Architectural Studies
Architectural Studies (AS) majors emerge from Middlebury as broad, analytical, and kinetic thinkers with strong spatial, visual, oral, and written communication skills. They benefit from a range of courses in history, theory, and practice within the Department of the History of Art and Architecture (HARC), as well as the expertise of dedicated local practitioners and faculty in numerous departments and programs across Middlebury.
We foster our students’ love of research, analysis and expression through complimentary design studios, lecture classes, and seminars. This provides a broad education on the built environment and the human condition with deep roots in the Humanities and the Arts. Architectural Studies majors develop a body of knowledge, modes of thinking, and skill sets that are both deeply intellectual and broadly marketable.
Our students understand that they are part of a continuum: knowledge of the past–including historic inequities and disciplinary conventions–helps one to understand the present and design for the future.
Majoring and Minoring:
Students who major or minor in Architectural Studies may minor, joint, or double major with other academic departments and programs, including within the Department of the History of Art and Architecture (HARC), which houses both Architectural Studies and Art History/Museum Studies majors. If you are interested in a major or minor, please reach out to either the AS Track Head or Department Chair; they can direct you accordingly and help you find an advisor.
Do you have an interest in design and social justice, including housing? A major in Architectural Studies with a minor in or joint major with Art History/Museum Studies and coursework in Black Studies might be a wise course of study.
What about planning? A major in Architectural Studies, with a minor in Sociology and coursework in policy and Geography would be a good fit.
Students interested in museums, exhibitionary practices, and visual communication should take curatorially focused Art History/Museum Studies classes, Architectural Studies studios, Studio Art classes, and ideally pursue a joint or double major.
Someone interested in ecology and landscape might want to major in Environmental Studies and supplement this with coursework in Architectural Studies (or vice versa). We do not advise pursuing a joint major with Environmental Studies, but we do support extensive coursework in Environmental Studies.
Required Senior Thesis Work
Three senior thesis options (HARC 731/2, HARC 741/2, or HARC 751/2) allow students to tailor advanced work in the Architectural Studies major to their academic interests and produce materials that are reflective of their academic journey.
Students should discuss curricular connections within and outside of the Department of the History of Art and Architecture, as well as senior work options, with their primary academic advisor in the department, the Architectural Studies Track Head, and/or the Department Chair.
Study Abroad
Our majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad. Some students attend design schools, while others study at leading research universities or Middlebury schools abroad. Popular choices for AS majors are Oxford University, University College Dublin, Montevideo, Paris Ecole Speciale, and Madrid. Do note that many leading programs require foreign language proficiency. We do not encourage students to attend schools where the language of instruction is English (unless it is an English-speaking country).
Post-Graduate Life
Our students pursue a wide range of careers after Middlebury (both design-adjacent and not) and are well positioned to attend leading graduate programs in architecture, visual communication, planning, landscape architecture, and art/architectural history. Do note that our Architectural Studies major results in a Bachelor of Arts degree. It does not result in a professional degree (BArch) and graduate school is required for those interested in professional practice, as well as employment in many design-focused careers.
Renovated Johnson Memorial Building Reopens as Arts Hub on Campus
See Inside
In 2023, Johnson was thoroughly renovated, upgraded, and expanded. As home to the Architectural Studies and Studio Art departments, as well as a newly added makerspace and student-run gallery, Johnson is once again a major hub for the visual arts, design, and creativity at Middlebury.
Cameron Visiting Architect Program
Studio courses in Architectural Studies are enriched by visits from nationally renowned architects who work directly with students, offering additional perspectives to the practice of architecture. Read more about the Cameron Visiting Architect Program.
Design Assembly
The Design Assembly brings together a team of students and architects for eight intensive days to live off the grid while designing and building a project for a community. Past Design Assembly projects have taken place on islands in Penobscot Bay, Maine, and in the mountains of Goshen, Vermont.
The program is open to students from all colleges and universities, and no experience with design or construction is necessary. Student participants experience a real-world project, hands-on learning, and a professional externship with our firm. In 2017, the American Institute of Architects New England Region bestowed an award for Excellence in Architecture on the Island Design Assembly projects completed over the previous five years, and the program was one of 16 international case studies featured in the book The Design Build Studio: Crafting Meaningful Work in Architecture Education.
Find program details, photographs, and application information on the website.