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Hmmmm...architecture.

What are some undergraduate schools for architecture?

By the way, I know about the different programs (5 year BArch and other 6-8 MArch degrees).

If you could just list the colleges and say the degree type and some info that would be mint! lol

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 11:25 pm: Edit

Syracuse, Washington U in St. Louis, Rice, Notre Dame, Tulane, Catholic U, Drexel, Rhode Island School of Design, Cooper Union are some.

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 11:47 pm: Edit

Do you know anything about WUSTL and their program?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 12:10 am: Edit

I've briefly looked at their program but since I'm not an architect, I can't really comment.

I did find this - Schools accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board - you might want to do a search on google for them to see what they take into account. Anyhow, here are the schools listed:

Cal State Poly Pomona
Cal State Poly San Luis Obispo
Carnegie Mellon U
Catholic U
Florida A&M
U of Houston
U of Il. Chicago
Iowa State U
Kent State U
NEw Jersey Inst. of Technology
North CArolina State U
U of Oklahoma
U of Oregon
Renselaer Polytech Institute
Rice
Syracuse
U of TExas Austin
Virginia Polytech

By Usna_Reject (Usna_Reject) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 12:19 am: Edit

University of Illinois

My brother went there several years ago and was doing architect(but had to drop out of college after 2-3 years because he couldn't afford it anymore) He said that he just paid off his tuition last month after 5 years! So if that encourages you more...

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 12:49 am: Edit

Do any of the ivies besides Cornell (I am knowledgable about theirs) have programs?

By Monekit (Monekit) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 12:59 am: Edit

Columbia has a good one.


So does Berkeley, but not an Ivy...

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 05:06 pm: Edit

I have a daughter applying to college to major in architecture. You seem to be saying you know the difference between the various pathways to becoming an architect. I will just reiterate them cause first you must pick which one of these pathways and then you can select the appropriate college programs to apply to. I realize some responding to your post may not know the difference and may just be posting five year BArch programs.

Ok, so there are three ways that lead to becoming an architect. One is to enter a five year professional program leading to a BArch degree, then eventual licensure. For many of these programs, you have to decide NOW that you will become an architect and apply directly into these programs. In SOME cases (ie, Cornell) but not all, you must submit a portfolio for admission. Once admitted, your major has more than the usual number of required courses and can be like 3/4s of your undergraduate courses, kinda like in engineering. Some schools that offer such programs are Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, UVA, RPI, Cooper Union, and Syracuse.

The second pathway and the one that my own daughter is pursuing is an undergraduate major in architecture or architectural studies (sort of considered PRE-architecture) and then continuing onto graduate school in architecture to earn a MArch often taking two years (so this is 4+2). Then this leads to licensure. This kind of undergraduate major is like any other major in that you do not declare the major upon matriculating and you take the typical number of courses for an undergraduate major and thus can take courses in many other liberal arts subjects as well. These programs usually have studio components. My daughter is applying to the following schools that offer this degree: Yale, Princeton, Penn, Brown, Tufts, Smith, Connecticut College and Lehigh. I believe there are others of course and I can think of WashStLouis and MIT. Some programs have an intensive you apply to for senior year that allow you to enter their graduate program that year (overlapping the first year of graduate school) and I know Princeton, Penn and Yale have that.

The third pathway is to major in any undergraduate area. Then go to graduate school for a MArch degree but then it may take 3-4 years to earn that as you have no background in architecture going into grad school.

I hope I have helped you a bit. If I can help further, ask away.

Susan

By Collegeparent (Collegeparent) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Soozievt has got it down -- wonder why USC wasn't mentioned? Its school of architecture is pretty innovative, even if it is in LA --

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 05:36 pm: Edit

I definately know that I want to be an architect. Albeit the programs are very different, however, I can see myself pursuing either the 5 or 4+2 pathways, leaning more to the 4+2 like Soozievt's daughter.

Your daughter is applying to the same pool of schools I am interested in. In fact, WUSTL is looking very well in my eyes, esp. their scholarships. I also want an Ivy or Ivy-measurable school.

I also did not know that Lehigh had the 4+2 year program or anything related to architecture at all. I live in Bethlehem--right across the river and I am there all the time with profs and faculty. Interesting.

What are your daughter's stats--just something to compare with myself for the upcoming years.

Thanks a lot--very helpful.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 06:28 pm: Edit

I did not mention USC cause I was not aware of it cause my daughter chose to stay on the east coast so I never really learned that much of programs outside the east. She looked into WashU in St. Louis which I believe has an excellent program but she does not wish to be in St. Louis as the school has no alpine ski racing team! So, yes, there are programs out there that I did not mention but gave some in each category that I know of. As far as Lehigh, it most definitely has a great program. My daughter met with the head of the department. Remember these programs themselves are not 4+2 but they are the "4" you need to do the "2" rather than three or four years of graduate school in this field. Definitely look into Lehigh if you would consider going to college close to home, that is. It is my daughter's safety school but frankly she likes it a lot and the program seemed great.

