Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science (BAS)

The American College of the Building Arts is the only college in the world to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree in the applied science of the building arts.  This degree is the main focus of the college and most students currently enrolled are in pursuit of this degree.  The degree is designed to synthesize a traditional liberal arts degree with traditional training in the building arts.  It provides a student with all the advantages of a traditional four year degree and a solid foundation in traditional building trade.  After completing the degree students will be well-positioned for employment within the fields of architecture, design, construction and preservation among others.  Students will also be at an advantage when applying to graduate programs especially those within the fields of architecture, preservation, construction management or engineering.

The degree consists of four years of study totaling 135 credit hours.  Of those hours eighty-seven are in general education and forty-eight are in trade classes.  Additionally, students are required to successfully complete three eight-week internships in their trade area.

General Education

General Education courses at ACBA consist of traditional liberal arts classes such as math, English, science and history.  Because of the special focus of the American College of the Building Arts these classes go beyond the basic requirements of each field and make a special effort to demonstrate relationships and connections with the building arts.  For example problems in the math or science classes are very often based on real problems within the shop.  History requirements at ACBA are met through a two-semester course called Architecture and Society which includes much of what is normally taught in a Western Civilization course but with the added focus of Architectural History.

Upper level courses in the liberal arts include classes in such areas as Historic Preservation, Business Administration and the interdisciplinary Capstone course.  Beyond regularly offered core courses, students take twelve hours of electives.  While all of these elective courses have some connection to the building arts, they follow a liberal arts focusing on theory and context in addition to hands-on practice.

Several general education courses have been designed specifically to support students studying the building arts.  All students take six hours of drawing and six hours of design.  This is supplemented by three hours of computer assisted design and a three hour course entitled Building Arts Leadership.

Trade Education

Within the major are six trade areas of specialization – Carpentry, Timberframing, Masonry, Architectural Stone, Architectural Iron and Plaster.  All students begin with an introductory course called Foundations in the Building Arts.  This course is designed to introduce the student to basic building construction as well as providing an overview of building trades taught at ACBA. 

In the second semester students are divided into three broad groups: wood trades, trowel trades and metal.  After the first year, students are grouped according to trade area.  While all students receive the same degree (BAS) with the same major (Building Arts), students choose which trade to focus on during their first year. 

Each trade has its own core courses and offers its own elective courses, some of which may be open to students in other trades. 

Associate Degree in Applied Science (AAS)

The associate degree is designed for students who only want an introduction to the building arts with a goal of either immediate employment or a four year degree in a related field at another institution.

As in the four year program, two year students focus on one trade and are required to complete one internship.

Students in the Associate Degree program must complete all courses required by the first two years of the regular ACBA program of study.  At the end of their second year, students will present their final portfolio and a completed project from their final trade class for assessment.

Certificate in the Building Arts (In Development)

The certificate program begins with a broad overview of the building arts using the built environment of Charleston as a classroom.  Students then began an intense program of study concentrating on one building trade.  Additional course work in Drawing and Drafting and Architectural History is also available.  Finally, students conclude their studies with an eight week internship working under a professional artisan in their chosen trade.  The Certificate follows two tracks:  Conservation and Design.

Students interested in working in the fields of Public History, Anthropology, Historic Preservation or any other history related field will be attracted to the Conservation track.  While many undergraduate or graduate programs provide context for the building arts or present theory related to the building arts, ACBA is unique in being able to offer students hands on experience working with professional artisans.  Learning the skills used to create the built environment offers new perspective to any student of history or anyone interested in preserving and interpreting the past.

The Design track is intended for architects, engineers or other design professionals who want a deeper understanding of the building arts and how those arts may be applied in the twenty-first century.  Historically architect meant ‘chief builder’ or ‘first builder.’  Today an unnecessary gulf exists between those who design and those who execute.  Aside from a mere problem of communication this gulf often results in a failure to take full advantage of materials and techniques that have centuries of real-world testing behind them.

The certificate program consists of nine hours of traditional course work and twelve hours of work in the building arts.  The program begins each summer with an introductory class focusing on all of the traditional building trades, including several days of hands on experience with each trade:  Plaster, Iron, Stone, Masonry, Carpentry and Timberframing.  Students then choose to focus on one trade for both the fall and spring semester.  Trade classes meet two days a week with additional shop time as needed.  To provide context to the trades and to allow for interaction with students in other trades, students will participate in one elective class each semester.  These classes will focus on Design or Conservation depending on the track.  

Students will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in Architectural Drawing and Architectural History.  Those lacking appropriate education in those areas will be able to take the necessary courses at ACBA. 

Upon completion of one year of study in a trade, students will be sent out on an internship for eight weeks.  These paid internships are considered by many ACBA students to be the most valuable component of their education.  While opportunities vary from year to year, students in the past have worked with English Heritage, the World Monument Fund, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Companion des Devoirs as well as leading companies and established masters in the building arts.

*Please contact the admissions office for the latest information on the ACBA certificate program as this program is still being developed.