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Ph.D. in Architecture

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The PHD in Architecture addresses the development of modern architectural form and ideas as they have been affected by social, economic, and technological change. In broad terms, it encompasses the relations between the profession, practice, civil institutions, and the society at large.

As a doctoral program, it is oriented toward the training of scholars in the field of architectural history and theory. Its structure reflects a dual understanding of the scholar’s role in the discipline at large: as a teacher and as a researcher making an original contribution to the field, with an emphasis on expanding and reinterpreting disciplinary knowledge in a broad intellectual arena. Course requirements are therefore designed to give entering students a solid foundation in historical knowledge and theoretical discourse, with sufficient flexibility to spark and support individual research agendas. The program’s focus is on the history and theory of modern and contemporary architecture and urbanism in an international and cross-cultural context, from the mid-eighteenth century to the present. Within this, a wide range of research is supported through the varied expertise of the faculty and through strong relationships with other departments throughout the university and beyond.

The Ph.D. in Architecture is a program within the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) while the actual degree is granted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

Admission for 2024

• The application deadline for 2024 admissions was January 4, 2024 and is now closed.
• For additional information on the application process and requirements, please see the GSAS website.

Lucia Allais Barry Bergdoll (Art History) Ateya Khorakiwala Reinhold Martin Mary McLeod Felicity Scott Mark Wigley Mabel Wilson

Affiliated Faculty

Zeynep Celik Alexander Anooradha Iyer Siddiqi

All students entering the PhD program in Architecture receive two Residence Units of Advanced Standing, having entered with a master’s degree in architecture, architectural history, or a related field. As such, students must complete the M.Phil. degree within three years from initial registration and the Ph.D. within eight years from initial registration.

Year 1: Students begin required coursework, including language proficiencies Year 2: Students complete required coursework and language proficiencies; begin required teaching apprenticeship Year 3: Students complete required teaching apprenticeship; complete M.Phil. Examination (by mid-February); and defend the Dissertation Prospectus (by early May) Year 4+: Students research, write, and defend the doctoral dissertation

At least once each semester, students should meet individually with the director of the program or with their program or dissertation adviser. Students are assigned a program advisor in the first year, the duties of which are assumed by their dissertation advisor in the third year. Students must have acquired a dissertation advisor by the seventh week of their sixth semester. Students are allowed to change both their program and dissertation advisers during the course of their studies.

All students are expected to meet the requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress as stipulated by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Renewal of student funding packages each year is dependent upon their maintaining good academic and administrative standing .

Students are required to spend four semesters in residence during which time they are expected to take thirteen courses (39 credit points), of which at least eight must be taken for a letter grade. The remaining five courses can be taken for R credit. The required academic course work breaks down into the four sections described below. In addition to the doctoral colloquia and doctoral seminars, five further classes should be seminars (not lecture courses). At least six of the thirteen courses should be taken with faculty from the Ph.D. in Architecture committee. It is assumed that these thirteen courses will be spread out approximately evenly over the first four semesters of study, although students can complete a larger number of courses in the first year to accommodate teaching requirements in the second year.

For any course in which a student receives an incomplete, the student must complete all outstanding coursework before the beginning of the next academic year. To remain in good standing with the program, students cannot hold more than one incomplete at any time. Students must complete all incomplete coursework prior to taking their M.Phil. examination.

Section 1: Doctoral Colloquia All students are required to take two doctoral colloquia in the fall semester and at least two doctoral seminars in the spring semester over the four-semester sequence. Three of these must be taken for a letter grade.

Section 2: Architectural History/Theory To complete distribution requirements, students will be required to take graduate-level courses from the following areas of study:

• One pre-1750 (Western or non-Western)
• Two courses either in Eighteenth-Century Architecture and Theory or Nineteenth-Century Architecture and Theory

At least half of the syllabus must address these time frames for a course to satisfy the requirement. At the discretion of the program director, these requirements may be modified for students who have had previous, relevant graduate-level courses.

Section 3: Social and Critical Studies Students should take at least one course outside of Architecture and Art History. Representative departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences with an emphasis on comparative historical and critical studies include: African American and African Diaspora Studies, Anthropology, East Asian Languages and Cultures, English and Comparative Literature, Germanic Language and Literature, History, Latin American and Iberian Cultures, Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies, Philosophy, and Political Science, or within relevant University Centers and Institutes. The specific topic and the choice of faculty will be decided in consultation with the student’s program adviser or the director of the program.

Section 4: Electives Remaining coursework is completed through elective courses in students’ areas of interest, the selection of which should be decided in consultation with the student’s program adviser or the director of the program.

The four-semester program has been designed to give doctoral candidates sufficient training for the M.Phil. examination, with a special emphasis on the ability to teach classes in modern architectural and urban development and its relationship to parallel developments in material history and contemporary thought. Students must complete their M.Phil. (generals) examination no later than their sixth semester in the program.

The M.Phil. qualifying examination is divided into three interrelated sections:

Three revised coursework papers, chosen to reflect the student’s research interests and abilities

Two essays written in response to specific questions formulated by the examining committee, one essay pertaining to the major field and one to the minor field. Students will receive two questions pertaining to the major field but only answer one of them.

The oral examination

The qualifying exam will be divided into major and minor fields. These fields are to be determined in consultation with the program faculty supervising the exam. The major field should be fairly broad and involve cross-cultural comparisons and/or cover at least a century in time. The minor field should focus on another topic, historical or theoretical in character, distinct from the major field. Students must consult the relevant supervising faculty in deciding on their major and minor fields.

The examining committee will be comprised of three members, two covering the major field and one covering the minor field. At least two members of the examining committee should be drawn from the Ph.D. committee or from the program’s associated faculty. Each student prepares the two bibliographies in consultation with these faculty and distributes final versions of the bibliographies one month prior to the oral examination. Each member of the committee will be responsible for one question, which the student receives a week after submitting the bibliographies. The papers are to be completed in a two-week period and submitted at least one week prior to the oral examination. The oral exam consists of discussion of the submitted essays, the coursework papers, and the bibliographies.

