Architectural studies smaller colleges

Parents Forum
21

Since MArch can admit students with BA/BS in anything, seems like the primary advantages of a BA/BS in architectural studies or related versus any other BA/BS major would be:

  • Confirming the student’s interest in architecture.
  • Having more architecture-related studio course work available.
  • Having some architecture-related course work allow for advanced placement in some MArch programs, possibly shortening the usual 3 years and associated cost.
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22

That’s sort of what I thought until I looked closely at the Amherst curriculum:
https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/architectural_studies/courses

Amherst has a long history of graduates going into the field of architecture, and more than 25 alumni since the year 2000 have become architects, architectural historians, urban planners, architecture critics and such. Architectural Studies is Now a Major | College Row | Amherst College

!!!

23

Just a note that for the MArch it could be a 3.5 year program coming from Architectural Studies. My D is at Harvard GSD doing a 3 year MLarch, but a friend from her undergrad (also Arch Studies) is at the GSD getting her MArch in 3.5 years. It really depends on the graduate school, but it is something to consider.

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24

Is the Architectual Studies degree you’re talking about here a BA or a BS? Typically, a BS in Architectural Studies will be followed by a 2 year MArch. A BA would be longer in most cases. A 5 or 6 year BArch would lead to a 1 year MArch. But yes, each graduate school could have it’s own requirements.

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25

It also depends on the grad school itself. I can’t remember the poster’s name, but someone on this board mentioned that different MArch’s required different lengths in their M.Arch from her student (who obviously had the same undergrad to show everyone).

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26

I was speaking about a BA in architectural studies, which we thought would lead to a 3 year MArch degree back when my D was thinking of architecture as a career. When she switched to Landscape it actually ended up being a 3 year program at the GSD but I was surprised to hear that a former classmate doing the MArch program is there for 3.5 years. So I just wanted to be clear that it varies. One grad program even offered my D a 2 year MLarch. So while undergrad degree is important to determine grad school length, it is also (grad) school-dependent.

But yes, as you noted going the BS In Arch route will definitely shorten then amount of time in grad school. And of course the BArch is the shortest of all, But you Have to be certain and all in….

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27

U Maine has a great architecture program— accreditation board rated it higher than Harvard. And although it’s our flagship, it’s not nearly as big as most state schools.

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28

Can anyone speak to how employers feel about the 4+1 or 4+2 “package” programs? Is it a negative/positive/indifferent factor when compared to a B. Arch or a Baccalaureate (B.A. or B.S.) followed by a 2-3.5 year M. Arch?

29

Im not aware of any 4+1 paths to M.Arch. A BA of Arch into M.Arch is almost always publicized as 4+2.

I went to a Syracuse information session/roundtable a few years ago where this exact question was asked. The answer was a little murky. Both paths should equally set up the student equally as far as going into the curriculum/testing for licensure. They also said that many students post B.Arch and once employed will go back for M.Arch.

Many of the top Architecture programs in the country bring students through the 5 year program so I can’t imagine employers heavily favoring a M.Arch over B.Arch.

30

To further muddy the waters, each state has its own requirements on obtaining licensure. Most states require an NAAB accredited degree(BArch or MArch), plus roughly 2 years of internship, plus the ARE exam. But some states don’t require the BArch or MArch.

Here is a more detailed explanation:

https://www.ncarb.org/get-licensed/licensing-requirements-tool

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31

Most likely an indifferent factor. The employer will focus on the institution that the highest professional degree was obtained from. Another unique factor in the architectural job search is the candidate’s portfolio. A candidate with an impressive degree, but a mediocre portfolio may not be viewed as favorably as someone with a mediocre prof. degree, but a great portfolio.

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32

It really depends on the institution, but some do offer 4+1. Wentworth Inst. of Tech. offers a 1-year M.Arch for students who got their BS in Arch. there.

The 5-year B.Arch degree (which was not widespread to begin with) seems to be in the process of being phased out. I know of multiple institutions who are transitioning to a Masters level professional degree and a BS in Arch. But you are right in that employers may not see M.Arch more favorably over a B.Arch. - they are both professional degrees.

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33

However, this trend would, for students committed to architecture from the beginning, make the cost to the first professional degree higher, since professional master’s programs tend to cost more with less financial aid and scholarships than bachelor’s programs.

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34

At U. of Louisiana-Lafayette they indicate their M. Arch “consists of a minimum of 123 semester credit hours of undergraduate coursework combined with 45 semester credit hours of graduate coursework for a total of 168 semester credit hours,” (source).

Louisiana Tech’s MArch is the pre-professional degree (i.e. B.S. in Architecture) + 30 graduate credits (source).

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35

45 semester credits is normally 3 semesters worth, so that would be a 5.5 year total.

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36

Louisiana Tech:

The candidate for the Master of Architecture must complete a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours including a three-quarter sequential comprehensive design project.

This is a 3 semester program as well.

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37

I agree that the 5 year degree is not widespread, with only ~50 schools offering it. Many of the schools on the list are among the most highly ranked programs in the country - and in addition to the B.Arch offer M.Arch degree options.

I admit to maybe not being as well informed on the topic but would be interested to read your source/data that shows its being phased out. Its been in existence for 70 years.

38

“Phased out” was probably not the right wording and too much of a generalization. I did notice a few well-known institutions that either: changed from a B.Arch to a BS with M.Arch, add a BS in Arch. alternative while maintaining B. Arch, and/or are heavily marketing M.Arch programs (possibly for a future phasing out of B. Arch, but that’s just speculation.) This may or may not be a trend. There are many well-known B.Arch programs that are well-established and may not be going anywhere.

39

Possible motivations for colleges to push MArch over BArch:

  • More revenue, since undergraduate programs tend to have more discounting from financial aid and scholarships than professional master’s programs. And if the student does BA/BS followed by MArch, then the college has the student for 5.5 to 7 years (versus 5 for BArch).
  • Not having a BArch program means that its effect on 4-year graduation rate disappears.
  • Enrollment management may be easier with MArch, since it is likely that students are more committed to the program, as opposed to BArch students who may be more likely to change to another undergraduate major.
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40

This assumes the student stays at the same college for MArch. Not sure what those kind of retention statistics are like.