ARTH 2267 Saltbox to Skyscraper: American Architecture

This course examines the history of buildings, landscapes, and urban growth in the United States, from early Native American and European contact to the present. Themes studied include typology, materials and technology, style and movements, the emergence of the architectural profession, and specific social contexts such as culture, gender, race, class, and ethnicity. Students will examine how the built environment is linked to climate, geography, and imaginations of the natural world, and influenced by politics, religion, economy, internationalism, and the definition of national and regional identity. Finally, because of the important role of Boston in American architectural history, the course will use Boston as a lens to understand American architectural history. Satisfies Core requirement for Arts.

Course overview

Department
Art History
School
MCAS
Credits
3
Level
Undergraduate
Offered
Every Fall

Catalog details

Satisfies core
Arts

Catalog text is imported from the reviewed Boston College course snapshot. Confirm eligibility in EagleApps.

Requirements fulfilled

Requirement eligibility can vary by school, cohort, and section. Confirm the selected section in EagleApps or with an advisor.

Course evaluations

Response-weighted averages from Boston College’s official course evaluations (Avalanche/Blue).

Course rating
4.29 / 5 · Very Good
120 responses
Instructor rating
4.33 / 5 · Very Good
120 responses
Terms evaluated
5
Most recent: Spring 2026

Scales: overall ratings run from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent); agreement questions from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree); weekly effort from 1 (up to 1 hour) to 5 (10 or more hours).

Evaluations by term and instructor
TermInstructorCourse overallInstructor overallWell organizedClear learning objectivesIntellectually challengingHelpful assignmentsApplicable beyond courseAttendance necessaryWeekly effortResponses
Spring 2026Timothy Orwig4.14.14.24.23.64.14.14.21–3 hrs/week25 of 30
Spring 2025Timothy Orwig4.54.54.74.64.14.44.44.51–3 hrs/week23 of 28
Spring 2024Timothy Orwig4.34.54.64.74.04.54.75.01–3 hrs/week22 of 28
Spring 2023Timothy Orwig4.24.44.74.53.94.34.44.41–3 hrs/week27 of 32
Spring 2022Timothy Orwig4.34.34.64.74.14.34.44.11–3 hrs/week23 of 27

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-10-09. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

  • Timothy Orwig
    Spring 2027, Spring 2026, Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022 · Official rating 4.33/5

Sections

  • Section 01
    Spring 2027 · Timothy Orwig · Devlin Hall 018 MW 09:00AM-10:15AM · Offered