BARCH Course Description
University Requirements
Course Code: COMM 1301
Course Name: Communication Skills I
Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
Course Code: COMM 1302
Course Name: Communication Skills II
Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
Prerequisite: COMM 1301
Course Description:
This course reinforces critical reading and academic text analysis. It focuses on advanced writing skills towards developing different types of essays using APA style. The course emphasizes writing an extended argumentative essay.
Course Code: EMOI 1201
Course Name: Emotional Intelligence
Credit Hours: 2 (2,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
This course focuses on the key concepts of Emotional Intelligence. It emphasizes the importance and benefits of Emotional Intelligence. It also raises awareness about the role of competencies and skills in an individual's career.
Course Code: ITAI 1201
Course Name: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Credit Hours: 2 (2,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
This course emphasizes on the basic of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is designed for students without previous knowledge on computing or mathematics. The course provides the students with broad knowledge on AI. It presents the concepts of AI in problem solving approach with popular examples. The course provides the students with the techniques used in AI in a very simple, non-mathematical approach and non-algorithmic approach. The students will learn how an AI agent search for a goal, how it satisfies constraints, how simple probabilistic approach is used to in AI to give excellent predictions. The course also provides the students with hands-on to see AI in action.
Course Code: XXXX XXXX
Course Name: Research Methodologies
Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
Course Code: ENTR 3301
Course Name: Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking
Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description: This course introduces the concept of entrepreneurship, nature of enterprise and role of the entrepreneur. It emphasizes the theoretical and practical perspectives of the entrepreneurship process. The course also explores other aspects of entrepreneurship including the development and evaluation of business plans and the presentation and pitching to the business investors.
Design Common Year Requirements
Course Code : BGDM 1310
Course Name: Introduction to Digital Design and layout
Credit Hours: 3 (1,3)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
This course focuses on essential technical skills and digital graphics as a medium required to develop and communicate design ideas to others in the design profession. It covers many discrete modules that provide the foundation of the necessary skills for designers. Students are introduced to raster and vector graphics and mix between them in publishing packages.
Course Code: MATH 2320
Course Name: Geometry
Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description :
Course Code: BSID 1310
Course Name: Introduction to the History of Architecture and Design.
Credit Hours: 3 (3,0)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
This course provides an overview of architecture and design from prehistory to the present. It examines key works of architecture and design from a variety of perspectives, including historical, cultural, and aesthetic. Issues addressed include the role of patronage, the changing role of the architect and designer, the function and symbolic meaning of architecture and design as well as influential architectural and design techniques and processes and distinguishing principles and characteristic formal elements associated with significant architectural and design movements. In conjunction with analyses of individual works, comparisons of architecture and design across time and culture will highlight meaningful similarities and differences between civilizations and cultures, thereby providing insights into their beliefs and values.
Course Code: BARC 1301
Course Name: Technical Drawing
Credit Hours: 3 (1,4)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
This course aims at developing drafting skills required for design and related courses. It focuses on measuring and documenting architectural spaces. The course covers the representation of buildings into two and three-dimensional architectural drawings.
Course Code: BGDM 1320
Course Name: Freehand Drawing,
Credit Hours: 3 (1,3)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description: The course is an introduction to freehand drawing and sketching. It develops graphic communication skills using various mediums. This course focuses on the practical development of drawing abilities using different freehand techniques. It enhances freehand drawing competences required in the fields of art and architecture conceptualization and presentation.
Course Code: BARC 1400
Course Name: Fundamentals of Design
Credit Hours: 4 (2,4)
Prerequisite: N/A
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the fundamental elements and principles of two and three- dimensional design. It focuses on the development of visual design-thinking tools and skills, and the design process to develop essential design skills needed for solving art and architecture problems. It cultivates a variety of communication skills other than the traditional drawing and sketching methods.
Architectural Design Studio 1 – Spaces& Styles – 5 Cr. (2,6)
The course focuses on understanding basic and more complex geometric and natural forms, the principles of order and harmony and basic form and space composition strategies. This studio course focuses on understanding different traditional, modern and contemporary holistic approaches to architecture by investigating and applying architectural styles.
Architectural Design Studio 2 – Environmental – 5 Cr. (2,6)
This studio course focuses on how to deal with environmental elements, such as daylight, air ventilation etc., as well as analyze context and apply passive design strategies in order to provide sustainable architectural solutions.
