Cosumnes River College
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Home Catalog Programs of Study List of Programs Architecture

Architecture

Overview

This program offers students study and job-related experience in architectural drafting, construction techniques, design, rendering, and energy systems as well as opportunities to develop skills necessary for employment in the professional field of architecture. Transfer programs are articulated with California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, the University of California at Berkeley, and New School of Architecture and Design.

Degrees and Certificates Offered

  • A.S. in Architecture
  • Architectural Technology Certificate
  • Green Buildings Certificate

Associate Degree

A.S. in Architecture

The objective of this program is to develop design and job-related skills necessary for entry into the professional field of architecture. The curriculum focuses on development of critical thinking and problem solving abilities as a means to creative thinking. College preparation for a career in architecture spans several disciplines and includes the development of knowledge and competencies in areas such as: architectural history and design; visual communication and drawing; computer modeling and rendering; construction methods and materials; energy systems and an understanding of human needs and sociology as they relate to the built environment.

HIGHLIGHTS
*Participation in architecturally-related events such as the Design Village Competition at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
*Field trips to a variety of architectural sites for study and appreciation of the built environment.
*Special studies in environmental sustainability and energy conscious design.
*Liaison with professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Specification Institute (CSI).

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Degree Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
ARCH 300 Introduction to Design Professions 2
ARCH 310 History of Architecture 3
ARCH 320 Architectural Design and Communication I 3.5
ARCH 321 Architectural Design and Communication II 3.5
ARCH 322 Architectural Design and Communication III 3.5
ARCH 325 Architectural Digital Design and Communication I 3
ARCH 326 Architectural Digital Design and Communication II 3
ARCH 329 Architectural Working Drawings 4
ARCH 330 Design Fundamentals 3.5
ARCH 332 Design Awareness 3
ARCH 334 Advanced Design in Three Dimensions 3
ARCH 342 Introduction to Green Buildings 3
CMT 310 Materials of Construction 3
Total Units: 41

The Architecture Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See CRC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • PSLO #1: Have the necessary technical knowledge and reasoning skills to identify, articulate, record information, assess evidence, investigate precedents and solve problems pertaining to the built environment and perform the tasks required within the architecture and environmental design professions. This includes the ability to use basic formal organizational and environmental principles; build abstract relationships to inform two and three‐dimensional design; and understand the impact of ideas based on research, analysis of multiple theoretical, social, political, economic, cultural and environmental contexts.
  • PSLO #2: Have the necessary communication skills, using a diverse range of techniques and media to think about and convey architectural ideas including writing; analytical and envisioning drawing; speaking to peers and groups; computer modeling and physical model‐making.
  • PSLO #3: Be able to comprehend the technical aspects of design, systems, sustainability, constructability, and materials, and be able to apply this comprehension to architectural solutions. This includes: 1. Site Design: Ability to respond to site determinants such as context and planning issues in the development of a project design. 2. Life Safety: Ability to apply basic principles of life‐safety systems and exiting. 3. Environmental Systems: Understanding the principles of environmental control systems and sustainable design. 4. Structural Systems: Understanding the basic principles of structural behavior in withstanding gravity and lateral loads and the appropriate structural alternatives. 5. Building Envelope Systems: Understanding of the basic principles of building materials and characteristics in the appropriate selection relative to performance, aesthetics, moisture control, energy and durability.
  • PSLO #4: ave the values of ethics and understanding of historical, cultural, human, aesthetic, environmental, public health and social issues to be able to affect creative change. This includes understanding the diverse needs, values, behavioral norms, physical abilities, social and spatial patterns that characterize different cultures and individuals.
  • PSLO #5: Be able to work effectively as a team member or as an individual.
  • PSLO #6: Have the professional attitude and desire for life‐long learning. This includes developing habits of research, precedent, and independent learning.

Career Information

Architecture; Building Information Modeler; Inspection; Planning; Construction Administration. Some career options may require more than two years of college study. Classes beyond the associate degree may be required to fulfill some career options or for preparation for transfer to a university program.

