Architectural Studies
Build your community and earn an education that will train your hands as well as your imagination.
The philosophy of the Laurentian University McEwen School of Architecture is founded upon pride of place.
This philosophy embraces the resiliency of northern people and the unique beauty of the northern Ontario landscape. Located at the crossroads of the City of Greater Sudbury in the downtown core, Canada’s first new architecture curriculum in over 45 years opened at Laurentian University in 2013. The McEwen School of Architecture is an unfolding experiment in emerging pedagogies and diverse cultures.
The study of architecture generally raises our awareness of the holistic and aesthetic nature of the design of the built environment. Architecture students take electives on the main Laurentian University campus, while Design Studio and other mandatory architecture courses are held at the McEwen School of Architecture, Laurentian's downtown site.
Our French, English, Métis, and Anishinabek faculty and student body is unique to Laurentian’s tri-cultural mandate; conducting design studios in both French and English, as well as working with Elders and guests who are First Nations and Métis, provides a further array of cultural and educational perspectives.
Finally, our new architecture buildings (costing $30 million) complete an innovative facility that is both dynamic and environmentally sustainable.
Academic Advisor
Jean-Philippe Saucier, Master Lecturer and Undergraduate Coordinator
Telephone: 705.675.1151 ext 7274
Email: bas@laurentian.ca
Office: McEwen School of Architecture, Telegraph Building, Office TE-213
- Extensive practical applications through Design Studio;
- Ongoing Design-Build and Community-Design projects;
- Design Studio, electives and work-term experience offered in French;
- 28-week (two 14–week placements) paid co-op internship experience;
- Inclusion of diverse cultural backgrounds, including Franco-Ontarian, First Nation, Métis, and Inuit course content;
- Access to Elders and/or Knowledge Carriers in Residence;
- Unique tri-cultural architecture curriculum where you will experience the spectacular Northern Ontario landscape;
- A $30M facility comprised of four buildings forming a courtyard that offers unique teaching opportunities onsite in building performance and sustainability;
- Design-Build projects will include structures such as ice stations and birch bark canoes in first and second year.
The McEwen School of Architecture is now officially the 12th accredited architecture school in Canada! Learn more »
Visit the McEwen School of Architecture for more information
Architectural studies is a limited enrollment program. Selection is based on overall admission requirements, and not solely on grade averages. In addition to meeting the academic requirements below, applicants must submit:
- A portfolio to demonstrate their creativity and skills
- A statement of interest (500-1000 words) to explain their interest in architecture as well as their choice of Laurentian University / McEwen School of Architecture
To learn more about the portfolio / statement of interest, please check the summary of BAS Admission Requirements.
The two documents are mandatory for all applicants and must be directly submitted to the BAS Submission Platform via the McEwen School of Architecture's website (only electronic submissions will be accepted in order to speed up processing of your files).
See the McEwen School of Architecture website to learn more about Admissions (required profile, credit transfer, tuition and fees, expenses, etc.).
Ontario High School Applicants
Program Prerequisites:
- 1 grade 12 English U/M course; 2 grade 12 4U/M Math courses; 3 other grade 12 U/M courses
- Statement of Interest, Portfolio and the names of 2 references
- A minimum overall average of 75% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses
Applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses
Applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate
Applicants from outside an Ontario High School
Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario
Canadian Applicants
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must complete your application through the Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC).
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: Undergraduate Studies page.
Apply Now as a Domestic Applicant
International Applicants
If you’re an international applicant, you must fill out the International Application Form.
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: International Students page.
Apply Now as an International Applicant
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Year 1 (30 credits)
ARCH 1006E Design Thinking
ARCH 1007E Sacred Places
ARCH 1016E Drawing
ARCH 1017E Indigenous Precedents
ARCH 1306E Wood Structures
ARCH 1505E/F Design Studio I: Place / Atelier d'architecture I: Lieu
ARCH 1515E/F Design Studio II: Place II / Atelier d'architecture 2: Lieu II
3 credit elective from:
ENGL 1706E Introduction to Writing and English Studies I
ENGL 1707E Introduction to Writing and English Studies II
Year 1 (Spring/Summer - 1 credit)
ARCH 0100E/F Co-operative Term 1 / Stage d'enseignement coopératif 1A/1B (summer term)*
Year 2 (30 credits)
ARCH 2036E Canadian Art and Architecture
ARCH 2306E Design for Climate Change
ARCH 2326E Architecture and Ecology
ARCH 2336E Building Systems 1
ARCH 2505E/F Design Studio 3: Landscape / Atelier de conception 3: Paysage
ARCH 2515E/F Design Studio 4: Landscape II / Atelier de conception 4: Paysage 2
ARCH 2526E Architectural Communications
3 credits of electives
Year 2 (Spring/Summer - 1 credit if not completed previously)
ARCH 0100E/F Co-operative Term 1 / Stage d'enseignement coopératif 1A/1B (summer term)*
* ARCH 0100E will be taken either in the summer of the first or second year of the program
Year 3 (30 credits)
ARCH 3026E Cultural Sustainability
ARCH 3036E Settlements & Urban Morphology
ARCH 3316E Structures 2: Connections
ARCH 3326E Digital Fabrication
ARCH 3505 E/F Design Studio 5: Northern Building / Bâtiment du nord
ARCH 3515 E/F Design Studio 6: Northern Building II / Bâtiment du nord 2
6 credits of electives
Year 3 (Spring/Summer - 2 credits)
ARCH 0300E/F Co-operative 2 / Stage d'enseignement coopératif 2 (summer term)
Year 4 (27 credits)
ARCH 4006E Building Case Studies
ARCH 4026E Writing in Architecture and Urbanism
ARCH 4316E Structures 3: Building Systems
ARCH 4505E/F Studio 7 Integrated Design / Atelier de conception 7: Design complet
ARCH 4515E/F Studio 8: Integrated Design 2 / Atelier 8: Design complet
6 credits of electives in Arts or Sciences
Promotion Requirements (for students with a start date of 2020 and prior)
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Promotion Requirements (for students with a start date of 2021 and after)
To be in good academic standing in a BAS program, a student must:
1. have satisfied all conditions of admission;
2. have failed no more than 6 of the previous 30 credits;
3. have achieved a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 in the previous academic year or in the previous 30 consecutive credits;
4. successfully complete all required ARCH courses;
5. achieve a minimum grade of C in Design Studio courses.