To receive the degree of M.Phil. students must complete the required coursework, the M.Phil. exam, the required four semesters of teacher training, and must have demonstrated proficiency in two languages other than English.

After successfully completing the qualifying examination, each student defends his or her dissertation proposal before a faculty committee, composed of the student’s dissertation adviser, who must be on the list of approved Architecture Doctoral Dissertation Advisors , and two other readers, at least one of whom should be from the list of Architecture dissertation advisors or associated faculty. Defense of the dissertation prospectus must take place before the end of the sixth semester.

The student will then be free to pursue the research topic independently, in ongoing consultation with the dissertation adviser. It is expected that the dissertation be completed approximately two to three years after approval of the topic. Since all students come into the program with Advanced Standing, students must complete the dissertation within eight years of entering the program, approved Leaves of Absence notwithstanding.

The dissertation must be submitted four weeks before the dissertation defense. A copy is to be provided for each member of the examining committee. This committee consists of five people, at least three of whom are approved as a dissertation advisor in Architecture or the associated faculty. At least one member of the committee must be from outside GSAPP. The student is granted the Ph.D. upon defending the dissertation successfully and depositing the final copy in accordance with University regulations.

For more information on the Ph.D. dissertation, refer to the GSAS Dissertation Toolkit .

• For information on Ph.D. student employee compensation and benefits, click here .
• For information on available resources for parents, click here .
• For more information on the GSAPP PhD Travel, Conference, and Exhibition Participation Support program, click here .

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PhD in Architecture

• About Architecture
• Building Science, Technology, and Sustainability

History, Theory, and Society

The PhD in architecture is a research degree appropriate for those seeking careers in teaching and scholarship in architecture and its related areas, or in roles in government or professional consultation that require depth in specialization and experience in research.

About the Program

Berkeley’s PhD program in architecture is interdisciplinary in outlook, reaching into the various disciplines related to architecture and incorporating substantial knowledge from outside fields. Students admitted to this program carry out a program of advanced study and research, both on the basis of formal class work and of individual investigation. Work centers on three related fields of study, the major field (the basis for the dissertation), and one-to-two minor fields, at least one of which must be from a discipline outside architecture.

Fields of Study

The PhD in Architecture emphasizes coursework and supervised independent research in one of the following:

• Building Science, Technology and Sustainability (BSTS)
• History, Theory and Society (HTS)

Major fields outside these fields or combinations thereof may also be proposed at the time of admission. Coursework is individually developed through consultation with an academic adviser. Outside fields of study may take advantage of the University’s varied resources. Recent graduates have completed outside fields in anthropology, art history, business administration, city and regional planning, computer science, various engineering fields, psychology, women’s studies, geography and sociology.

The following are members of the PhD faculty, broken into one of two offered areas of study. Please also review the current list of all faculty in the Architecture Department for other faculty and specialities. A sampling of faculty research is described on the faculty research projects page.

Building Science, Technology and Sustainability

Requirements

The Ph.D. program in architecture is governed by the regulations of the University Graduate Division and administered by the departmental Ph.D. committee. Specific degree requirements include:

• A minimum of two years in residence.
• Completion of a one-semester course in research methods.
• Satisfaction of a foreign language requirement for those in the History, Theory and Society.
• Completion of one-to-two outside fields of study.
• A written qualifying examination, followed by an oral qualifying examination.
• A dissertation.

Course requirements for the degree include:

Designated Emphases

Global Studies The concurrent MA program in Global Studies is designed to complement the graduate degree programs in architecture. It is intended to produce graduate students who combine advanced professional training with a detailed knowledge of contemporary international issues or particular world areas or countries. The content of each MA program will be shaped in consultation with the departmental adviser to meet the specific needs and interests of the individual student.

New Media The designated emphasis (DE) in new media comprises a set of courses with content in the history, theory, and practice of computationally based representation, and communication and interpretation of information.

BSTS Master of Science and PhD Handbook for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025

For previous years' handbooks, please contact graduate advising .

• PhD Alums— Building Science, Technology and Sustainability
• PhD Alums— History, Theory, and Society

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Students may study for a PhD degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning. An additional track in Architectural Technology is also available. This degree is administered jointly by the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Therefore, students benefit from a dual affiliation with both schools.

The program is mainly geared towards individuals who wish to enter academic teaching and research careers. Students are afforded a high degree of flexibility in their studies, however areas of work are broadly organized into the following areas: the Theory and History of Architecture, Architectural Technology, the Theory and History of Landscape Architecture, and the Evolution of Cities and Regions. 

• Theory and History of Architecture:  

Students interested in this area typically study buildings, architectural texts, technologies, and their political, social, and cultural contexts through the early modern, modern, and contemporary eras. 

• Architectural Technology:  

Doctoral research in architectural technology at the GSD aims to advance current  knowledge in green building, for example, and will typically involve issues related to engineering, computation, and digital simulations. 

• Theory and History of Landscape Architecture : 

Students whose research focuses on the theory and history of landscape architecture typically investigate the  ways in which the  natural environment has been thought of, represented, and transformed, from the early modern to the contemporary period. 

• Evolution of Cities and Regions:

Students may be interested in the subject of cities  from a formal standpoint and/or develop an additional emphasis on various social, economic, technological, infrastructural, and ecological dimensions of urban life.

For biographies of current students and more information about their research interests, click here .

After graduation, PhD program alumni typically teach in design schools, or in history or history of art and architecture departments, landscape architecture and environmental studies departments, and urban studies and/or urban planning departments. Some alumni also work in the science, technology, and society domain on governmental and policy issues of particular relevance to their research.

Program Director and Administrator

Antoine Picon , G. Ware Travelstead Professor of the History of Architecture and Technology at the GSD is the current director of the program.

