<p>Ok so i know for a FACT that i will try to get a MArch, that is decided. And I don't really plan on going back to school some years after being licensed. So my situation is....If i went to Pitt, I would have to go for a 4 year architectural studies degree then go somewhere else, such as Carnegie Mellon, for a MArch in probably 2 years. Or if i went to Tulane, I could do the 5 year program and get a MArch. Or go to Clemson and receive a BA Arch in 4 years then a two year MArch program after that. Which would be the best option? I am just really confused by what i have read on various sites. Note: i have a scholarship to Tulane for 20k a year...</p>
<p>If you feel very strongly that you want to be an architect then a 5 year BArch degree (even if Tulane calls it an MArch) is the most efficient way to go and gives you the most options. But from you first semester of freshman year it is going to be all architecture-all the time. You can work after graduation with a BArch, and going back for a Masters will be your option, not something you are forced to do to get registered. The Masters programs at the best schools for students with a professional degree are very attractive; typically three semester programs with a heavy design and theory focus.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>They don’t just call it a MArch, it is an MArch. They don’t even offer a BArch, you have to do the 5 year program. A lot of schools have 4+1 Bachelors/Masters degrees, Tulane just decided to skip the formality of the BArch first.</p>
<p>Anyway, if that is the direction you want to go, erossell, I strongly suggest you set up time to meet with some people at the School of Architecture while you are there in the spring. It is a really exciting place to be a student, with many people seeing their projects actually built in New Orleans while they are there. There is still a lot to do in a lot of areas, and the opportunities to get real world experience is amazing. Tulane is also focusing heavily on green architecture. I am sure that is hardly unique, but clearly that is the way things are going.</p>
<p>To become licensed as an architect, you need a NAAB-accredited degree, either a BArch or MArch - not a BA/ BS in architecture. Be sure that you’re pursuing the right degree (and Tulane is NAAB-accredited; great school)
You can get:
-A 5-year BArch (I don’t know any programs that offer a 4-year BArch)
-A 4-year BA / BS with a strong focus on architecture, and a 2-year MArch
-A 4-year BA in anything, and a 3-year MArch</p>
<p>Tulane’s program is unusual, and possibly unique, in that they compress their 4+2 into a 4+1 for students who stay for the whole program. It’s the fastest route I know of to an MArch.</p>
<p>The benefit of a 4+2 or 4+3 MArch is you earn a BA/BS, and if you find you don’t like architecture, you have options. A 5-year BArch / MArch prepares you for the profession quickly, but it is a VERY intense undergraduate experience, and if you decide near the end that you don’t like architecture, you have a tough decision to make about finishing the degree or switching to a BA.</p>
<p>There are a couple of questions you should ask yourself before committing to a professional degree:
-What do you love about architecture? (Art, technology, materials, people, history) Different programs have different focuses, and you want it to be a good match.
-Where do you want to live later? Schools usually have strong professional networks - some regional, some national - and that can help you find a job when your out. Which is not insignificant in this lousy economy.</p>
<p>I agree with fallenchemist - talk to lots of people when you visit - faculty and students. Get a feel for the place, and whether it’s the right environment for you. It’s an extremely demanding degree, but if you love it, it’s fun. And Tulane has really stepped up to the challenges brought by Katrina - the architecture school has been very active. It’s a great group of people.</p>
<p>Northeastern also has a unique program - they offer a a BS in Arch (non-NAAB accredited) plus 1 more year will give a MArch (NAAB accredited) - it takes 6 years because it includes 2 6 month Co-ops of which one would “count” towards the 3 years of of experience for the exam. So, it takes 6 years but you don’t pay tuition during coop and you get a full year of paid work experience under your belt. They also have a required semester abroad in Berlin.</p>
<p>All of the programs get you to the same place, it just depends on which one is the best fit for you.</p>