Architectural Design Studio 3 – Cultural – 5 Cr. (2,6)
This studio course focuses on how architecture could deal with culture, its manifestations in terms of aesthetics and collective expression of a society, as well as its implications in terms of collective memory, identity and social behaviors.
Architectural Design Studio 4 – Technical– 5 Cr. (3,5)
This studio course focuses on approaches to shaping the built environment and various ways that an architectural designer may participate in the planning and design of a large area, and how such relationships and context influence architectural design.
Architectural Design Studio 5 – Theoretical Theme – 5 Cr. (3,5)
This studio course focuses on providing a comprehensive architectural design with special emphasis on how to deal with technical building systems on one hand and with opportunities and challenges of new technologies.
Architectural Design Studio 6 –Urban Design– 5 Cr. (3,5)
This studio course focuses on exploring contemporary urban, environmental or cultural issues and what role architectural theory and design can play in addressing them.
Capstone Project I – 6 Cr. (3,6)
This studio course aims at producing the first part of the graduation project. It is based on proposals by students. It focuses on creating an architectural proposition and integrating theory with design. For that, this studio includes dedicated research-related activities that help build evidence to support design narrative and proposed architectural solutions.
Capstone Project II – 6 Cr. (3,6)
This studio course aims at supporting students to continue the development of the Studio 9 project in order to provide a comprehensive architectural solution to the architectural design problem.
Technical Drawings – 3 Cr. (1,4)
The course is designed to enable students to communicate the basic language of drafting required for architecture design as well as investigate different layouts, line weights, dimensions and annotations. The focus is on measuring spaces, documenting data and transforming it into 2D and 3D architectural drawings. Students in this course will use architectural tools, instruments and equipment necessary for accurate drafting of simple geometric compositions gradually evolving into plans, sections, elevations, orthogonal, isometric and axonometric projections.
Computer-Aided Design I: Architectural Drafting – 3 Cr. (1,4)
This course introduces Computer Aided Design (CAD) for digital drafting of 2D drawings required in the architectural field. The course enables students to use tools and techniques of the CAD software to translate hand drafted drawings into digitally drafted drawings from basic geometries to fully technical architectural drawings.
Computer-Aided Design II: Modelling and Rendering – 3 Cr. (1,4)
This course focuses on architectural design and computation through the use of computer modeling and rendering. It introduces basic rendering techniques for three-dimensional visualizations. Students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to create basic 3D models, architectural elements, sites, textures, and complete 3D scenes.
Computer-Aided Design III: Advanced Computational Modelling – 3 Cr. (1,4)
This course provides the student with an advanced understanding of 3D graphic creation and modeling. Students will learn advanced techniques of rendering, texturing, and lighting, mapping, and modeling realistic environments and complete 3D scenes. Students will also engage with the latest practices of the wider 3D entertainment industry to develop specific skills for 3D modeling. They will be introduced to the latest software, plugins and augmented reality programs to develop and produce photo-realistic presentations as well as virtual walk throughs.
History and Theory of Architecture – 3 Cr (3,0)
This course focuses on the history of architecture from prehistory to the European Renaissance. It presents architecture from a variety of perspectives, including historical, aesthetic and structural. Architecture is also considered from a cross-cultural context and within its situational context. Additionally, this course focuses on the history of architecture from the 15th century to the 20th century. It covers cross-cultural context of architecture within its situational or urban context. The course presents a variety of historical perspectives and highlights the functional, formal and technological aspects of architectural manifestations.
Theories of Contemporary Architecture – 3 Cr (3.0)
This course focuses on theories of contemporary architecture of the 21st century. It surveys key typologies evolving in contemporary architecture globally since 1950. This course addresses technological, economic, cultural, philosophical and aesthetic perspectives informing contemporary architecture.
Theory and Practice of Urban Form – 3 Cr. (3,0)
The course aims to provide students with a historical overview of city form's evolution, the basis for urban form analysis as well as an introduction to the main contemporary urban design approaches. It addresses the emergence of cities as a particular spatial and civilizational entity, the impact of industrialization on its form and socioeconomic processes as well as the contemporary impacts of globalization and demography. The analysis of the morphology takes in consideration the physical, social and institutional dimensions. Contemporary urban design approaches covered include New Urbanism, Landscape Urbanism, Everyday Urbanism, etc.
