. Learn more about our bachelor's degrees.

Note that students interested in careers in landscape architecture or urban planning and development may apply for pre-declaration into these two professional degrees.

For More Information
Michel A. Mounayar, Associate Dean
College of Architecture and Planning
(765) 285-5859
capadmission@bsu.edu

For complete information on program requirements, please consult the Ball State University Undergraduate Catalog.