Cornell University in Ithaca, New York--ranked the top architecture undergraduate institution in the country by "Architectural Record" in 2010--offers a five-year bachelor of architecture. During the first semester of the program students are required to take a history of architecture I course--undoubtedly a field foundation course, according to the university's website. The course exposes students to how architecture has changed throughout the years and a general knowledge of the different architectural styles of each time period. The history of architecture I (ARCH 1801) is offered every fall semester at Cornell University. Many of the other top architecture undergraduate schools offer a similar course to first-year students.
Cornell University
Department of Agriculture
129 Sibley Dome
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-5236
aap.cornell.edu
The Syracuse University School of Architecture--ranked the second best architecture undergraduate program in the country by "Architectural Record" in 2010--offers a bachelor of architecture degree. One of the major's most important foundation courses is called architectural design I. During this course, students learn how to analyze building designs--including problems in construction and how to make them better. Additionally, the class serves as an introduction to drawing, showing students how to sketch out their architecture ideas. The class involves a lot of book work but also takes a hands-on approach right off the bat. The class is offered every fall in the first year of an architecture undergraduate degree. Many of the other top architecture schools offer a similar degree that teaches similar principles.
Syracuse University
School of Architecture
201 Slocum Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244
315-443-2256
soa.syr.edu
The Cal Poly Architecture Department, ranked third on the top architecture schools list by "Architectural Record" in 2010, offers an architectural design 2.1 course as a continuation to the first design course. The class, offered every spring to second-semester undergrad students, is based around short assignments that become more difficult as the semester unfolds. These assignments expand upon what was learned in the design I course, teaching architectural design principles such as unity, order, contract, balance, proportion, and rhythm. Because the course is a lab, students will spend most of their time in class completing drawing exercises and working on design problems in buildings while coming up with solutions to make them better.
California Polytechnic State University
Architecture Department
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
805-756-1316
arch.calpoly.edu