Who We Are

Architecture Scholars examine the world with a critical eye though the lens of the architectural and landscape architectural design and planning disciplines. The program focuses on growing students’ understanding of the historical, cultural, and social significance of the built and natural environments through site visits, seminars and travel opportunities. Additionally students enjoy social opportunities, the chance to interact with faculty, staff and upper-class students, and involvement with design-related community service organizations.

Students of any major with an interest in the design and development of our regions, cities, buildings, and public spaces should consider this program.

Common Majors

The Architecture Scholars Program provides exposure to the architecture, landscape architecture, and city and regional planning majors at Ohio State as well as to related disciplines and careers options associated with these fields. While many students in the Architecture Scholars program plan to pursue one of the above majors, this is not a program requirement. Other majors represented in the program include construction management, geological sciences, history, math, music, natural resources, psychology, sociology and more. Most importantly, a strong candidate for the Architecture Scholars Program is a student who is strongly interested in the program’s theme and desires to investigate the historical, cultural and social significance of the built and natural environment.

Baker West

All first-year Architecture Scholars students live in Baker Hall West on South Campus. This shared living environment is a critical component of the program and provides students with the distinct advantage of building relationships with other students who share similar interests and who are likely to enroll in similar courses. In addition to activities available though Architecture Scholars, many other programs organized by the staff in Baker West focus on students who have an interest in the visual and performing arts.

What We Do

The program guides students through a process of learning about the built environment, not just by being able to name places, dates, design styles and designers, but by understanding why a site, building or city looks the way it does and by interpreting the influential forces.

Students gain knowledge and insight though shared courses and especially though exploration and travel outside of the classroom. Service opportunities, local site visits and workshops aimed at developing specific skills provide a measure of aptitude and awareness. Finally, social activities provide an outlet for informal interaction and a way to engage with students across years of the program.

Architecture Scholars develop close ties with each other and demonstrate academic success on many levels.

Courses

All first-year Architecture Scholars will enroll in Architecture 1210 or Landscape Architecture 1210, Outlines of the Built Environment, during autumn semester.

Students who intend to major in architecture or landscape architecture will also enroll in Architecture 1410 or Landscape Architecture 1410, Intro to Design, during autumn semester, while students who intend to major in city and regional planning will enroll in City and Regional Planning 2110, Creating Innovative Cities and Regions. These courses are also available to non-majors who wish to take them as electives.

A clustered Scholars section of the university’s mandatory first-year writing course will also be available to students who need to complete this requirement. Many Architecture Scholars also choose to “self-cluster” themselves in General Education courses by simply scheduling the same classes at the same time.

Additionally, both the Architecture Scholars weekend travel program, and the Knowlton School of Architecture first-year study abroad program, require enrollment in a corresponding seminar. Please view the Travel section for more detail.

Activities

Service
Giving back to the community is an important component of being a responsible citizen. Architecture Scholars participate in service activities related to improving the built and natural environment. Service activities are often selected by students themselves and reinforce the ideas and theme of the Architecture Scholars program.

Site Visits
In addition to the more extensive travel opportunities available to Architecture Scholars, the group also participates in exploration of the local area. As a student at Ohio State, it’s important to get to know the Columbus area and to take advantage of its many resources. Early in autumn semester, the group will spend a day exploring the highlights of the Columbus downtown. Throughout the year, additional local trips and site visits to buildings, parks and firms in different areas of the city will be offered to students.

Skills Development
Aside from required courses, Architecture Scholars will also have opportunities to advance their skills and talents though specialized workshops outside of the typical classroom environment. Whether it be architectural sketching, tips on model building and what to expect in a studio class, or helpful hints about AutoCad and Photoshop, the program offers a way to be a step ahead and to learn skills and software in advance of when many other students might first be introduced to these items. Many workshops are initiated and taught by upper-class students.

Social
Architecture, landscape architecture and city and regional planning are especially collaborative disciplines. To support the need for working together, social activities allow students to have fun and get to know each other in a casual manner. Not only will you get to know the other Architecture Scholars students in your class year, you’ll also get to know upper-class students and faculty and staff. The strong support network created by Architecture Scholars is reinforced though social engagement.

Examples of recent social activities include a pumpkin carving contest, a canoe/kayak trip and a scavenger hunt. While some activities are just for fun, other activities include an educational component as well, such as “Cupakes for Corb” in honor of famous architect Le Corbusier’s birthday or a similar event to celebrate the father of landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted.

Travel

Day Trips
One or more full day trips occur each year for Architecture Scholars. These trips focus on exploring a specific work or works of architecture or landscape architecture within a short driving distance of Columbus.

Recent day trips have included visits to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob in western Pennsylvania, the Contemporary Arts Center designed by Zaha Hadid in downtown Cincinnati, and Allegheny Riverfront Park by Michael Van Valkenburgh and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. Depending on the trip and associated costs, students may be asked to contribute a small fee.

Weekend Travel Program
Annually, Architecture Scholars have the opportunity to participate in a weekend trip to study a particular city or region in person. This travel opportunity is tied to a required seminar in which students will learn about the historical, cultural and social aspects that influenced and continue to impact the design and development of the city. The seminar course is typically two credits and results in the creation of a student-designed travel guide to match the trip itinerary. The trip itself enables students to experience a new environment and to practice “reading” the city.

Recent destinations for the weekend travel program have included Chicago, Boston, Toronto and Buffalo. The program typically includes transportation, lodging, all group activities and admissions costs as well as several group meals. A fee is required for participation; the average cost per student is typically $225-275 depending on the destination.

