I am currently a junior who will be applying to architecture school later this year. I am looking at University of Cincinnati, Kent State, Ohio State University, and Miami University. I have already toured UC’s and OSU’s architecture programs, and I have done an overall tour of Miami. I am touring Kent State’s architecture program on Monday. From what I’ve seen so far, I really enjoy OSU & its program and I like Miami’s campus a lot, but I have yet to tour their architecture school. (I am in the spring) I am also potentially interested in sustainability, which is why I am particularly interested in Miami. I was wondering if anyone had any insight about any of the programs at these schools? Thank you!
You should be aware that the undergraduate degrees offered by these schools are the BA or BS in architecture or architectural studies, not the BArch. With a BA or BS you would still have to get an MArch in order to become a licensed architect.
With the BA or BS you could either continue at the same school for your MArch or transfer to another architecture program. The length of time it takes to complete the MArch varies widely. Usually it takes 2.0 years but may be as little as 1.0 year or as much as 3.5 years depending on both the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Cincinnati 4.0 year BS + 3.0 year MArch which includes a year of co-op.
Kent State 4.0 year BS + 1.5 year MArch (I believe, though I’m not sure. You can ask them how it works when you tour on Monday)
Ohio State 4.0 year BS + 2.0 year MArch
Miami 4.0 year BA + 2.0 to 3.0 year MArch
Of these I would give Cincinnati the edge for design and Miami for academics.
Because of the variation in time it will take to obtain the MArch, you should also consider your undergraduate financing carefully. MArchs are expensive degrees which may not be funded by need based aid. You want to make sure you have money left over from your BA/BS to afford your graduate work.
You might also want to consider schools that offer the BArch. In the midwest look at:
Illinois Institute of Technology, Iowa State University, Notre Dame
Also Kansas State and the University of Kansas for an undergraduate MArch
If you’re open to other parts of the country you should look at Auburn and Tulane for strong sustainability programs. Sustainability and green architecture are now quite popular everywhere and you’ll find this focus at most schools.
Thank you for your thorough response! I am set on staying in Ohio for my undergrad degree for financial reasons, and I wish to obtain a MArch at a more prestigious, out of state school. While I am glad to have narrowed my choices down to four schools, it’s going to be very difficult to decide between these schools.
If you’re thinking “prestige” as in the hallowed Ivies, a high recognition school like UC DAAP or OSU (in general) may work better. If you believe the GradCafe admission info, once you have the requisite GPA / GRE / Rec letters it’s a free for all and it’s all based on portfolio, so go to a school that will challenge you.
UC DAAP is an interesting case - due to the co-op one is likely to have generated quite a portfolio of the usual renderings, technical stuff, etc. during their co-op experience. Those may or may not be portfolio material, if they’re too ‘technical’. My daughter has applied to both DAAP and Knowlton for MArch and is waiting, and from what she said it depends on what schools want to see.
If you’re interested in a Sci-Arc / UCLA / Michigan type school that focuses on the ‘new’ stuff, that’s one approach to take. Another if you’re the paper and pencil / sketch model type person that digs deep into more ‘traditional’ architecture that’s another. Look into how many history and theory classes they fit into four years (my daughter ended with an absurd number of such courses partially due to curriculum and partially by choice via seminars and electives). Also look at the number of GenEd electives (like 1-2 semesters of math and 1-2 of physics with lab), and important arch core courses the more selective schools want to see.
I would say DAAP #1 and OSU #2, and visit Miami and Kent. Miami academics in general are very good, and you’ll get a good picture by visiting everyone.
I would agree with @turbo93 that portfolio weighs heavily in admissions to top MArch programs. I would lean toward Cincinnati or Miami: DAAP because it’s the most design oriented (and I like the co-op program). Miami because of the academic focus. You might also look at Kenyon and Oberlin for their excellent art/art history programs.
MArch programs admit students from all sorts of academic backgrounds and degrees. Yale posts its MArch students’ undergraduate schools on line. The wide range of schools indicates that the where isn’t as important as the what.
The four schools you’re looking at are quite different in ambiance, personality and environment. The most important factor is for you to choose the one that’s the best fit for you.
A couple of older threads on the topic
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/1479630-ohio-schools-of-architecture.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/architecture-major/1545994-architecture-degree-in-ohio.html