Certificates of Achievement

Architectural Technology Certificate

The objective of this certificate is to develop design and job-related skills necessary for entry into the professional field of architecture. The curriculum focuses on development of critical thinking and problem solving abilities as a means to creative thinking. College preparation for a career in architecture spans several disciplines and includes the development of knowledge and competencies in areas such as: architectural design; visual communication and drawing; computer modeling and rendering; construction methods and materials; energy systems and an understanding of human needs and sociology as they relate to the built environment.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Certificate Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
ARCH 300 Introduction to Design Professions 2
ARCH 320 Architectural Design and Communication I 3.5
ARCH 321 Architectural Design and Communication II 3.5
ARCH 322 Architectural Design and Communication III 3.5
ARCH 325 Architectural Digital Design and Communication I 3
ARCH 326 Architectural Digital Design and Communication II 3
ARCH 329 Architectural Working Drawings 4
ARCH 330 Design Fundamentals 3.5
ARCH 332 Design Awareness 3
ARCH 334 Advanced Design in Three Dimensions 3
ARCH 342 Introduction to Green Buildings 3
CMT 310 Materials of Construction 3
Total Units: 38

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • PSLO #1: Have the necessary technical knowledge and reasoning skills to identify, articulate, record information, assess evidence, investigate precedents and solve problems pertaining to the built environment and perform the tasks required within the architecture and environmental design professions. This includes the ability to use basic formal organizational and environmental principles; build abstract relationships to inform two and three‐dimensional design; and understand the impact of ideas based on research, analysis of multiple theoretical, social, political, economic, cultural and environmental contexts.
  • PSLO #2: Have the necessary communication skills, using a diverse range of techniques and media to think about and convey architectural ideas including writing; analytical and envisioning drawing; speaking to peers and groups; computer modeling and physical model‐making.
  • PSLO #3: Be able to comprehend the technical aspects of design, systems, sustainability, constructability, and materials, and be able to apply this comprehension to architectural solutions. This includes: 1. Site Design: Ability to respond to site determinants such as context and planning issues in the development of a project design. 2. Life Safety: Ability to apply basic principles of life‐safety systems and exiting. 3. Environmental Systems: Understanding the principles of environmental control systems and sustainable design. 4. Structural Systems: Understanding the basic principles of structural behavior in withstanding gravity and lateral loads and the appropriate structural alternatives. 5. Building Envelope Systems: Understanding of the basic principles of building materials and characteristics in the appropriate selection relative to performance, aesthetics, moisture control, energy and durability.
  • PSLO #4: Have the values of ethics and understanding of historical, cultural, human, aesthetic, environmental, public health and social issues to be able to affect creative change. This includes understanding the diverse needs, values, behavioral norms, physical abilities, social and spatial patterns that characterize different cultures and individuals.
  • PSLO #5: Be able to work effectively as a team member or as an individual.
  • PSLO #6: Have the professional attitude and desire for life‐long learning. This includes developing habits of research, precedent, and independent learning.

Career Information

Architecture; Building Information Modeler; Inspection; Planning; Construction Administration. Some career options may require more than an Architectural Technology certificate. Classes beyond the associate degree may be required to fulfill some career options or for preparation for transfer to a university program.

Green Buildings Certificate

The purpose of this certificate is to develop job skills and an understanding of green strategies for high performance buildings and livable communities. It is focused on students and professionals in the fields of architecture; construction; building management; construction management; building inspection; design technology; landscape; and planning, who want to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of an integrated, economic life-cycle approach to the design of the built environment. It includes study of green rating systems, material choices and environmental strategies for a livable, sustainable future.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Certificate Requirements
Course Code Course Title Units
ARCH 342 Introduction to Green Buildings 3
CMT 310 Materials of Construction 3
A minimum of 12 units from the following: 12
ARCH 322 Architectural Design and Communication III (3.5)
ARCH 332 Design Awareness (3)
ADT 320 Architectural Design Technology - Building Information Modeling (BIM) I (3)
ADT 322 Architectural Design Technology - Building Information Modeling (BIM) II (3)
BIT 150 California Energy Code – Building Energy Efficiency Standards (3)
CONST 143 Solar Photovoltaic Systems (3)
ECON 306 Environmental Economics (3)
GEOG 302 Environmental Studies & Sustainability (3)
GEOG 305 Global Climate Change (3)
GEOG 306 Weather and Climate (3)
Total Units: 18