Margaret Moore de Chicojay is the PhD program administrator and key point of contact for incoming and current students. Contact: [email protected]

Architecture Master of Architecture Degree

Request Info about graduate study Visit Apply

A NAAB-accredited master of architecture program that provides a well-balanced education that integrates design, technology, and research with sustainability to prepare graduates to enter the modern field of architecture.

Outcomes Rate of RIT Graduates from this degree

Average First-Year Salary of RIT Graduates from this degree

10 Best Master’s in Architecture Programs in the US (Based on National Exam rates)

Overview for Architecture M.Arch.

Sustainability concerns are changing how we think about architecture. Buildings account for a large percentage of the world’s energy expenditures and carbon emissions, which has driven demand for more sustainable architecture. In RIT’s accredited master of architecture program, we’re moving sustainability forward to elevate the value of architectural design. As a student here, you’ll learn how to design with context and substance in areas such as positive energy, performance building, climate-responsive designs, passive resiliency, and more.

Our accredited architecture program offers an immersive program focused on investigating the complexity of designing buildings with people, space, and the environment in mind. Whether you have a background in the building design sector or are new to the field, the program will prepare you for a path to positively contribute to the design of tomorrow’s buildings, neighborhoods, and communities.

Our program offers foundation courses as well as more in-depth classes exploring integrated building systems, urban planning, industrial ecology, and more. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose electives in other subject areas based on your unique talents and career goals, such as business, engineering, energy, or additional design skills.

What Sets Us Apart

• Design matters: As a program emphasizing design, the program’s core education takes place in the studio. Our studio curriculum integrates construction technologies, material science, and mechanics into design.
• Hands-on education: Expect a hands-on learning environment, working on real-world projects and utilizing our 75,000-square-foot, LEED Platinum-certified building to observe and test building efficiency. The City of Rochester and the western New York region also serve as an active learning environment for our students.
• Work experience: A professional co-op will help you build your resume before you graduate. RIT’s cooperative education program lets you work in the field with local architects and present neighborhood improvement ideas to planning boards.
• Global experience: Our global experience requirement lets you experience new cultures, settings, and contexts to expand your understanding of diverse architectural interests and needs.
• STEM-designated: Our program is STEM-designated, which increases scholarship and research opportunities for students, and offers up to two additional years of work/study for international students.
• NAAB-accredited: We’re one of the few master of architecture degree programs in the U.S. to be accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)—that means you’re getting one of the best architecture educations in the country.
• Thesis: Our thesis option allows you to integrate everything you learn into a comprehensive project. Past student theses include designs for an urban master plan for Rochester’s downtown, a net-zero or positive energy building, and a turbine system to harvest rainwater for energy.
• On-campus or online: Our program is offered in both a traditional on-campus experience and through a 100% online setting.

Plan of Study

The RIT master of architecture program is available in a traditional on-campus setting or through a fully online format. The program also provides advanced standing or standard admission pathways for both the on-campus and online settings. We work with each student individually to determine the best setting and pathways and can customize course requirements based on levels of prior experience.

Program Settings

• On-campus: Designed as a full-time in-person program, courses are offered on campus in the fall and spring semesters, primarily during the day, and often include open periods between classes to allow time for students to gain work experience with an architectural firm while they complete their degree.
• Online: Designed as a flexible and remote program, courses are offered through 100% online instruction during the fall, spring, and summer semesters using both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. This flexible format allows time for students to gain work experience with an architectural firm while they complete their degree from any location.

Program Pathways

• Advanced Standing Pathway: For those with previous experience and an undergraduate degree in architecture, the Advanced Standing track provides a two- to two-and-a-half year (5 semester) path.
• Standard Admission Pathway: For those with no prior experience or background in architecture, the Standard Admission track is available and provides a three and half year (7-semester) path.
• Sustainability: With a global need for a more sustainable world, including buildings and their impact on energy consumption and carbon footprints, the focus of many courses reflect the conditions of sustainable design and practice.
• Technology: Design exploration is enhanced through the understanding of the implication of technology on both design process and product. The program enables students to focus and collaborate in many specialized areas of technology, including engineering, computer science, imaging science, materials and construction, and products and remanufacturing.
• Urbanism: The complexity of the urban environment requires an interdisciplinary approach to architecture education—one that references economics, public policy, sociology, and regional culture. With this in mind, the program also focuses on the practices and principles of preservation and adaptive reuse.
• Integrated learning/practice: From the outset, students often approach design problems within teams, learning to value and leverage collective and collaborative participation. Through integrated learning and evidenced-based models, we prepare students for the increasingly integrated practice of architecture, where architects are orchestrating teams of professionals from a variety of fields, including engineering, management, science, and computer science.

Enhanced Career Opportunities

RIT’s master of architecture program is proud of the 100 percent job placement rate among our graduates. Our alumni are employed in architectural firms around the world and are working in diverse fields, from community development to smart growth to green building materials. Within firms and elsewhere, they serve as architectural designers, research scientists, sustainability consultants, planning engineers, start-up entrepreneurs, and more. Plus, our professional co-ops are a compelling program requirement that often leads to employment offers from architects and other firms working in construction, urban design, and facilities management.

Innovation Through Diversity

Enhancing the value of design requires constructive collaboration and a breadth of skills and viewpoints, interwoven in a way that elevates and celebrates everyone’s differences and strengths at RIT. Behind our focus on creativity and innovation is a dedication to diversity and inclusion that is fundamental to our mission. The master of architecture degree is suited for students with or without a background in the architecture or sustainability fields. Many of our students have been former art teachers, film students, engineers, interior designers, lawyers, and more before beginning their studies. They bring these backgrounds to the program in ways that enriched conversations and perspectives about design and human needs. Plus, approximately one-third of our students are international students, bringing cultural experiences and architectural design concepts from every continent.

Careers and Salary Info

Typical job titles.