My daughter feels she likely is going to be an architect as you feel. But she was not ready to committ at age 17 to it as you have to in order to enter a five year BArch program. Also, she did not like how in a five year program, so many of your courses are dictated for you, leaving less choice of other subjects to take in your undergraduate years. She looked at Cornell and liked it but decided afterwards to go the 4+2 route cause of reasons I just gave so opted out of Cornell and programs like it.

Wunderkind, are you applying this fall as well? Where have you applied? I am not into posting a list of "stats" on my daughter. Suffice it to say she is an excellent student, solid scores, many committed ECs, and so forth. She also has explored architecture some already....did a yearlong indep. study learning architectural skills, did a summer internship with an architect doing real architectural work, has taken numerous art classes and has chosen architectural topics for several major school papers. So, she thinks she does want to become an architect as much as anyone at seventeen can know for sure. So, the colleges she is applying to all have the programs she wants to pursue this. That knocked many fine colleges off her list.

When you say my D is applying to the same pool as you, I am not sure I get it cause at first you asked which Ivies besides Cornell offer architecture, so not sure I understand if you have a list of schools you have applied to or not yet. Remember that Cornell's program differs from the ones I mentioned my D applied to. I think Columbia might have that five year BArch program but my daughter would not go to college in NYC so never explored that school. Each person has their own set of college criteria and architecture programs were but one of my Ds criteria in selecting a college that suits her. Would love to hear your list, if you wish to share it.

Susan

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 06:51 pm: Edit

Sorry if I did not clarify this, I am in the tenth grade. Just getting a head start I suppose.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 07:11 pm: Edit

Ok, I get it now. Good to be looking into the programs out there. Then next year in eleventh grade, go visit the programs cause once you do, you will be able to figure out which suit you well. Even visiting programs that do not suit you help you to decide further. Like I said, we visited Cornell and at first my daughter liked it but then realized that the five year BArch program was not what she wanted. Since you live in Bethlehem, go over to Lehigh and give the architecture program a look-see! Speak to professors and students in it to learn more. Even if you do not want to go to school that close to home, you can get a feel for what components appeal to you in an architecture program cause they vary some.

Good luck. I'll be around a couple years here cause I have a tenth grader as well!
Susan

By Jlabove (Jlabove) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 07:30 pm: Edit

Hey I studied at WUSTL and loved it. Architects work their you know whats' off in a school not known for slacking to begin with. Wash U architecture is one of the best programs I have ever come across.

Let me offer another solid suggestion: Miami University of Ohio is certianly a top 10 architecture program, and while it carries less prestige as a school, its architects are known the world around as innovators in design. You can be sure if you went to Miami-Ohio you would be amongst a proud and select few.

I am about start at the University of Chicago, which despite being academically prestigious, does not boast in architecture--I don't even think they have a program! My point is, architecture is a program that may in fact take you away from the Ivy League, but to a group of schools that while less noteworthy than Penn or Princeton, are far superior in the field you are interested in.

However, be cautious about selecting a school based on a major or profession. You are best served going somewhere more broad in its offerings--a liberal arts setting so you may dip your feet in many fields. This is why I think Wash U is so great. They will offer you every opportunity to explore--students can take classes all over the campus, from a plethora of schools and departments. You are better served and better prepared for whatever path you choose.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 08:33 pm: Edit

One advantage of doing a prearchitecture major as the type my child is pursuing is it allows you to study architecture in a liberal arts setting and not a professional degree program. This type of program is actually quite good at places like Penn and Princeton and Yale, all of which are in a liberal arts setting as well as having the benefits of the graduate programs on site in the department.
Susan

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 11:11 pm: Edit

Yes. From this discussion and other information I have come across, I continue to see myself pursuing some sort of architecture major, then going off to grad school to earn my MArch. However, I will not make up my mind until I visit the campuses and talk with some architects from and at the schools.

Thank you guys/gals so much

By Wunderkind__Not (Wunderkind__Not) on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 11:15 pm: Edit

Everything about Washington University in Saint Louis is pushing it to the top on my list.

The fact that they are so lenient with majors and courses is awesome and just everything is perfect for me.

The location is great for architecture and provides many opportunities, the academics are spectacular, the people are nice (talked with online), the food is #1 in the nation (lol, but a big plus), resources are readily available, and it seems as if more profs teach instead of TA's like at some of the ivies.

I cannot wait until I visit.

By Aceofhearts54 (Aceofhearts54) on Friday, January 23, 2004 - 07:37 pm: Edit

hmmm I think I might be a little late in posting this...

But anyway, I'm a junior looking into architecture schools. I'm really leaning towards UMich right now. The arch program is supposed to be just as good as those at the ivies, plus even though I'm out of state its still a lot cheaper and closer. Its 4+2, but one thing I really liked was a dual architecture and business degree program where you can walk away with an MArch and an MBA in 3 years after the prearch program.

I'm also planning on applying to UIC, Yale, Princeton, Penn, and possibly some others. And after reading all this I'll have to check out WUSTL too.