Architecture & Sustainable Design

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

About this program

When you define your future at Penn College, you’re investing in yourself. With a degree in Architecture and Sustainable Design, you’re taking that impact to a whole new level. Explore alternative building methods and technologies that promote energy efficiency, preserve natural resources, and reduce negative environmental impacts.

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Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

Graduate School Pathways

24/7

Access to Design Studios

Sustainability Careers are Rapidly Growing

Careers

  • Sustainable designer
  • Sustainability contractor
  • Detailer
  • Architectural project team member
  • Graduate school
Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

  • Introduction to Architecture (ACH101)
  • Architectural Graphics (ACH111)
  • Architectural History (ACH112)
  • Building Materials I (ACH119)
  • Architectural Computer-Aided Drafting (ACH135)
  • Building Materials II (ACH129)
  • Construction Documents - Residential (ACH139)
  • Building Codes & Accessibility (ACH141)
  • Architectural Design Studio I (ACH181)
  • Architectural Graphics II (ACH211)
  • Construction Documents - Commercial (ACH239)
  • Structural Principles (ACH243)
  • Architectural Design Studio II (ACH261)
  • Sustainability: Building & Living Green (ACH262)
  • Computers & Estimating (ACH264)
  • Environmental Systems (ACH240)
  • Structural Applications (ACH253)
  • Architectural Design Studio III (ACH281)
  • Specified Architecture & Sustainable Design Elective (ASD)
  • Architectural Design Studio IV (BSD332)
  • Detailing & Applications (BSD340)
  • Historic Preservation (BSD410)
  • History of Modern Architecture (ACH272)
  • Sustainable Community Planning & Design (BSD322)
  • Architectural Design Studio V (BSD352)
  • Renewable Energy Technologies (BSD420)
  • Architectural Design Studio VI (BSD432)
  • Architectural Theory (BSD442)
  • Sustainable Rating Systems (BSD450)
  • Architectural Design Studio VII (BSD452)

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

  • Physics Survey (PHS103) or
  • Physics with Technological Applications (PHS114)
  • Core Global & Cultural Diversity Perspective (CDP)
  • Core Social Science Perspective (SSP)
  • Science Elective (SCI) or
  • Science Elective with lab (SCL)

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

  • College Algebra & Trigonometry I (MTH181)
  • English Composition I (ENL111)
  • Speech Elective (SPC)
  • English Composition II (ENL121) or
  • Technical & Professional Communication (ENL201)
  • Introduction to Geometry (MTH172) or
  • College Algebra & Trigonometry II (MTH183)
View Goals & Course List
Featured Video

Q & A

Meet Naim Jabbour, architecture and sustainable design professor. In this video, he dives into some of the most commonly asked questions about architecture.
Guaranteed Momentum

Pursue your Master of Architecture at RIT

Penn College and Rochester Institute of Technology have established an articulation agreement that grants students in the Architecture & Sustainable Design major advanced placement into the second year of RIT's master's program. And the best part? RIT will offer up to three annual scholarships equivalent to at least 25% of tuition costs. 

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Collaborative Studio Space
Facilities

Collaborative Studio Space

Mixed use studios carve out space for design presentation, computer work, and layout table with designated model-building areas. 

Maker Profiles
Tour Schedule

Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about. Academic Tours allow you to explore labs and get to the core of your future program. If you’re looking for a deeper dive into your academic area of interest, opt for a Self-Scheduled Personal Tour. Comprehensive COVID-19 safety protocols are in place.

Jun 26

Open House

Sunday, June 268:30 AM - 2:30 PM Eastern Time (U.S.)

Register

Jul 23

Open House

Saturday, July 238:30 AM - 2:30 PM Eastern Time (U.S.)

Register

Jul 29

Open House

Friday, July 298:30 AM - 2:30 PM Eastern Time (U.S.)

Register

More tour dates are on the way.

But let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Need a different date?

