Freshman Year
Freshman Pre-Orientation Program
A number of Pre-Orientation Programs are offered each August as a way for incoming freshman to get a sneak preview of MIT and some of the departments. Our department offers an opportunity to interested freshman to discover architecture.
During the three activity-packed days, we try to give freshman a taste of what we believe the goal of our undergraduate program is. We aim to develop our student as:
- Creators—leaders who use architecture to offer creative solutions
- Collaborators—who know how to work with others to solve problems
- Translators—who are sensitive to cultural, social and human conditions
- Craftspeople—who can make, assemble, craft and build materials into beautiful and useful forms
- Designers—who develop the skills to produce architecture of creative value and who have an understanding of building technologies
- Communicators—who can effectively explain ideas through words, drawings, models and computers
Recommended Course 4 Subjects for Freshman
4.111, Experiencing Architecture Studio — This studio class is for students who are intending to major in architecture, or students who want to get a good healthy taste of architecture studio. It is the first in a series of architecture design studios, which is the heart of architecture education. The class meets twice a week for three hours each session and 12 units is awarded upon successful completion. Though the class is offered in both the fall and spring, it is recommended that freshman take it in the spring term.
4.605, Introduction to the History and Theory of Architecture — This popular introductory class is a survey on the history of architecture and urbanism from Ancient Egypt to the present. It will satisfy a HASS-Distribution, category 3 Visual and Performing Arts, and provide a solid background for other classes in architecture history. It is also one of the required classes for the major.
4.001J/11.004J, CityScope
This new subject is designed to expose freshman to the complex system dynamics of cities “at risk” and to encourage them to use physical design, social policy, engineering, technology, or other social and science innovations to assess and solve problems in urban environments. The class includes a trip to New Orleans, which is the currently chosen city at risk. Students will work on solutions to the city’s problems using fist-hand knowledge and various interdisciplinary techniques.
A list of current Department of Architecture subject offerings can be found on our Course 4 Class Offerings site.
Quick Links
Dept. of Arch. Class Offerings
Discover Architecture
Pre-Orientation Programs
