Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science)

Graduates find employment in a wide range of fields, especially where initiative, creative thinking and critical awareness are valued. Graduates of this degree are sought after as there is a shortage of qualified people in the disciplines within the Built Environment particularly in Australia given the strength of the economy. Architects are employed across several industries including: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Construction; Public Administration and Safety; and Health Care and Social Assistance.

This degree is the prerequisite for entry into the Master of Architecture, entry to the degree is competitive and a high semester weighted average is required. Students with a Bachelor's degree from a non AACA accredited architecture program are required to submit a folio at the time of application.

Graduates of this undergraduate degree who do not intend to practise architecture will have opportunities in areas such as urban design, environmental research, building conservation, heritage matters or community development.

Professional recognition

This degree does not qualify the holder for registration as an architect or for Associate Membership of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. The educational qualifications required for registration are obtained through successful completion of the Master of Architecture degree, for which this degree is a prerequisite.

Open enrolment subjects

There are seven open enrolment subjects in this degree. Students do not have to submit an Application Form for open enrolment subjects, and can enrol in APC100, BAS115, BAS120, BAS130, BAS140/BAS145(co-requisites), BAS150 through Open Universities Australia.

Higher education via OUA

• Successful completion of two of the following recommended eight open enrolment subjects APC100, BAS110/BAS115 (co-requisites), BAS120, BAS130, BAS140/BAS145 (co-requisites) and BAS150 (of which one must be APC100) and separate English language proficiency is required OR
• Successful completion of four OUA full degree level subjects at pass level, of which one must be APC100. (This satisfies English language competency requirement.)

Higher education

If you are currently studying or have previously studied Architecture elsewhere, onshore or offshore, and are applying for entry into the 2nd year or above of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science) course, you may be required to sit an interview for folio review. STAT elements considered are E, and either V or Q.

Secondary education

• Tertiary Entrance Ranking 70 or equivalent. Students must have English ATAR, Literature ATAR or English as an Additional Language/Dialect ATAR. To determine your eligibility for entry please refer to Interstate Year 12 and IB Students, TISC Tertiary Institutions Service Centre link http://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/prerequisites-comparison.tisc

VET studies

• Completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma or Associate Diploma. You may also be eligible for credit toward your university study OR
• Completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV and evidence of English proficiency.

Work and Life

• Successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). (Please note this test is valid for two years.)
• Finished secondary education more than two years ago
• Bridging and enabling degree entry
  • Curtin Enabling Program: UniReady - https://www.open.edu.au/degrees/uniready-enabling-subjects-curtin-university-cur-unr-deg
• Enabling degrees completed through other Australian Universities which meet minimum entry requirements for that institution will be accepted as minimum entry requirements for this degree.

Additional Information

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Centre for Aboriginal Studies - http://karda.curtin.edu.au/
• Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications -   https://study.curtin.edu.au/applying/overseas-qualifications/ 
• English language proficiency

English Proficiency Requirements

Applicants need to meet Curtin's English Language requirements. You normally need ONE of the following:

• Must have a 50% minimum in English ATAR (or equivalent).
• Completion of at least one full time semester (or equivalent) of Undergraduate level studies at an Australian University
• Completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma or Associate Diploma
• Successful completion of two degree level subjects via Open Universities Australia (OUA) and English proficiency
• Successful completion of two degree level subjects at an Australian university and English proficiency
• Successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). (Please note this test is valid for two years.)

Please refer to the 'Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements' document at https://study.curtin.edu.au/applying/english-language-requirements/.

*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***

Special requirements

Software Requirements — Students will require access to the following software: Photoshop, AutoCAD and Rhino. Details on accessing AutoCAD and Rhino will be provided in due degree at the commencement of relevant subjects (please note this software is free for student use). The student will be responsible for organising access to Photoshop, although student discount rates are available for Adobe.

Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.

Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.

To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: https://study.curtin.edu.au/credit/

It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.

More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning manual (PDF).

This degree is the prerequisite for entry into the Master of Architecture. The degree covers the design of buildings, the technical aspects of building construction, and how architecture relates to societies, cultures and people and the way they live. Architectural ideas are communicated through written and spoken reports, photographs, drawings, models and the electronic media. Students not intending to continue on to the Master may use the knowledge gained in this degree to seek employment within the architectural profession or building industry.

Software Requirements — Students will require access to the following software: Photoshop, AutoCAD and Rhino. Details on accessing AutoCAD and Rhino will be provided in due degree at the commencement of relevant subjects (please note this software is free for student use). The student will be responsible for organising access to Photoshop, although Curtin can offer student discount rates.

