I’m looking for advice on which college to choose, UVa or ND. I’m planning to major in architecture. I’ve visited both schools and love both. Notre Dame is closer to home (4 hours away), and UVa is further away (about 14 hours from home), but the distance doesn’t really matter to me. The costs are about the same too, so I’m not deciding on that factor. Does anyone have any advice in general about which school to choose, or (even better) advice in particular about the differences between the two architecture programs. Notre Dame is a 5 year B.Arch program where the architecture students spend their entire 3rd year in Rome. It’s a classical architecture program with emphasis on hand drafting and watercolors. UVa is a 4 year pre-professional degree, after which I would do a 2 year Masters somewhere. I’m ok with either option. I’m not Catholic, but that doesn’t matter to me much. I love the sense of community at both schools. I’m also a musician and plan to play in the marching band and sing. The football traditions at ND are stronger, but the band at both schools have great traditions and spirit. Whatever anyone is able to tell me about the architecture programs, the band, or the culture in general at either school would be appreciated. Thanks.
it sounds like Notre Dame is 5yrs with just a Bachelors or UVA is 6 yr with a Masters. If you go Notre Dame, you will need to still get a Masters somewhere. Maybe you can conner with alumni. I know someone who was deciding between UVA and VATech for architecture and she interviewed local architects to help her decide.
Yes, that is a big question between the ability to find professional employment with a 5 year bachelors vs. a 4 yr. degree and a masters. That is worth some very careful research. Also, you might look at the cost of masters programs.
At the more expensive universities, masters programs in fields such as architecture may be lower in tuition cost than the undergrad programs. However, most colleges typically offer limited need-based aid for grad students, but do offer merit aid and part-time work.
http://archdesign.vt.edu/architecture/m-arch
It is valuable to know what you would face for grad school. Link is to info on Va. Tech’s two year masters of architecture degree for a person with a 4 year architecture undergrad degree. If you would be able to establish Va. residency before you started, the instate grad tuition is only $14K a year plus some fees. It is typically recommended that you attend a different college for grad school.
@cali60 Hi. You don’t have to get a masters in Arch if you have a BArch. You can become a licensed architect after getting a BArch.
@Charliesch That’s a great post. I’m noticing that not many universities are offering 1 year Masters in Architecture. That’s crazy for a BArch student to have to go to grad school for 2 years - I mean that’s 5+2 - 7 years of pain! Ha ha. I’m glad to see UVA offers a 1 year! That would definitely be a better option. So he could attend ND and get a BArch and then UVA Grad school for 1 year if he really wanted to get a masters. He doesn’t have to though.
http://www.arch.virginia.edu/academics/disciplines/architecture/march
Here’s the range of masters programs offers by UVa’ s ASchool for students with different undergrad degrees as Va. Tech. If I read this correctly, it appears that Va. Tech’s masters programs don’t take as long as some of UVa’s?
Oh I didn’t realize the first one was VA Tech. Also, UVA doesn’t offer a 1 year professional Grad degree whereas VA Tech does. It says it is non-professional on UVA’s site. That’s interesting. Just curious why did you show VA Tech?
@newjersey17 good to know, i thought you needed a masters for a license. I guess I understood it wrong from the kids I know.
@charliesch when applying to VA Tech and UVA (not sure about other VA schools, if you are instate, you have to prove it with with drive lic #s from you and parents For grad school at VT, I think even something from your tax stmts (can’t recall correctly, but we are in state and just went thru this for UVA undergrad and VT grad). Not sure about VA, but some states require you to have established residency for at least a year before going to school…so if you are going that route you want established records to prove it from day 1. Being masters, i am not sure how that works because i don’t think you can even declare residency while going to school (at least in another state cause we looked at it. My son lived off campus and even had a pt job). you would prob have to graduate then work a wile in the state then go get your masters. worth checking into it.
@cali60. If you go to NAAB.org website it list all the colleges that offer professional Architecture degrees that have been accredited. It’s very important to attend a university that is accredited. It will also tell you which type of degree is accredited too. That will allow you to find jobs and sit for your license as well.
First off, I don’t have much first-hand knowledge of this issue. I graduated from UVa’s ASchool, but not in architecture.
I posted info on Va. Tech’s grad programs because you noted you would need a masters if you went to UVa’s 4 year program. Va. Tech has a highly respected architecture program and that would be a natural grad school after UVa, particularly since Va. Tech’s degrees can be completed in a reasonable period of time. It is generally recommended for professional programs that you go somewhere else for your grad degree.
Yes, both Md. and Va. each require that a person live in the state for 12 months to be eligible for in-state tuition. Time spent in Va. while in college would not count. You need to change everything as soon as possible (including voting, car registration, etc) to improve your chances of in-state status. A person could graduate from UVa, work and live in Va. for 12 months, and then get in-state grad tuition in Va. My son is in the process of doing that right now, for part-time grad classes.
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Article about UVa’s Aschool studios, with link to lots of photos on the right.
What is Aschool?
Aschool is UVa’s lingo for their Architecture School.
I thought so but then he said: “I graduated from UVa’s ASchool, but not in architecture.”
The UVa Architecture school includes a few divisions, including architecture, architectural history, landscape architecture, and community planning.