Featured Work and Profiles

Central Avenue Gateway: "Central Crossing"

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This project looked at the entire block of Central Avenue between St. Paul Street and N. Clinton. Located adjacent to Rochester's Central Rail Station, this project proposes to reuse historic...

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Domus aqua or “Water House” represents a bringing together of the harmony represented in nature, the hospitality of home, and the ever-persistent forces that bring about change in our daily lives. The...

Joseph J. Nicholson III ’19

"The RIT GIS Master of Architecture degree will help me to better evaluate current processes and trends in my building designs.  Its emphasis on the fundamentals of architecture combined with...

Sabyasachi Das ’17

"Coming from a technical mechanical engineering background RIT Architecture department has played a transformative growth role in the last two years in bringing the best of me as a design individual...

JD Harper ’15

"The complex problems of our generation call for trans-disciplinary and multi-faceted solutions, and the GIS program certainly offered a highly interactive and creatively stimulating environment to...

Boutique Hotel

The proposal is to create a boutique hotel on the site that will provide spectacular views of the falls as well as offering 5-star service and amenities. The Hotel will be a vision of the Rochester of...

Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Architecture M.Arch.

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

Architecture, M.Arch. degree, typical course sequence

Numerous courses in the architecture curriculum require students to purchase supplies for use in class. Please review the Supply List for required supplies prior to starting the Master of Architecture program. For additional information, visit our  Accreditation and Support  page.

Note for online students

The frequency of required and elective course offerings in the online program will vary, semester by semester, and will not always match the information presented here. Online students are advised to seek guidance from the listed program contact when developing their individual program course schedule.

Students are also interested in

• Industrial Design MFA
• Construction Management MS
• Integrative Design MS

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus or online .

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. Part-time study is 1‑8 semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Architecture M.Arch. program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application . 
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
• A recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives .
• Submit two letters of recommendation .
• Entrance exam requirements: None
• Submit a portfolio. View portfolio requirements.
• Writing samples are optional.
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver .

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply   Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree .

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree

Additional Information

Advanced standing track for spring admit term.

The Advanced Standing track provides an option for students to start in the spring term; however, due to course sequencing, spring start students must take courses over 5 semesters (3 Spring & 2 Fall). The Spring admit term is only available for applicants pursuing the Advanced Standing Track. To qualify for advanced standing, applicants must have previous experience and an undergraduate degree in architecture.

Online Study Restrictions for Some International Students

Certain countries are subject to comprehensive embargoes under US Export Controls, which prohibit virtually ALL exports, imports, and other transactions without a license or other US Government authorization. Learners from the Crimea region of the Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria may not register for RIT online courses. Nor may individuals on the United States Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the United States Commerce Department’s table of Deny Orders. By registering for RIT online courses, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.

Accreditation

The master of architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) . In addition, the program is now designated as a STEM program in Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology (CIP code 04.0902) making international graduates eligible to extend their F-1 visas for up to three years in order to work in the United States.

Learn more about our program advisory council .

See who has made our program possible.

Seth Holmes

Alissa De Wit-Paul

Julius J. Chiavaroli

Civil Engineering and Construction Industry Career Fair

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Solitude Farmz, a 125-acre retreat located just outside of Oxford, N.Y., in the southern Finger Lakes, features a number of secluded walking trails that could serve to symbolize the long and winding path taken by Taylor Zimmer ’85 (printing) to become the steward of the bucolic property.

November 28, 2022

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• PHD program at MSA - Münster School of Architecture

Welcome to the PhD Program at MSA Münster School of Architecture!

We're excited to introduce our innovative PhD program for applied research in architecture in Germany. Are you prepared to embark on a journey that will reshape the future of architectural research and innovation? We are thrilled to present our groundbreaking PhD program, designed to empower the next generation of scholars, thinkers, and visionaries in the field of architecture and the built environment. Our program is focused on making a real-world impact and addressing tangible challenges in the field. Join us on this exciting journey!

About the PHD programm

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phd. in architecture

after acquiring so much debt through a Masters degree in architecture, i should probably slit my wrists now for even considering acquiring a phd. even so, can anyone recommend a good phd. program?

why not mix it up and do a phd at a state school to keep cost down in arch history or philosphy. most state schools have these programs on offer and at the end of the day thats what your going to do -- write a 250-300 page thingy. even though some schools now have arch phd, i think the pick'ns are slim.... if your doing it to teach and you have 1-2 professional arch degrees already, why not? and perhaps if you search out a arch school where you want to teach at, you can do both. what do you want to do with your phd? for most places, unless you have been a prolifiec writer-it is a 3-5 years journey. ouch! if you already have an established track record/expertise in something that will be the basis of your phd, it could be a free ride at most places with a fellowship/reseach assistant ship etc.

I think like most doctoral programs, an arch phD is a a job. I imagine you will be paid (not much), and expected to teach. I don't think there is any reason to get a phD unless you want to teach. You do research, not studio work. I don't have any personal experience with arch phD, but had a couple of professors who got theirs at upenn.

Is it possible to maintain a job outside of teaching and research as well, maybe for 25-30 hours a week? What is the typical schedule for a Phd student?