Related Degrees

This degree sits within a group of degrees:

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science)
• Master of Architecture

Recommended Study Pattern

Students MUST successfully complete all 24 subjects comprised of the Core Zone (20 subjects) and the Flexible Zone (4 subjects).

CORE ZONE (20 core subjects)

Essential Subjects: Complete the following core subjects:

Level 1 subjects:

• APC100 - Academic and Professional Communications
• BAS115 Architecture and Interior Architecture Methods 1A-Analogue Literacy
• BAS120 Technology of Design
• BAS130 Reading Architecture Globally
• BAS140 Architecture and Interior Architecture Design Studio 1- Small Structures
• BAS145 Architecture and Interior Architecture Methods 1B-Digital Literacy
• BAS150 Architectural Science in Context

Level 2 subjects:

• BAS200 Architecture and Interior Architecture Design Studio 2A-Residential Typology and Grammar
• BAS205 Architecture Methods 2A- Digital Fabrication
• BAS230 Architecture Design Studio 2B- Regional Studio
• BAS235 Architecture Methods 2B- Information Visualisation
• BAS240 Architectural Documentation and Detailing
• BAS250 Architecture and Identity

Level 3 subjects:

• BAS300 Architecture Design Studio 3A- Multi Residential
• BAS305 Architecture Methods 3A- Digital Futures
• BAS310 Environmental and Building Systems in Architecture
• BAS320 Urban Contexts
• BAS330 Architecture Design Studio 3B-Civic
• BAS340 Building Information Modelling in Architecture
• BAS350 Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Architectural Theories

FLEXIBLE ZONE Choose one Specialisation: (4 subjects)

Specialisations prepare students to develop broad knowledge about an additional discipline area or same discipline area that complements their study in an award course. Some Specialisations may assist students to progress into postgraduate studies but have specific entry requirements.

Construction Management

This specialisation is developed for students wishing to understand the principles and processes surrounding building construction and management, specifically focusing on low and high rise construction, building surveying and construction contracts.

• CME101 Low Rise Construction
• CME206 Building Surveying
• CME309 Construction Contracts and Law
• CME103 Introduction to Management in Construction or CME106 High Rise Construction

Interior Architecture Specialisation

This specialisation is developed for students wishing to understand principles informing Interior Architecture design considerations including design elements, interior theory, philosophy, practice and aesthetics that impact and inform spatial experience.

• BIA170 History of the Interior
• BIA100 Interior Design Studio- Elements or BIA140 Interior Design Studio -City
• BIA280 Philosophy and Practice
• BIA250 Interior Design Studio- Community or WBP300 Work Based Project

Animation and Game Architecture Design Specialisation

•  DIG10 Game Design Introduction
• DIG230 Introduction to 3D Modelling and Rendering
• DIG28 Animation and Motion Graphics Design
• DIG39 Industry Project Development or WBP300 Work Based Project

 Suggested study plans for full time study will be available soon.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science), students must complete the following:

• 20 core subjects (core zone) and one specialisation comprised of 4 subjects (flexible zone)
• Students who fail a core subject twice may be terminated from the degree
• This degree must be completed within 10 years

Changes in 2022

Students will have choice to pick one of the available specialisations in Bachelor of Applied Science (Architectural Science).

• Interior Architecture
• Construction Management
• Animation and Game Architecture Design

 The structure changes will have minimum impact on student study plans in the Bachelor of Applied Sciences ( Architectural Sciences). 

 * BIA130 Philosophy and Practice has been directly replaced with BIA280 Philosophy and Practice. 

 * BIA230 Spatial Experience and Aesthetics has been retired and students will have choice to pick from two alternate cores to suit their study plan. 

 Should students have any other questions or request the updated study plan, please contact Digital Learning Team in the school of Design and the Built Environment: dbeoua@curtin.edu.au. 

Changes in 2021:

This degree has undergone a major change effective from Study Period 3, 2021. It is with anticipation that there will be very minimal impact on students who are admitted in the current version. Current students in the program will be taught out in the next few years. The course coordinator will be assisting students who fall behind to have individualised study plans developed.

Core subjects:

The following subjects will be removed from the Core structure:

• BAS110 - Architecture Design 1*
• BAS220 - Architectural Histories of Illusion, Power and Imagination
• BAS335 - Architecture Methods 6

*For students who need to complete this subject, BIA140 - Interior Design Studio 1 - City is an accepted alternative core subject.

New Specialisations:

Two new specialisations have been introduced from SP3. Each specialisation requires the completion of 4 subjects and students are required to select one specialisation.

• Interior Architecture
• Construction Management

Should students have any other questions, they can contact the school at dbeoua@curtin.edu.au