BA/BS in Architecture

Architecture at Wellesley is taught as a combined path through history and hands-on design. Coursework draws on art history, studio art, and electives from other departments, so a student looks at buildings and cities from several angles. The aim is to read the built environment closely, noticing how politics, economics, and social change leave marks on structures and urban layouts. Students also practice drawing, modeling, and digital production to think spatially and test design ideas themselves. Majors can lean toward history, toward studio work, or divide their time evenly between the two. Certain design studios taken at MIT may count toward the major, which widens the range of studio experience on offer. The result is a graduate able to interpret architecture through critical theory, interdisciplinary methods, and professional ethics.