I'm sweating out my PhD apps even as I type, hoping I get the program I want. I'm transferring out of an art/architectural history PhD program and into an architecture PhD program (inside field of Theory and Criticism), so I've got a year of coursework under my belt that may or may not transfer. Anyway, I've got some experience at the PhD level, and here's my take on it all. Don't apply for a PhD program unless you can seriously indicate in your statement of intent that you intend to end up in academia--if you're apply for a top tier program, you need to be able to show that you're serious about ending up in a tenure track position. The thing about doctoral programs is that the work is really directed toward getting you a job in academia. It's not a design degree, it's a research/writing (and sometimes teaching) degree. Doctoral students are funded in a lot of different ways. My first year was paid for, no strings attached, but the next three were to be paid for with teaching fellowships. All the PhD Arch. programs I applied to will probably be funded in a similar way, w/teaching or research fellowships, unless I'm lucky enough to get a FLAS award. I wouldn't attend a PhD program that didn't fund me, but it would be foolish to hope that I would get the sweet deal I got from my first PhD program. GT, some schools won't even allow you to have a side job, or you have to give up your fellowship. I don't see how you would have time, anyway, if you're teaching 1/2 time on a fellowship. Another thing about PhD programs is you can't just apply to the "five best schools" or whatever. You also can't just pick any state school just to save money and expect to be admitted. For instance, since I knew my inside field would be Theory/Criticism/History, I only had about 25 schools from which to choose. From that list, there were about seven that could support my area of research. From that list, I chose four after visiting and interviewing. Anyway, the advice I always give to people who ask me "Should I go back to grad school?" is to read the online discussion boards in the career section of the Chronicle of Higher Education. They make my stomach hurt.

snjr- thanks for the advice. i didnt realize just how long it would take to go through a phd program. my intention would be to end up in academie, but at the same time, i would like to continue practicing. i have had a few offers to teach design, not arch. history/theory etc. perhaps it isnt necesary to get a phd to do this. i am curious though, is the funding enough to cover living expenses, rent, etc. comfortably?

I think it depends where you go to school. On the M.A. level, I only took home about $600/month (plus a tuition/fee waiver). I did one year of graduate work in Los Angeles, and even w/student loans and part-time work on top of my teaching assistantship, I couldn't make it. I transferred to Oregon after a year. Same income, and I still barely made it, even though the cost of living was a little better. My fellowship for the one year I did in a PhD program was a lump sum of $14,000 (plus a tuition/fee waiver). That's a really generous fellowship, but it wouldn't go far if you were living in a big city. I'm not sure you need a PhD to teach design classes. At least, I was just looking at Berkeley's website, and it seems like most of the design faculty have M.Arch. or something similar. The history/theory faculty all have PhDs. Maybe someone else can comment on that.

PhD degrees are not typically not required for teaching unless you want to teach history, theory, or other academically oriented courses. Most studio profs don't have and don't need a doctorate. If you go the PhD route, listen to SNJR. It's not about "I really enjoyed my master's, I'd love to keep going." It's about contributing original knowledge to one's chosen field. (Harvard has a design doctorate; that's the only exception to this I can think of.) People applying for the PhD must present themselves as driven to do research, writing, teaching, grant proposals, and much more of the same. I tell people who are considering the PhD to decide this way: decide, to the best that you're able, what you really want to be doing professionally in, say 5-10 years. If the ONLY way to achieve that is by getting a doctorate, then go for it. Few professional gigs fit this test. If there's ANY OTHER way to achieve your goal, do it that way instead.

I'm not sure about citizen's reasoning, but I would give the same advice. The focus of a PhD is VERY narrow. It's specifically to get you a job in academia. Dedicating 4-7 years of time (and money) to getting one only makes sense if you absolutely need it, I think. Plus, having a PhD can make you very unattractive in job markets outside academia. Potential employers start wondering why you are suddenly changing your focus from university to civilian employment--was it because you couldn't get a job at an institution of higher education? Are you even committed to life outside of a university? As an example, I started out in the art/architectural history field. One of my colleagues finished her PhD and went on the job market. You would think w/a PhD in Art History that she'd be very attractive to art museums, etc., but all she ever heard was "Why aren't you looking for a tenure track job at a university?"

My reasoning comes deep from year 7 in that "4-7 years of time (and money)" that Snjr mentions. I'm nearly finished with a PhD in urban planning. While I'm very glad I did it, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who's not sure they want an academic career.

do you think perhaps getting a SECOND Masters degree is a viable alternative? it seems this option would make one equally attractive in the job market as well as teaching.

Theres always the option of a post graduate masters degree. I know UofToronto has a post-graduate based Masters of Urban Design program, for example.

A second master's is a good choice for someone who hasn't had enough of grad school, yet doesn't want to commit to academia. It also gives, as Toro suggests, the opportunity to broaden one's resume'. A second degree, in landscape architecture, or planning, or real estate, or business, et cetera, would give a jobseeker a real leg up on competition --depending, of course, on the kind of job s/he's after.

I have known two architects who have PhDs in architecture. I met them both working in a firm. There is no reason to think getting a doctorate and working in a firm are incompatible. One of them went to MIT. I don't know where the other guy got his, but I think it was either MIT or Harvard. Neither of them was headed toward a career in academia. A third person I met got an Arch. PhD from MIT concentrating in History, Theory and Criticism. That person landed a job as a curator at a major museum. Don't feel a PhD locks you into a job in academia, although objectively it does head you in that direction.

Toro--I was just on the website for University of Washington, and saw this job description. Thought it was kind of interesting, asking for "an additional advanced degree". Anyway, maybe this would help in showing you what you might need to teach design courses.... http://www.washington.edu/admin/eoo/ads/aa832-ouf-05.html

Fish is right in that a doctorate is not going to keep you from getting jobs. The point is whether or not you NEED to spend half a dozen years researching and writing in order to advance your career. My point is that the answer is a resounding "no," unless you want a career in academia.

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21 Careers You Can Pursue With A Degree in Architecture

• Written by Ariana Zilliacus
• Published on November 07, 2016

Completing a degree in architecture can be a long and arduous process, but also wonderfully rewarding. Despite this, many freshly graduated architects find themselves unsure about where to begin, or deciding that they actually don’t want to be architects at all. Here is a list of 21 careers you can pursue with a degree in architecture, which may help some overcome the daunting task of beginning to think about and plan for the professional life that awaits.