Please note: BAS students must achieve an overall minimum GPA of 5.5 to be considered for the graduate M.Arch program at Laurentian University.
Probationary Status
A student is subject to a probationary period of two academic terms of full-time study (or no more than 30 consecutive credits) if he or she has failed to meet any of the conditions above for good academic standing.
The student must repeat any failed required courses during the probationary period if available. A student will be released from academic probation when the following criteria have been met in completing a minimum of 24 credits over two academic terms: 1) the student has met the conditions for good academic standing, and 2) the student has not failed any additional courses during their probationary period.
Students are not normally permitted more than one probationary year in their program without the approval of the Senate Committee on Academic Regulations and Awards. Failure to meet these conditions will lead to a request for the student to withdraw from the BAS Program (see section 5 below).
Note: When on probation, if required to repeat a Design Studio, a student may take non-studio courses in the next year of the program. However, it may be recommended to take a year off the BAS program, depending on specific circumstances, since required courses are offered only one term per calendar year. This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
Withdrawal from BAS Program
A student will be required to withdraw from the MSoA BAS Program is he or she:
1. does not satisfy all conditions of admission after one year or 30 consecutive credits;
2. fails more than 42 credits;
3. does not satisfy all of the individual terms of probation as determined by the MSoA by the end of their probationary period;
4. fails to obtain the minimum grade (as outlined in section 3) in any required course on a second attempt.
Application for Readmission into the BAS Program
Students required to withdraw may submit a request for readmission to the Senate Committee on Academic Regulations and Awards after one calendar year. Students must obtain a recommendation from the School Director prior to submitting their request. If readmitted, these students must complete a program of study outlined by the School Director or the Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
BAS students in good academic standing, who choose to discontinue their studies at the end of the first or any other year, with successful completion of that year, may apply for readmission with advanced standing. The Undergraduate Program Coordinator will consider cases on an individual basis.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree, a student must:
1. satisfy all stated requirements for the BAS degree within 7 years of enrolling in the program;
2. complete 120 credits after no more than 162 credit attempts (all repeated and/or failed courses are included), with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5. Only courses taken at Laurentian University or its affiliated universities are included in the calculation of averages.
3. complete all courses designated by the program as requiring a minimum grade with the specified minimum grade after no more than two attempts;
4. complete the BAS program requirements, with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 in all ARCH courses, including Design Studios and Co-Op courses.
5. not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level.
BAS Overall Structure and Professional Program Sequencing
As a pre-professional program the BAS degree is structured in a specific way, year by year, to ensure the pedagogical content is sequenced by academic year and coordinated within each year. Some courses have specific prerequisites, however, all courses are interrelated and therefore courses cannot be taken out of sequence. Design studio courses must be successfully completed before being allowed to register for the following year of Design. All mandatory courses in a given year must be successfully completed to proceed in the program.
Co-Op courses, ARCH 0100 and ARCH 0300, must be successfully completed before the beginning of the third and fourth years, respectively. Students are responsible for completing Co-Op courses as outlined in the MSoA Co-Op Handbook.
Students are responsible for tracking their elective credit progress throughout the BAS program (24 total elective credits).
Independent Study (ARCH 3906) requires the permission of a faculty adviser and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator before registering for the course.
Exceptional cases will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
List of Faculty Members
Sessional Instructors 2023-2024:
- Amber Baechler
- Kristin Beites
Faculty members on sabbatical 2023-2024:
- Kai Wood Mah
- Thomas Strickland
Faculty members on leave 2023-2024:
- Emilie Pinard
Adjunct Faculty members 2023-2024:
- Bruce Mau