Let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

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Admissions Office

If you can't attend any of these dates Contact Admissions at 570.320.2400

The Dr. Welch Workshop
Tomorrow is in the Making

The Dr. Welch Workshop

The makerspace is an open workshop for all students. Take hands-on learning to the next level. Explore your creativity. Bring your ideas to light. Collaborate with other students, faculty and staff, or work independently to test theories, explore ideas, and gain real-world skills to power your career. 

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Internship

Your knowledge in practice

Internships are key for career preparation. Apply your know-how in the workplace and learn about the industry first-hand. 

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Related Programs

Follow your passion

Student Life

Lead and put your skills to the test

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) at Penn College

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) at Penn College

Appreciate architecture with friends and make connections that last a lifetime. This organization focuses on building leadership skills and community outreach. 

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Student Organizations at Penn College

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Get Involved
News

Architectural Technology & Sustainable Design

05.20.2022

Architecture alum featured in WVIA’s ‘Careers That Work’ series

Haley M. Kalvin-Gold, who earned an associate degree in architectural technology during the spring semester, is profiled in a ...

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Architectural Technology & Sustainable Design

04.22.2022

Women in Construction enjoy faculty-led Vic House visit

Members of the Penn College Women in Construction club – including President Makenzie Erinn Witmer, a construction management ...

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Architectural Technology & Sustainable Design

04.20.2022

Students headed to Denver as ‘Solar Decathlon’ finalists

Pennsylvania College of Technology is fielding one of the 55 teams traveling to Colorado this week for the final round of the U ...

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Gain global experience
Study Abroad

Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

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Student Experience
Sitting idly by? Not these students!

Sitting idly by? Not these students!

Six teams of third-year students in Architectural Design Studio V pursued the literal “seat of knowledge” in fashioning functional furniture out of corrugated cardboard on each side of the recent Spring Break. Offered annually since at least 2016, the creative exercise gives the groups two weeks each to design and build full-scale chairs from sheets of the recyclable material that integrate the concepts of function, aesthetics, ergonomics and detail.

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More Information

In addition to the transfer standards established by the College, students seeking transfer credit from another institution for architecture program courses may be asked to submit examples of coursework to the architecture department head.

Determination by the department head as to whether transfer credit is given will be based on alignment of the transfer course with Penn College course content.

View general transfer information

View the Architectural Technology Tool List

CAD Software Links and Computer Specifications

The following is a list of information that will be helpful for Architectural Technology and Building Science and Sustainable Design students interested in purchasing their own computers. Please note that purchasing a computer and software is optional. Students in our programs are not required to purchase their own computers. Many of our classrooms are equipped with computers and we have open computer labs most evenings and during the weekend.

Students in the Architectural Technology and Building Science and Sustainable Design majors use the following programs:

  • Autodesk AutoCAD®
  • Autodesk Revit®
  • Trimble Sketchup®
  • Adobe Photoshop®

Many of the software products developed by Autodesk are free to our students if they enroll in the Autodesk® student community. If students wish to purchase their own computers, we suggest they purchase one capable of running Revit.

Uniforms and tools are available for purchase through The College Store.

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

  • Mr. Larry Basile, '91, Executive Vice President, Supply Source, Inc.
  • Mr. David W Daneker, '81, Construction Project Manager, UPMC Susquehanna
  • Mr. Robert J Gehr, AIA, NCARB, '86, Vice President, Retail Design & Buildings, Larson Design Group, Inc.
  • Mr. Jeff A LeFevre, '75, President, LeFevre Wilk Architects, LLC
  • Mr. Brent A Stebbins, '88, Partner/Architect/Designer, RLPS Architects
  • Mr. Anthony H Visco, Jr., '69, Owner, Anthony H. Visco, Jr., Architects
Contact

Admissions Office

The future needs you

If you put more into today, could you get more out of tomorrow? If you create your future at Pennsylvania College of Technology, the answer is yes.

With open and rolling admission, applying is easy.

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