Careers in Architecture

Architecture: the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. Architects often argue over the actual definition of our discipline, but can never really escape the use of broad terms, coming from a fantastically broad education. It’s unsurprising then, that the task of figuring out what kind of architect you want to be is a daunting one. Below is a list of 7 branches of architecture for you to consider:

1. Landscape Architect

Designing outdoor landscapes, including infrastructure , public areas , agriculture and forestry is vital for constructing the webs that bind our urban and rural spaces, but also, and perhaps more importantly, it’s essential for responding to globalization and climate change. Landscape architects are involved in storm water management, environmental restoration, and recreational areas among other things. If you enjoy working with and in the natural environment, this could be the path for you.

2. Urban Planner

As a result of a rapidly growing percentage of our population moving into urban areas, the conditions of urbanism are constantly in a state of flux. The dynamic state of the urban environment makes it an exciting path to take as an architect, covering everything from economic and demographic changes, to sustainable development . It’s an essential responsibility within our profession, but a challenging one; it requires adaptability and problem solving on a large scale.

3. Restoration Architect

Our societies’ heritage and history as presented through architecture are not only beautiful glimpses into the past, but also crucial to understanding our culture as a discipline. Conservation and restoration of buildings is undeniably a challenge; it is never possible to please everyone. The media often targets the act of restoration as a " heritage massacre ," in spite of the often very beautiful solutions.

4. Research Architect

With the current wave of digital design and constant advancement of digital tools, our methods of representation and expression are changing dramatically. Information technology has had a profound impact upon architecture that is far from over. These constant improvements are in part made possible by the exciting research being done by architects, not necessarily consisting of designing buildings, but focusing more on how these new tools can enhance our work.

5. Lighting Architect

Light has a profound impact on our mental and physical health, as anyone living at high latitudes can empathize with. Delving into the architecture of lighting entails improving the quality of our experiences, our health and well-being, and the sustainability of not only the natural environment, but also smaller spaces such as our work environments .

6. Political Architect

Some argue that architecture is by nature political, however being active in the political decision of a city or country is a different story. Architecture is more than just creating beautiful objects; the discipline has a value in organizing society. Architecture firm Terroir , for example, has worked with the Burnie City Council as well as with the Parramatta City Council in Australia, to argue for a certain structure for the city, to predict what may happen, and to design a set of criteria for the evolution of the city. It is a case of architecture influencing politics, instead of the other way around.

7. Extreme Architect

With the current development of climate change , extreme weather conditions such as floods, heat waves and hurricanes are predicted to increase. Existing extreme environments, such as deserts, are likely to expand due to phenomena such as desertification. Being an architect who specializes in extreme weather conditions is therefore not only an incredibly fascinating way to tackle the subject, but also invaluable for us to adapt to the future of our planet.

Careers in Art and Design

If, upon graduating, you realize that architecture is in fact not for you, design and art might be. Architecture already is a form of design (or maybe it’s the other way around), making it easier to create direct links between your education as an architect, and your profession as an artist or designer. Another alternative is to combine two disciplines, such as graphic design and architecture. Perhaps your passion is to make it easier for architects to communicate through graphics?

Although Olafur Eliasson did not study architecture, he works with many architects at Studio Olafur Eliasson , exemplifying how harmonious and imperative the relationship between space and art is. The spatial reasoning and visualization skills one gains from an education in architecture lends themselves perfectly to installation art, sculpture and spatial experiences, without the necessity for functionality.

9. Industrial Designer

Several architecture firms have branched into industrial design , due to their close creative ties. However, industrial design focuses on smaller scale objects of mass production, as opposed to large-scale buildings designed for a specific context. If the prospect of designing something enormous, permanent, and landscape changing sounds all too intimidating, industrial design is a great, smaller scaled alternative.

10. Furniture Designer

Even more so than industrial design , furniture design can be seen as architecture’s little sister. Countless famous architects have made significant contributions to furniture design : Charles and Ray Eames , Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen , among others. Contemporary architects such as Zaha Hadid Architects are following suit, proving that the two can even be done simultaneously.

11. Textile Designer

Designing textiles requires sensitivity for color, tactility, construction, patterns and forms, all of which are developed during any student’s years at architecture school. The relationship between "skin" and structure is in some ways even more literal than in a building, as the two merge together. High fashion is also reminiscent of architecture in many ways, adopting the geometric and sculptural constructions of contemporary buildings.

12. Graphic Designer

Graphic design is the way in which we take in our world and identify it. It is invaluable when it comes to communication. It can also be so aesthetically pleasing that one can hardly resist becoming a graphic designer. Taking a short course in graphic design to supplement a degree in architecture can open up a range of possibilities to still work within the field, but take charge of tasks that are more suited to your interests in communication.

13. Video Game Designer

The near-limitless boundaries that come with designing a virtual world may be one of the most fun things a newly graduated architect could think of doing with their education. Constructing the architecture of a video game is a way of letting your imagination roam free, but could also add more depth to your spatial reasoning.

14. Photographer

Architecture photography is becoming increasingly popular, possibly due to the beautiful geometry that can emerge by constraining something within a lens. Photography concerns itself more with the aesthetic, with the object and the composition in that unique moment, within that specific frame. It concerns itself with the fleeting atmosphere, more than with the permanent organization of people and spaces. Yet it still consists of composition, colour, environment and experiences.

15. Production Designer

Although a set or a stage are far smaller platforms than a virtual planet, designing theater and film sets allows for just as much creative flow. It lifts the pressure of traditional spatial design and expression, allowing for experiences that may be more evocative, sensuous, and story-driven, while still utilizing all the knowledge and skills one gains from an education in architecture: time pressures, conceptual environments and collaborative creativity.

Careers Outside of Design

If you find yourself scrolling through this list and shaking your head at any mention of architecture, art or design, perhaps this final list is for you. It covers 6 careers outside of the stereotypical fields of design, mostly within the human sciences as architecture is inherently directed towards the human experience. Drawing the essence of this from your architectural education and injecting it into another discipline may even make you a stronger candidate in the professional sphere.