Materials and Methods of Building Construction I – 3 Cr. (2,2)
This course focuses on different type of materials used in construction and different constructional systems. It stresses the relationships between architectural concepts and building technology and covers common construction methods and construction details. The course also focuses on technical drawing skills that are required in the construction field.
Materials and Methods of Building Construction II – 3 Cr. (2,2)
This course focuses on novel construction techniques, including building envelope systems and associated assemblies relative to fundamental performance, aesthetics, durability, material resources, fixation and maintenance. It covers the control and impact of the construction industry on current methods of building through an analysis of codes,
regulations, and standards. The course develops skills to draw construction details and to communicate construction information and specifications
Environmental Design I – 3 Cr. (2,2)
This course explores the number of strategies designers use to understand, evaluate and create both built and virtual environments. It addresses conceptual principles of lighting, acoustics and ventilation and focus on context and contextual issues. The course generates design solutions that are both conceptually innovative and commercially viable.
Environmental Design II – 3 Cr. (2,2)
This course focuses on the close correlation between the building's performance and its various service and environmental control systems. It introduces the design concepts, working principles and construction drawings of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and safety system used in building installations.
Structures for Architects I – 3 Cr. (3,0)
This course focuses on the analysis of structural elements with an emphasis on the principles of statics and strengths of materials. It introduces the principles of mechanics, concepts of load, bending, and shear force. The course covers the behavior and analysis of selected structural systems.
Structures for Architects II – 3 Cr. (2,2)
This course focuses on the relationship between architectural concepts and structural design with an emphasis on the importance of selecting appropriate materials and structural systems. It focuses on design calculations methods for steel and reinforced concrete structures using Saudi building codes and international codes. In includes the design of structure to resist gravity and wind load combining architectural form, spatial organization, and load configurations in their approach.
Project Management – 3 Cr. (3,0)
This course provides practical applications for management of construction projects. These include planning, scheduling, cost estimation/cost control, risk analysis, claims and project closeout. It focuses on planning, scheduling, and control of construction projects using Critical Path Method (CPM) and Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT).
Working Drawings – 4 Cr. (2,4)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the ability to produce working drawings (two-dimensional) with the aid of computer. In this course, students will get familiar with the legislation and working drawing system for the professional use. Lectures and exercises will be to introduce students to the systematics of drawing a project that could be realized in the real world. This meaning: the project would withhold enough information to be interpreted by contractor or any other person who is involved in realization to be able to read it.
Quantities and Specifications – 2 Cr. (2,0)
This course is focused on standard methods of measurement: preparation of take off sheets. Specification: subject, nature and procedures of specifications writing. Measurement and specification of principal items of civil and architectural works: excavation and earthwork, masonry works, concrete works, metal and wood works, glazing, steel worl, roof and damp proofing works, finishing works, sanitary and electrical installation works, demolition and alterations, site works, etc.
Professional Practice and Ethics – 2Cr. (2,2)
This course covers the foundation of what constitutes the architectural professional practice. It provides knowledge to enable students to understand their responsibilities towards clients, users and society. The course encourages critical evaluation of past and current architectural professional practices in local and global contexts. It inspires students to value lifelong inquisitiveness, to develop a sense of being members of the profession and to recognize the role of the architect in the society.
Internship I – 2 Cr. (160 hours min)
This Internship course facilitates the transition from education to professional practice. It establishes the first practical link between what is learned in the architecture program and what can be practiced in architecture firms. The training course enables the students to acquire basic knowledge, understanding, and skills covering the four domains of practice: Pre-Design, Design, Project Management and Practice Management. The course allows students to achieve comprehensive exposure to architectural practice in private, public, and non-profit settings and to gain experiences covering core competencies at an introductory basic level.
Internship II – 2 Cr. (160 hours min)
The Internship II course consolidates the transition from education to professional practice by anchoring academic knowledge through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges. Throughout the course, students will carry out complex professional tasks, play active roles and take on key responsibilities within their respective internship sites. This course enables students to acquire advanced knowledge, understanding and skills covering some of the four domains of architectural practice: Pre-Design, Design, Project Management and Practice Management. The course provides students with comprehensive exposure to the varied domains of practice in the architectural profession.
