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
Requirements fulfilled
- Studio Art with Architectural Studies: One art or architectural history course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- University Core: Arts (All undergraduates)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.29 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.33 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Timothy Orwig | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 1–3 hrs/week | 25 of 30 |
| Spring 2025 | Timothy Orwig | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 28 |
| Spring 2024 | Timothy Orwig | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 1–3 hrs/week | 22 of 28 |
| Spring 2023 | Timothy Orwig | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 27 of 32 |
| Spring 2022 | Timothy Orwig | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 27 |