16. Teacher/Professor

Young teachers at architecture schools are becoming more common, and if you’re looking for more time to learn about the field before making a decision on whether or not you want to remain in it, taking up a year or two of teaching could be an ideal way to do so. Teaching is a two way street, especially at such a young age, which provides you with an excellent method to learn from your students and reflect on your view of architecture. Here are some tips on how to succeed as a young professor.

17. Philanthropist

In the past, architecture was a gentleman’s profession, taken up as a philanthropic endeavour as opposed to an economic one. In our present day, women have begun to get a strong hold on the profession, but thankfully the philanthropic ideal has not died out. Contemporary architecture has a necessary focus on sustainability: environmental, social, psychological, and economic. The knowledge and awareness of these ideals can be converted into other types of philanthropy, if that’s what interests you. Founding a sustainable foundation towards a humanitarian aim is never a waste of time.

18. Politician

As mentioned previously, architecture and politics are in many ways inherently tied together. The knowledge one gains of people, and the way they interact with their environment, the way they are organized, what makes the human body and psyche feel comfortable; all of these skills contribute hugely to making a good politician. In fact, in Finland, Anders Adlercreutz, a current first-term Member of Parliament, is educated as an architect and practiced as one for many years before turning to politics, while in Britain Richard Rogers serves in the House of Lords alongside running his practice .

19. Conservationist

Similar to philanthropy, conservation of the environment is becoming a focal point within architecture. Despite many efforts, our planet is still heading down a path leading to disaster when it comes to our natural surroundings. Using your knowledge of spatial organization to develop a method of environmental conservation is not only intellectually stimulating, but also vitally important for our society.

Becoming a writer or journalist can be a great way to utilize an architectural education; we learn to articulate ourselves using ( mostly ) descriptive language and rhetoric, in order to communicate our complex projects to teachers and critics. Turning that into writing, whether fictional or not, is another way of constructing another world and an experience for others. Despite the print being two-dimensional, the stories definitely aren’t.

21. Entrepreneur

Problem solving, creative thinking and the art of persuasion are three skills architects and entrepreneurs have in common that you can use to your advantage. Your experience with abstract concepts and human interaction can make you a stronger competitor with an alternative way of thinking.

The list above is of course incomplete, as the careers mentioned here can be combined in many ways, and other, unmentioned vocations can be brought to the table to provide virtually infinite possibilities. As German educator Kurt Hahn said, "there is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less." Don’t forget that there is a sea of possibilities out there.

• Sustainability

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21 种建筑专业可以从事的职业

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Anyone applying to PhD in Architecture or Civil Engineering? Did you hear anything?

My boyfriend is applying to the Architecture PhD program at Harvard GSD, Harvard GSAS, UMich, UCB, UT Austin, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, UIUC, and Civil Engineering at UMich.

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• Dual Degree Programs
• Graduate Certificates

Program Directors

• Quick Facts

The academic programs at the USC School of Architecture give students numerous degree options to best pursue their individual interests and goals. Students complete courses in theory and history alongside hands-on studio courses and fieldwork in robust, interactive learning environments.

RELATED RESOURCES: Advisement & Academic Services , Courses , Diversity, Equity & Inclusion , Faculty , Facilities & Fabrication , Global Opportunities , Lecture Series , Research , Student Work , NAAB A ccreditation

PROGRAM PAGE  ↗

LEARNING OBJECTIVES   ↗

STUDENT WORK  ↗

PROGRAM DIRECTORS:

Alvin Huang, AIA ,  Director and  Selwyn Ting ,  Associate Director

NAAB-ACCREDITED

STEM-DESIGNATED

USC Graduate Architecture leverages the extensive experience and wide-ranging expertise of a deeply talented roster of licensed architects, design-thinkers, and design scholars to explore the power of design to change the built environment. With a deep commitment to disciplinary knowledge, civic and spatial justice, and innovation in architectural practice, we take the term Citizen Architect very seriously.

The Master of Architecture is built on three levels. The first level is dedicated to introducing essential disciplinary knowledge and the fundamental design skills required for the NAAB-accredited degree. The second level builds upon this foundation with increasingly refined vocational knowledge and advanced professional capability. The final level culminates with a year of individually directed design research, with master classes and a directed design research project (thesis) focused on the student’s emergent architectural interests. All three levels draw on the USC School of Architecture’s commitment to spatial justice, the University’s extended resources, and the inspiration of Los Angeles. Firmly rooted in an investigative mode of critical, professional practice, the program’s aim is for every graduate to be prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR :

Alvin Huang, AIA

Under the vision of Dean Milton S. F. Curry and the directorship of Alvin Huang, the Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies (M.AARS) is designed to align with the mission and priorities of the USC School of Architecture, a dynamic platform for educating and inspiring citizen architects, designers and scholars to analyze problems and create design solutions that both respond to the challenges of our time and embrace the promise of a better built environment.

This one-year, three-semester post-professional graduate degree is focused on degree concentrations:

1. City Design + Housing

2. Performative Design + Technology

Kyle Konis, Ph.D., AIA

Building Science at the USC School of Architecture recognizes that exemplary architecture requires innovative responses to natural forces. The integration of the study of building sciences with knowledge of current practices and new technologies creates synergistic and holistic architectural design that satisfies performative goals. The Chase L. Leavitt Master of Building Science program addresses the need for a new generation of design professionals prepared to bring appropriate technology to the design of a sustainable environment while recognizing the critical impacts that science and technology can play in social and cultural realms.

Within this context, the program emphasizes: 1) The integration of planning, design, and technology to form a coherent, interdependent force for the appropriate construction of urban places. 2) Recognition of the ecological importance of energy-conscious design and construction as well as the social value of “citizen architects” creating places in which natural forces and systems are utilized rather than suppressed. 3) The development of research and design methods suited to the complexity of building in urban settings and effective in the use of extensive information. Students are individually guided through their study and complete a thesis-based research project.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES  ↗

THESIS SHOWCASE  ↗

PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Trudi Sandmeier

USC’s Master of Heritage Conservation (MHC) Program prepares students to strengthen communities using existing places and the stories they tell. Offering the only master’s degree of its kind on the West Coast, the program focuses on cultural and intangible heritage, the impact of underrecognized communities on the built environment (and vice versa), and modernism and the recent past. 

