Best architecture school in California?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm planning on applying to a bunch of architecture schools in Cali (I'm just looking at ones that have the 5 year bachelor program), just wondering which ones are considered the best?</p>

<p>I've been looking into:</p>

<p>USC (University of Southern California - LA)
Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State - also San Luis Obispo vs Pomona?)
Woodbury University (also Burbank vs San Diego?)
NewSchool of Architecture & Design (San Diego)
Southern California Institute of Architecture (LA)
California College of the Arts (Oakland)</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

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<p>Cal Poly San Luis Obispo</p>

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<p>Also, off point, the best architechture school in the USA is supposed to be Auburn University, actually</p>

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<p>You’re smoking crack. The best architecture school is the Harvard school of design. After that I’d say USC. Then in CA Cal then Cal poly</p>

5

<p>Check out Joey shimodos studio and work. He just designed a way cool office for jj Abraham’s and is designing the new toms shoes facility…he went to Cal poly!</p>

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<p>Just smoking website, bro’: RE: Auburn College of Architechture Design and Construction (see Dean’s survey below)–</p>

<p>Design Intelligence Ranks CADC in 2011</p>

<pre><code>DesignIntelligence: 2011 America’s Best Architecture and Design Schools has been published, and once again the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s faculty and programs have done well. This research is conducted on behalf of the Design Futures Council, an interdisciplinary network of design, product and construction leaders, and ranks undergraduate and graduate programs from the perspective of leading practitioners. In addition, deans and program chairs as well as students are surveyed.
</code></pre>

<p>Two of DesignIntelligence’s 25 “Most Admired Educators of 2011” are from the Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC). Dan Bennett, FAIA, CADC Dean, and Randall Bartlett, Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Graphic Design were selected by hundreds of design professionals, academic department heads, and students because they “exemplify excellence in design education leadership.” This is the second year in a row that Randall Bartlett has been named to this list. </p>

<p>In the Architecture Dean’s Survey, Auburn’s Bachelors of Architecture program was rated #1 in “Most Admired B. Arch programs” for its “exemplary engagement of students, its integration with the Rural Studio, and a highly focused curriculum.” This survey reflects the opinions of 70 architecture deans and department heads.</p>

<p>In the Architecture Skill Assessment, which is based on the hiring experience of 220 firms surveyed on the preparedness of recent graduates in vital skills, Auburn was one of five programs listed strongest for Sustainable Design Practices and Principles.</p>

<p>For the sixth year in a row, the undergraduate program in the School of Architecture has been rated in the top 20 Architecture Programs for 2011. It was ranked eighteenth for 2011. </p>

<p>In the student survey, 76 percent of CADC’s architecture undergraduates rated the overall quality of the program as excellent, and 100 percent believe that they will be well prepared for their profession after graduation.</p>

<p>For the fourth year in a row, the CADC Industrial Design undergraduate and graduate programs have been ranked. The Industrial Design undergraduate program was ranked tenth for 2011; its graduate program was ranked seventh. In the rankings of the strength of their industrial design skills, based on the hiring experience of firms surveyed, Auburn’s Industrial Design recent graduates were ranked third for computer applications and for sustainable design practices and principles, fourth for communication, and fifth for design.</p>

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<p>I know its admired. But its not in the same league as Harvard Princeton USC Yale MIT and Cal. Go look at where the principals of gensler, smith group, hok, etc…went to school. Then look at the name Architechts: Gehry USC. Pei Princeton …and then look at usnwr #1 design school…its not auburn. But nice work in football this year!</p>

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<p>Well actually according to the Design Intelligence site, University of Michigan bumped Harvard out of top spot for 2011. </p>

<p>Thanks for the info on Auburn, but I’m only looking at schools in Cali, also only Undergrad, & only the 5 year bachelor programs. Cal Poly SLO is the top ranked on the Design Intelligence site out of the ones I’m looking at, but depending on whether or not I get accepted, I need some backups :)</p>