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • PSLO 1: Establish meaningful ethical, social and environmental objectives for buildings and communities based on the values of energy and resource conscious design.
  • Compare and contrast societal and economic implications of utilizing renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
  • Compare and contrast the effect of contextual issues and evaluate their impact on energy consumption, environment and the beneficial experience of interior and exterior spaces.
  • PSLO 2: Identify and articulate issues related to the choice of various building, landscape and environmental systems; ideate responsive solutions; and compare the alternatives in making effective, sustainable decisions.
  • Analyze and calculate energy use to make informed, environmentally-sound and economic choices to satisfy human needs for comfort and aesthetics.
  • Explain the concepts of resource conservation and waste reduction and make sustainable design choices related to materials and construction.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of green rating systems, livable communities strategies and the ability to apply these concepts in decision-making.
  • PSLO 3: Demonstrate independent learning, teamwork and continuing education habits that will help to encourage a life long pursuit of knowledge.
  • To use a team work process to identify issues, analyze criteria, research and apply learned principles to synthesize solutions to specific design projects.
  • To demonstrate habits of visual note making and independent research by developing a sketch and notebook to record learning.

Career Information

This certificate helps to develop the knowledge base related to sustainable green buildings and environments for the careers of architecture, construction, construction management, building inspection, horticulture, landscape architecture and architectural design technology.

Architecture (ARCH) Courses

ARCH 300 Introduction to Design Professions

  • Units:2
  • Hours:36 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a comprehensive study of the professions related to the built environment including architecture, landscape architecture, construction management, construction, city and urban planning, interior design, building inspection, environmental and energy planning. Guest speakers from various design and construction professions will engage students in discussions related to their professional practice and the necessary preparation in education and experience. Each student will evaluate his/her interest and potential of success in the areas of his/her choice. The course will include an overview of architectural history, an introduction to some of the major architects and class discussion of current issues in the environmental design professions. Additional topics in the class will include: transfer, licensing requirements and environmental design vocabulary.

ARCH 310 History of Architecture

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 101
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course studies the architecture design theories and practices of the late 19th and 20th century to the present including the Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, Expressionism, De Stijl international style, Fascist Ideologies, Regionism, Post World War II Amalgamations of Twentieth Century idioms and recent reactions to contemporary standardization.

ARCH 320 Architectural Design and Communication I

  • Units:3.5
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Corequisite:ARCH 325
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is an introduction to the concepts and processes associated with two and three-dimensional design. A series of design projects are used to discover principles and concepts of design while simultaneously addressing the skills associated with representing envisioned ideas, objects and environments. This includes the development of freehand sketching, manual drafting and graphic skills for communication of analysis and design concepts. Students should previously or concurrently enroll in ARCH 325 to learn methods for digital construction of design and drawing projects assigned in ARCH 320.

ARCH 321 Architectural Design and Communication II

  • Units:3.5
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Corequisite:ARCH 326
  • Advisory:It is advisable that students enrolling in this course should have completed Arch 320 and 325 or a computer modeling course, in order to have abilities at computer modeling and to understand basic drawing types of orthographic, paraline and perspective.
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a continuation and development of the content and issues introduced in ARCH 320 plus the principles, concepts, methods and skills pertaining to the construction of shadows and reflections, physical model building, entourage and color theory. A series of design projects are used to discover principles and concepts of design while simultaneously addressing the skills associated with representing envisioned ideas, objects and environments. This includes the development of physical model making, freehand sketching, manual drafting and graphic skills for communication of analysis and design concepts. Students should previously or concurrently enroll in ARCH 326 to learn methods for digital construction of design and drawing projects assigned in ARCH 321.

ARCH 322 Architectural Design and Communication III

  • Units:3.5
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:It is advisable that students enrolling in this course should have completed Arch 320 or Arch 321 in order to have abilities at design, computer modeling and to understand basic drawing types of orthographic, paraline and perspective.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a continuation and development of the content and issues introduced in ARCH 320 and 321 plus the issues, concepts, processes and skills pertaining to the analysis and design of architectural form, space and organizations. A series of design projects are used to discover principles and concepts of design while simultaneously addressing the skills associated with representing envisioned ideas, objects and environments. This includes the development of freehand sketching, computer modeling, architectural delineation and graphic skills for communication of analysis and design concepts.

