Bachelor of Architecture

The philosophy of education at the Department of Architecture is based on a number of principles, including the belief that when both architectural and design values are present, an appropriate environment for creativity and innovation ensues.  The Department is committed to developing the design skills of the students with a special focus on the technical aspects of the profession as well as improving the students’ methods of communication; striving for clarity, eloquence and professionalism. The students are exposed to a wide range of subjects in the five year program of study that covers topics such as: design, construction, theories of architecture and engineering science in addition to focusing on the local environment, economic aspects and social characteristics of the region.  The Department also offers a Master of Science degree in Architecture.

College

College of Architecture and Planning

Campus

Dammam

Track

Engineering

Level

Undergraduate

Degree

BArch

Gender

Male

Years of study

5 (1 preparatory + 1 joint + 3 departmental)

Credit hours

170

Additional requirements

Internship

Career opportunities

For graduates of the Department of Architecture there are many career paths to choose from including, but not limited to:  all engineering positions such as designers and planners, contractors and consultants in the fields of architecture, construction and project management, urban and residential development, rehabilitation and preservation of historical and culturally significant areas and planning and management of environmental resources.  Interested students may decide to join academic institutions as researchers, join the teaching staff or continue their studies in graduate school.

First or Preparatory Year

During the first or Preparatory year, the prospective students of the College of Architecture and Planning take the same courses as the other new students in either the College of Engineering or the College of Design.  The Preparatory year is completed in the Engineering track and the students will focus on improving their English language skills, cover the basic sciences and learn fundamental design skills. 

Second or Common Year

The second year is common across all College of Architecture and Planning departments. In this year students learn the fundamentals of architecture, planning, interior architecture, landscape architecture and building engineering. The coursework for the Common year will establish a foundation in design, two and three dimensional theories, help the students gain the necessary skills of free-hand and engineering drawing and design techniques as well as get experience with planning software before proceeding with their specialization in architecture.

Third Year

During the third year, the curriculum focuses on architectural design challenges, where the complexity of the projects gradually increases as the year progresses.   The students will learn about the application of the design process, the relationship between form and function and will address the principles of sustainability and how this can be implemented.  The curriculum for this year also includes a few courses in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and the students will be required to do both two and three dimensional graphical presentations. 

Fourth Year

The focus of this year is on urban design and housing, taking into account cultural and socio-economic factors. The coursework will concentrate on environmental and natural resource conservation in urban and rural settings.  The students will apply techniques such as: data collection and analysis as well as develop different scenarios based on the objectives, type and size of the projects.

Fifth Year

In the fifth and final year the students will be prepared for professional practice. They will meticulously apply the knowledge and skills that they have acquired in the areas of data collection, analysis and the design process in order to fulfill the requirements of their graduation project.  This graduation project is a personal project that reflects the students’ interests and incorporates all of the knowledge and skills they have developed over the years at the University, while simultaneously incorporating professional business practices related to project management and cost estimation.