<p>Also does anyone have opinions on the different curriculums, teaching styles, campus atmosphere, etc between the schools? </p>

<p>I’m interested as to what people think about 2 semesters vs 3 semesters (quarters?) per year as well (any school I’ve attended has always had only fall & spring semesters)? </p>

<p>(I can’t visit any of them as I’m in Canada, and starting to run out of time to get into a fall program)</p>

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<p>As one data point for your possibly crack induced argument about who MIGHT (according to some nebulous metrics) be consider the “best” by some people in arch. :</p>

<p>According to this, Cornell is the best for undergraduate. And Cal Poly is #3. And Cal is not on the undergraduate list at all, and USC is only #10.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.archdaily.com/39728/2010-united-states-best-architecture-schools/[/url]”>http://www.archdaily.com/39728/2010-united-states-best-architecture-schools/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Top 10 Undergraduate Architecture Schools</p>

<ol>
<li>Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.</li>
<li>Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.</li>
<li>California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.</li>
<li>Virginia Polytechnic institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.</li>
<li>University of Texas, Austin, Tex.</li>
<li>Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kans.</li>
<li>University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore.</li>
<li>Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, R.I.</li>
<li>Rice University, Houston, Tex.</li>
<li>University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif.</li>
</ol>

<p>Top 10 Graduate Architecture Schools</p>

<ol>
<li>Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.</li>
<li>Yale University, New Haven, Conn.</li>
<li>Columbia University, New York City</li>
<li>Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.</li>
<li>University of Texas, Austin, Tex.</li>
<li>University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio</li>
<li>Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.</li>
<li>Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Va.</li>
<li>University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.</li>
<li>University of California, Berkeley, Calif.</li>
</ol>

<p>And for 2011:</p>

<p><a href=“http://archrecord.construction.com/features/Americas_Best_Architecture_Schools/2011/schools-1.asp[/url]”>http://archrecord.construction.com/features/Americas_Best_Architecture_Schools/2011/schools-1.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>In the undergrad program rankings, the interesting story this year is that school rankings are remarkably consistent. The top five schools have the following rank average over the past eight years: </p>

<p>1) Cornell University, 1.25;
2) Syracuse University, 3.75;
3) Rice University, 5.37;
4) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 3.75;
5) Virginia Tech, 4.50. </p>

<p>In addition to these stalwarts, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Texas at Austin, Rhode Island School of Design, and the University of Oregon have made the top 20 for eight straight years.</p>

<p>Top-ranked Cornell University shows devoted consistency among the student body as well, with 97 percent indicating a belief that they will be well prepared for their profession upon graduation, and 97 percent giving Cornell’s program a grade of A (excellent) or B (above average).</p>

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<p>I’ve never heard of “archdaily”. Here are USNWR graduate rankings for Civil Engineering.</p>

<p>[Civil</a> - Best Engineering Schools - Graduate Schools - Education - US News](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/civil-engineering]Civil”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/civil-engineering)</p>

<p>Berkeley is first.</p>

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<p>And how are Civil Engineering rankings relevant?</p>

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<p>@sentimentGX4</p>

<p>Dude, did you even READ the title of the thread?</p>

<p>Or more disturbingly, did you REALLY think Architecture = Civil engineering?</p>

<p>And looks like ranking article in the Archdaily link is actually a reprint of the DesignIntelligence 2010 rankings. The ranking was not compiled by Archdaily. And according to Arcdaily, they are the most visited architecture site in the world.</p>

<p>But I supposed you didn’t read the article either…</p>

<p>To answer OP’s original question, it does look like Cal Poly SLO is #1 in CA only for undergraduate.</p>

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<p>From the research that I have done (from archdaily), it’s

  1. Cal Poly Slo
    2)Sci-Arc
  2. Usc </p>

<p>but my question is what school is the best between ucla and woodbury</p>