Architectural Studies

The Architectural Studies program at Tufts teaches students understanding of the built environment from multiple perspectives through the development of basic skills in analyzing, interpreting, engineering, designing, and engaging imaginatively and actively with the current and historical built environment. The built environment is defined broadly, from stage scenery and interior design to civil engineering and urban planning, in order to reflect historical and contemporary experience and to encompass the richness of the Tufts curriculum.

The objective of the Architectural Studies program is to enable students to think critically, historically, and as broadly as possible about the built environment and in so doing uniquely enrich a lifelong engagement with the built environment, be it as practicing professionals or as broadly-informed inhabitants of the human-made world.

Multidisciplinary is the signature of Tufts' architectural studies program, representing a liberal arts approach to architecture and distinguished by the concentration's requirement that students take classes in multiple disciplines from architectural history and studio design to engineering, the humanities, and social sciences. This multidisciplinary curriculum takes full advantage of Tufts' unique assets for a liberal arts college, including the university's engineering school, its graduate department in urban and environmental planning and policy, and its affiliation with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. As a capstone senior majors in their final semester complete a senior integrative project, either as an independent research project or an internship in a professional office.

Students successfully use the Architectural Studies program to prepare for graduate study in architecture and related areas. But even a greater number of majors find careers outside architecture in education, business, law, medicine, and other varied fields. In this, as in its curriculum and general outlook, architectural studies at Tufts exemplifies the liberal arts approach to higher education.

The Architectural Studies major and minor program in the Art and Art History Department of the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts was officially established in 2000. The number of majors is typically between 40 and 50, with 15 to 20 seniors graduating each year with a BA degree in architectural studies. 

Twelve courses total: Seven are core courses whose subject matter is exclusively or predominantly related to the built environment. Five are electives with subject matters or methodologies highly relevant to study of the built environment. A course cannot fulfill both the core and elective requirement. 

Core Requirements:

• Art History (FAH) 1: Introduction to World Art I
• Art History (FAH) 8: Introduction to Architecture, 1400 to the present
• Studio Art (FAM) 22: Design: Architectural
• Engineering core class 
• Humanities/Social Science core class 
• Architectural History core class 
• Art History (FAH) 98: Integrated Project Seminar 

Plus 5 multidisciplinary electives (5 courses chosen from at least 3 of the following 4 disciplinary areas): 

• Architectural and Art History
• Studio Art
• Humanities/Social Sciences, 
• Engineering

Recommended Sequence:

• Freshman-Sophomore years: FAH 8, FAH 1
• Freshman-Junior years: engineering core class; humanities/social science core class; studio art elective (FAM 20, 26)
• Sophomore-Senior years: FAM 22; Architectural History core class; multidisciplinary electives
• Senior year: FAH 98

Minor In Architectural Studies

Five courses total 
Requirements:

• Art History (FAH) 1 Introduction to World Art I
• Art History (FAH) 8 Introduction to Architecture, 1400 to the present
• Studio Art (FAM 22; or 20, 23, 26)
• Engineering core class
• Architectural History core class

1. Completed Common Application or Coalition Application
2. Completed Tufts Writing Supplement 
3. High School Transcript(s)
4. Senior Grades: All applicants will be required to send their senior grades as part of their application. Students applying Early Decision I should send first quarter or trimester grades no later than the last week in November. Students applying Early Decision II should plan for their first semester or trimester grades to arrive no later than the third week in January. Finally, Regular Decision applicants should submit their first semester or trimester grades by the middle of February. Students studying abroad (where predicted grades are common) should send those if senior grades are not available.
5. Testing:
   • For applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering or the Combined Degree Programs with the SMFA at Tufts or the NEC: SAT with two subject tests or ACT. See the standardized test requirements for information about these tests and recommendations regarding which subject tests to take.
   • For applicants to the SMFA at Tufts' BFA program: SAT or ACT. Subject tests are not required for BFA candidates applying to the SMFA at Tufts.
6. TOEFL Scores: Required only for students for whom English is not the first language or who attend a school where English is not the language of instruction.
7. Letters of Recommendation: Tufts requires one letter from a teacher in a junior or senior year major academic course (math, natural science, social science, English, or a foreign language) and one letter from a guidance counselor for all applicants. Candidates for the SMFA at Tufts' BFA or Combined Degree programs are required to submit a letter from their art teacher as well. An additional letter from all other applicants, though not encouraged, may be submitted if the student feels it can add new perspective to his or her application.
8. Extracurricular Activities: In addition to evaluating an academic fit, the admissions committee looks for ways a student may contribute to the community as a whole. They will assess the level and type of involvement in each activity and may ask questions such as: Has the student been a significant contributor or leader? How has the involvement contributed to the school or larger community? Does the student have a special talent in a particular area? We do not expect all students to be team captains, class presidents, or editors-in-chief; rather, we look for meaningful involvement in their school and/or community. The Common Application allows students to list up to ten different activities, but you don't need to fill every space. Some of the most successful applicants are heavily engaged in just a few activities. Keep in mind that the Common Application is your one chance to show your extracurricular engagements: we are not able to accept a supplemental resume of activities.
9. Art Portfolio: Required only for students applying to the Combined Degree BFA/BA or BFA/BS and BFA applicants to the SMFA at Tufts. Submit a 15-20-piece portfolio of recent work, which represents your strengths and interests, via SlideRoom.
10. $75 Application Fee or Fee Waiver - You may have the application fee waived by submitting either i) a written request from your college counselor or school official who can attest that the fee would represent a financial hardship, or ii) a College Board Request for Waiver of the Application Fee form. You may consider the waiver approved unless a member of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions notifies you otherwise. Without an application fee, or an approved fee waiver, we cannot continue to process your application to Tufts University.