Advice please, re architecture studies programs

College Majors Architecture Major
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<p>My daughter is interested in architecture, but isn't quite ready to commit to a BArch. She did an internship with an architect over last summer, and is taking advanced math and studio art, but she also has other interests....</p>

<p>My first question is, we're thinking that perhaps a BA with a major in architectural studies would be appropriate for her. If we understand this correctly, she would probably need additional years on her way to the MArch, as opposed to getting the MArch with a BArch in hand. That would be OK, because the trade-off is that she would have more flexibility to change majors, if she decided that architecture wasn't for her after all. So, a first question is, do we understand the "architectural studies" major correctly, or do we have it wrong?</p>

<p>If we're right about the major in architectural studies, then a follow-on question would be, what schools have strong programs? For example, would a school like Cornell offer such a thing, or do you have to be in their architecture school and getting the BArch?</p>

<p>Thanks for any help and advice!</p>

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<p>morph, I have a daughter who is older than your daughter but was in the same place for similar reasons as your daughter is now in high school when applying to college. She thus sought a BA degree in Architectural Studies. You are correct in your understanding, by the way. With a BA, then the MArch degree program would be 3 to 3.5 years at most grad schools. </p>

<p>It is hard to recommend schools to you without knowing your D’s qualifications. I assume she is a good student if you are asking about Cornell. However, I would not choose Cornell as they just have the BArch, not a BA in Arch Studies. </p>

<p>If it is at all helpful, here is my daughter’s list of colleges back when she applied for a BA in Arch Studies: Yale, Princeton, Brown, Penn, Tufts, Smith, Connecticut College, Lehigh. She attended Brown and got a BA in Architectural Studies. She got into the following MArch programs right out of Brown: MIT, Cornell, Columbia, UVA, RISD, Syracuse.</p>

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<p>A four year architecture program can be either a BS or BA in architecture, typically depending on whether the school is in the engineering department or a liberal arts department. What really matters is how many years of studio they take. Some colleges (particularly the ivies) start the design studios in the third year and you end up taking two years of design studios. With this degree you are facing a 3 year MArch degree. Some schools begin studios in the first or second year and you can generally get your MArch in two years.</p>

<p>If you picture five years of studio for your first professional degree it makes sense. My son is at Clemson and it is a 4 year BA in Architecture with introductory studios during freshman year and serious studios starting in sophomore year leading to a 2 year MArch. UVA has one of the better programs in this group.</p>

<p>So you have three options depending on how committed your daughter is; a general studies course with 2 years of studios and a 3 year MArch, a more focused four year degree with three years of studio and a 2 year MArch, or a highly focused BArch with five years of studio and no need for an MArch. </p>

<p>rick</p>

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<p>My son was in the same position as your daughter – interested in architecture but not ready to commit right after highschool. He graduated from Williams with a BA in art studio / art history and is now halfway through an M.Arch I program at Cornell. </p>

<p>The Cornell program for holders of a BA/BS degree is 3.5 years. What Rick says is true: there are many permutations of the Masters of Architecture in time and class structure.</p>

<p>I’m a great believer in the liberal arts education and feel that this was the right course for my son who also had a wide range of interests. I would like to stress, however, that you do need to consider the time and expense of layering an M.Arch program on top of a BA/BS degree. Even after acquiring an M.Arch, you need to devote a few years to getting licensed and entry level architecture jobs are notoriously low income. There’s not a lot of grant money available for graduate studies so it’s not uncommon to graduate with a hefty debt. </p>

<p>I don’t mean this to be discouraging as architecture can be a true vocation; but be aware, it’s a long haul without immediate remunerative reward, as compared to some other professional degrees like law or medicine. </p>

<p>I would suggest that your daughter choose her undergraduate school based more on ambience, environment and teaching style. For an M.Arch it’s not strictly necessary to have a degree in architectural studies – studio art, art history or for that matter any undergraduate degree is workable. My son does have colleagues in his M.Arch program who did their undergraduate at Cornell, I think in studio art.</p>

<p>What is important, in my opinion, is to develop a strong portfolio, get a wide exposure to architecture through art history classes and travel, work in an architectural setting either during school vacations or holidays, and fulfill the other miscellaneous course requirements like physics and calculus.</p>

<p>My son’s undergraduate list focused on medium to small schools with good art and art history departments. Williams turned out to be a very good fit for him and his interests. Other schools that he considered were: Wesleyan, Hamilton, Brown, Yale, Kenyon, Skidmore, Conn College. I would also look at Smith and Vassar. </p>

<p>After graduation my son worked for a couple of years for an architectural firm then applied to graduate school which, I think, was invaluable in “sealing the deal” for the commitment ahead.</p>

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<p>Excellent, excellent advice in this thread.
Good to see the forum working so well!</p>

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<p>Thanks, everybody, for the very helpful answers!
Morph1</p>