ARCH 325 Architectural Digital Design and Communication I

  • Units:3
  • Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Corequisite:ARCH 320
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is a studio course to explore principles, concepts, methods and skills pertaining to the digital construction of drawings employing orthographic, axonometric, oblique, and lineal perspective drawing systems to represent ideas, objects and environments.

ARCH 326 Architectural Digital Design and Communication II

  • Units:3
  • Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Corequisite:ARCH 321
  • Advisory:ARCH 325 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a continuation and development of the content and issues introduced in ARCH 325, plus the principles, concepts, methods and skills pertaining to the digital construction of shadows, digital model building, entourage and color theory.

ARCH 329 Architectural Working Drawings

  • Units:4
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:It is advised that students taking this have completed a Building Information Modeling (BIM) course or have completed Arch 321 and Arch 326.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides an introduction to residential design and construction documents. Students will design a residence and produce a complete set of architectural working drawings.

ARCH 330 Design Fundamentals

  • Units:3.5
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ARCH 320 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course develops an understanding of design fundamentals in terms of materiality and the theories, concepts, creative problem solving processes, and skills pertaining to the analysis and design of architectural form, space and organizations to communicate intended concepts and meanings.

ARCH 332 Design Awareness

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 18 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ARCH 320 and 321 with grades of "C" or better
  • Advisory:ARCH 330
  • Transferable:CSU; UC
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course examines design problems and the environment by providing theories, concepts, processes, studies and skills pertaining to space, form, structure, context, materials, climate, livability and sustainability. The course covers sustainability as a determinant that shapes and impacts the built environment.

ARCH 334 Advanced Design in Three Dimensions

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC; 18 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:ARCH 332 with a grade of "C" or better
  • Advisory:ARCH 320 and 330
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is a continuation of the content in ARCH 332 that emphasizes design process, with a focus on advanced design in terms of three dimensional design and design problems pertaining to the environment. The course studies the theories, concepts, processes and skills pertaining to space, form, structure, context, structure, materials, climate, and livability, as well as sustainability as determinants that shape and impact the built environment.

ARCH 342 Introduction to Green Buildings

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course is the study of theory and application of climate, energy use and thermal comfort as determinants of architectural form in envelope load dominated buildings. Emphasis is placed on sustainable architectural methods and topics related to resource conservation and waste reduction; site analysis; sun access; sun shading; daylighting; lighting, ventilating, cooling and heating for envelope-load dominated buildings; and sound in buildings. The course enhances students' knowledge base and preparation for design classes ARCH 332 and ARCH 334.

This course replaces the ARCH 340 and 341 two-course sequence, and is therefore not open to a student that has received credit for both ARCH 340 and 341.

ARCH 495 Independent Studies in Architecture

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies.

ARCH 498 Work Experience in Architecture

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Enrollment Limitation:Before students can enroll or participate in the Work Experience program, Los Rios Community College District must have a signed Employer Agreement on file with the student’s worksite. If the employer already has an active agreement with the district (viewable at losrios.edu/wexpemployeragreement), no further action is required. In addition, students must have a paid or unpaid internship, volunteer position, or job that aligns with their career goals in the field of Architecture and a cooperating worksite supervisor who will sign all required course documents. High School students are not permitted to enroll in Work Experience courses.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • General Education:Local GE L7B (effective Summer 2026)
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment in their major field of study or advancement within their career. It is designed for students interested in work experience and/or internships in transfer level degree occupational programs. Course content includes understanding the application of education to the workforce; completion of required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at the work site; and developing workplace skills and competencies. Appropriate level learning objectives are established by the student and the employer. During the semester, the student is required to participate in a weekly orientation and complete 27 hours of related work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units. Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be taken up to four times when new or expanded learning objectives are introduced. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.

ARCH 499 Experimental Offering in Architecture

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

Catalog