Study Abroad
In addition to Honors & Scholars study abroad opportunities, the Knowlton School of Architecture encourages students to study abroad in their first-year through the offering of its own first-year program. This particular program is targeted toward students who intend to major in architecture, landscape architecture or city and regional planning or have a strong interest in one of those disciplines. The abroad program and its corresponding seminar offer an in-depth experience just right for beginning students.

London, Barcelona, and Istanbul have each served as past destinations for this short-term study abroad program. A program fee is required for participation.

Benefits

Like all of the Scholars Programs, Architecture Scholars will enhance your personal experience at Ohio State by providing specialized opportunities related to your specific interest. Participants will be surrounded by other students who share those interests and similar academic capabilities. The program will provide opportunities for close interaction with faculty and staff and will enable you to build a network of peers and mentors that you can draw upon for advice and support.

Of course, students who participate most actively in the program reap the greatest benefits. In order to maintain affiliation with Architecture Scholars, students should be prepared to earn at least a 3.0 GPA and meet general participation requirements.

Primary Benefits
Scholars students have the following advantages:

• • Shared living environment in Baker Hall West
  • Clustered courses and recitations specifically for Architecture Scholars students
  • Travel and exploration activities right away in your first year
  • Opportunities to connect with upper-class students, staff and faculty
  • Special invitations to participate in other university events or courses
  • Priority scheduling (scholars schedule at the beginning of their class level)
  

Preparation for Architecture and Landscape Architecture Majors
The Architecture Scholars Program provides a very strong preparation for the architecture and landscape architecture majors. Both majors are competitive, but students who have participated in Architecture Scholars during their first year on campus are extremely successful in being admitted to the major of their preference. Admission rates into these majors for Architecture Scholars participants regularly exceed 90 percent.

For example, in June 2011, 75 percent of first-year Architecture Scholars applied for admission to either the architecture or landscape architecture major after completing prerequisite coursework. Of those Architecture Scholars applicants, 96 percent were admitted to the major of their choice. The average GPA of admitted Architecture Scholars students was a 3.53, a mark which is nearly two-tenths higher than the average GPA of all admitted applicants from the overall pool. The strong community and support offered by the Architecture Scholars program keeps students on track.

FAQ

Why should I apply to become an Architecture Scholar?
The Architecture Scholars Program makes a large place like Ohio State seem much smaller by bringing specific opportunities directly to you from the very first day you arrive on campus. The camaraderie of the group provides students with the incentive and motivation to achieve academically. Many of the experiences and travel opportunities are only available to students in the program. Together, all of the activities associated with Architecture Scholars will benefit you as a student. Also, it’s a lot of fun!

Do I have to live in Architecture Scholars housing?
Yes, living in Baker West for your first year is a requirement of the program unless you are communing from home. Outside of the formal activities and programs offered to Architecture Scholars, day-to-day life in the residence hall environment is really one of the most important aspects of the program. (Students that commute will have access to the Architecture Scholars area in Baker West and are encouraged to participate in the residential environment as fully as possible.)

Do I have to be an architecture major to be an Architecture Scholar?
No, the term “architecture” is actually quite broad and encompasses much more that most people initially think. While many students in the program do initially intend to pursue architecture as major, the program encourages exploration of the closely related disciplines of landscape architecture and city and regional planning as well as other related fields. The program welcomes students of any major who have a demonstrated interest in understanding the built and natural environment. Opinions and viewpoints of students from many backgrounds and majors provide a dynamic element to the program.

How much time is required to be an Architecture Scholar?
Like all Scholars Programs at The Ohio State University, Architecture Scholars requires active participation in the program. The actual time commitment can vary per week or month, but generally students are expected to attend a one-hour weekly meetings as well as a handful of activities and events per semester. Some events are mandatory, while others are optional. Additionally, students are encouraged to attend other university events of interest to them. The time commitment is very manageable. Most importantly, remember that the activities and events planned for you as part of the Architecture Scholars Program will help you make the most of your Ohio State education.

How many students participate in the program?
The average size of each incoming Architecture Scholars cohort is approximately 35 students. Formally, the program is a two-year program, though many students continue to be active in the program until they graduate. Each year, students at any level within the program may apply to join the Student Leadership Team. The Leadership Team helps to determine and plan events and coordinate logistics.

Will I have much contact with the Program Coordinator?
Yes, the Program Coordinator holds weekly office hours in Baker West and in Knowlton Hall, coordinates the weekly group meetings, and participates in Scholars activities. The Program Coordinator also serves as an academic advisor for architecture, landscape architecture and city and regional planning majors.

Also, visit the Architecture Scholars Program blog at http://architecturescholars-osu.blogspot.com for a glimpse of the program’s day-to-day activities.

How to Apply

The Architecture Scholars Program is selective, and you must apply to be considered. Successful candidates have a variety of qualifications including solid academic records, strong writing skills, significant participation in extracurricular and community activities, and a diversity of life experiences.

Please note: Only new freshmen who begin at OSU's Columbus campus during the autumn semester are eligible to apply for the Scholars Programs. Students interested in the Scholars Program must complete the Honors & Scholars application after applying to the university. The priority deadline is December 15, 2011; the final deadline is February 15, 2012. To complete the Honors & Scholars application you will need your OSU ID, which you receive after you apply to the university; allow one week to receive this ID via e-mail after submitting your admissions application. You do not have to be admitted to the Columbus campus to apply to the Scholars Program; however, you must be admitted to the University in order for your application to advance in the review process.

For additional information about the Architecture Scholars Program, please contact Angela Vorwerk Beer at 614.247.7244 or beer.38@osu.edu.