ARCHITECTURE
Program Options & Information
Architecture Program ( printer-friendly PDF )
The Architecture Program at West Valley College is primarily transfer oriented. It prepares students to enter 4- and 5-year architecture programs at the university level. Most students transfer to U.C. Berkeley, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, the University of Southern California, and to a variety of public and private institutions, nationwide.
The program is academically challenging. The West Valley architecture courses, by necessity, must match the content and intellectual rigor of those at the universities with which it has transfer agreements. In addition to architecture courses, students typically have substantial general education requirements to fulfill and must complete requisite math and science courses, usually including calculus and physics.
While it is generally possible to enter the field of Architecture directly with either a Certificate or A.S. Degree from West Valley, the transfer orientation of our program and the nature of internship within the Architecture profession limit that option.
The Architecture courses at West Valley cover four areas of study: design, graphics, history, and practice/technical communication. In most instances, these courses are foundational rather than comprehensive, since students need two or more additional years of study in these areas before they receive a Bachelor's or Master's degree, because technology is becoming increasingly important in architecture, both professionally and academically, an increasing number of WVC courses leverage computer technology as an educational tool.
Career Paths
- Architect
- Landscape Architect
- Historic Preservation Architect
- Interior Designer
- Construction Manager
- Graphic Designer
- Specification Writer
- Structural Engineer
- Architectural Renderer
Associate of Science in Architecture
Learning Outcomes
- Communicate effectively and professionally in the architectural environment through proper use of verbal, written and graphic techniques.
- Apply mathematical skills to solve technical problems associated with architectural drawings.
- Develop architectural drawings including construction drawings, and presentation drawings.
- Use computer graphics applications associated with architectural projects.
- Select construction materials based upon their properties and methods of installation.
- Apply principals of structural design.
- Apply building codes, zoning codes, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
- Demonstrate creativity and problem-solving abilities in designing residential and commercial buildings.
- Use standard dimensions for space planning and human occupancy using Architectural Graphic Standards.
- Identify professional, ethical and societal responsibilities including respect for diversity.
| Associate of Science in Architecture | ||
| Major Requirements (37 Units) | ||
| Course Number | Title | Units |
| Arch 045 | Architectural Building Codes | 3 |
| Arch 050 | Construction Materials & Methods | 3 |
| Arch 051 | Architectural Graphics: Drawing & Sketching | 3 |
| Arch 052 | Architectural Graphics: Advanced Rendering | 3 |
| Arch 053 | Introduction to Architectural & Environmental Design | 3 |
| Arch 054 | Introduction to Architectural Desktop | 3 |
| Arch 056 | Basic Architectural Design | 3 |
| Arch 057 | Architectural Model Making | 1 |
| Arch 060 | Green Building &Sustainable Design | 3 |
| Arch 061 | Architectural Design I | 3 |
| Arch 062 | Architectural Design II | 3 |
| Arch 063 | Architectural Design III | 3 |
| Arch 065 | Advanced Architectural Desktop &3D Rendering | 3 |
| Required Electives (12 Units): Select from below | ||
| Course Number | Title | Units |
| Arch 040 | Fundamentals of Historic Preservation | 2 |
| Arch 041 | Science of Materials in Historic Preservation | 3 |
| Arch 042 | Architectural Restoration & Rehabilitation | 3 |
| Arch 043 | Styles in Architecture | 2 |
| Arch 046 | History of Architecture | 3 |
| Arch 047 | History of Modern Architecture | 3 |
| Arch 074 | Landscape Design I | 3 |
| Arch 075 | Landscape Design II | 3 |
| Arch 077 | GIS Applications to Architecture &Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| Arch 084 | Sustainability in Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| Total Number of Units | 49 | |
Certificate in Architecture
Learning Outcomes
- Communicate effectively and professionally in the architectural environment through proper use of verbal, written and graphic techniques.
- Apply mathematical skills to solve technical problems associated with architectural drawings.
- Develop architectural drawings and presentation drawings.
- Use computer graphics applications associated with architectural projects.
- Select construction materials based upon their properties and methods of installation.
- Demonstrate creativity and problem-solving abilities in designing residential and commercial buildings.
- Use standard dimensions for space planning and human occupancy using Architectural Graphic Standards.
- Identify professional, ethical and societal responsibilities including respect for diversity.
| Certificate in Architecture | ||
| Major Requirements (31 Units) | ||
| Course Number | Title | Units |
| Arch 045 | Architectural Building Codes | 3 |
| Arch 050 | Construction Materials & Methods | 3 |
| Arch 051 | Architectural Graphics: Drawing & Sketching | 3 |
| Arch 052 | Architectural Graphics: Advanced Rendering | 3 |
| Arch 053 | Introduction to Architectural & Environmental Design | 3 |
| Arch 054 | Introduction to Architectural Desktop | 3 |
| Arch 056 | Basic Architectural Design | 3 |
| Arch 057 | Architectural Model Making | 1 |
| Arch 061 | Architectural Design I | 3 |
| Arch 062 | Architectural Design II | 3 |
| Arch 065 | Advanced Architectural Desktop &3D Rendering | 3 |
| Total Number of Units | 31 | |
Last updated February 2010