There’s no better place to explore these issues than Los Angeles, a postwar metropolis and one of the most diverse, complex, and fascinating cities on the planet. Much of the history we teach was made in Southern California, from an unparalleled legacy of modern architecture to major milestones in the fight for social justice. 

The global term for historic preservation, heritage conservation more accurately reflects the work we do and the close connections between the natural environment, the built environment, and intangible heritage. The MHC curriculum encompasses social and architectural history, planning theory and policy, assessing and documenting sites and materials, climate change and sustainability, and more. We offer dual degrees with Heritage Conservation and Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture + Urbanism, and Building Science. 

MHC students envision the future through the lens of the past. They learn about context—what was here before, why and how it took shape, and how it evolved or disappeared over time. How do we use what we already have and sustain the evidence of our past? How do we choose which places and stories matter? Who tells those stories, how, and to what end? 

Our students have a range of backgrounds and interests, but they share some common traits. They love history and want to tell the stories of their community. They see heritage conservation as a tool for social justice, community revitalization, housing, and sustainability. They want to learn from leaders in the field and from each other. Our award-winning podcast, Save As: NextGen Heritage Conservation , interviews students and alumni about their work, their diverse career paths, and their thoughts on the future of the field. Please visit our program page to learn more , and reach out with any questions .

LEARNING OBJECTIVES  ↗

Esther Margulies , Director

LAAB-ACCREDITED

Landscapes are the intersection of nature, social conditions and the built environment. The Graduate Program of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism at the USC School of Architecture explores the role of Southern California and global geographies as generators and solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges of climate change, social and environmental justice and the role of technology. In our program we research these issues and develop multi layered proposals using design thinking to address extreme natural and social conditions affecting people, infrastructure and the environment, especially as these issues present themselves in our everyday life.

Our program curriculum is focused on a balanced core of design studios, media and representation, history & theory, construction documentation, plant materials and ecology, and urbanism. The studio sequence is designed to build design and communication skills within the process of understanding site, context and strategies for intervention. We begin with small local urban sites where intensive field work is critical to site understanding and build up to a year-long investigation of relevant topics and site investigations in the third-year design research seminar and studios. Students synthesize their coursework in history, plant materials, ecology, construction and urbanism with their studio work. Second year studios provide opportunities to investigate design responses to climate change impacts and options to collaborate with architecture students in an integrated setting. Elective courses in our curriculum come from a wide range of offerings in the School of Architecture and related real estate, planning, GIS and cinema courses offered at USC.

We are fortunate to inhabit one of the most culturally and environmentally diverse geographies in the world. We are located within an hour’s drive from the Pacific Ocean, the San Gabriel Mountains and the western edge of the Sonoran Desert. Los Angeles is the most vibrant and diverse city on the West Coast of the US. We are known as the city that is constantly reinventing ourselves. At the beginning of the 21st century we are engaged in efforts to re-define our City and our relationship to natural systems. We are optimistic that this generation, with the benefit of increased attention to the qualities and power of the landscape will prove to be more resilient than the last.

PROGRAM PAGE ↗

THESIS SHOWCASE ↗

The Master of Heritage Conservation/Master of Urban Planning dual degree program facilitates highly related cross-disciplinary studies in heritage conservation and in urban planning at the master’s level. The primary objective of the dual degree curriculum is to impart to students a basic familiarity with the origins and development of the philosophies, theories, and practices of planning and heritage conservation. This curriculum has been developed so that students will graduate from this program with a broad practical knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies that apply to planning and conservation practice in the United States and internationally. This expertise will include knowledge of urban design, public policy, and architectural and planning history and theory. Students will be expected to understand the critical methodological tools necessary for a professional engaged in the investigation, interpretation, and evaluation of the urban built environment.

STUDENT WORK ↗

PROGRAM DIRECTORS:

Qualified students who are admitted to the Master of Landscape Architecture program in the School of Architecture and to the graduate program in the USC Price School of Public Policy may complete both degrees in a highly integrated five-seven semester program.

Esther Margulies and Trudi Sandmeier

The Master of Heritage Conservation/Master of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism dual degree program facilitates highly related cross-disciplinary studies in heritage conservation and in landscape architecture at the master’s level. Those enrolled in the dual degree program will learn the histories, theories, and practices of landscape architecture and heritage conservation.

 PROGRAM DIRECTORS:

Trudi Sandmeier and Kyle Konis, Ph.D., AIA

The Master of Heritage Conservation/Master of Building Science dual degree program facilitates highly related cross-disciplinary studies in heritage conservation and in building science at the master’s level. The primary objective of the dual degree curriculum is to impart to students a basic familiarity with the origins and development of the philosophies, theories, and practices of building science and heritage conservation. This curriculum has been developed so that students will graduate from this program with a broad practical knowledge of the techniques and strategies for conserving the existing built environment through the lens of science and technology. Students will be expected to understand the critical methodological tools necessary for a professional engaged in the investigation, interpretation, and evaluation of the urban built environment.

The focus of this program is on understanding the broad and complex role of architecture within the urban context. Studies focus on cities throughout the world where conditions of increasing density, environmental challenges and cultural complexity require design initiatives that support amenity, sustainability and cultural meaning. The certificate is open to graduate students not pursuing a degree in Architecture.

The Graduate Certificate program in Building Façade Art Science and Technology is designed to provide students with the deep knowledge and skills necessary for careers in the increasingly technical field of façade system design, fabrication, delivery and operation. Study areas include design, fabrication and construction processes, an expanding materials palette, energy and carbon performance, resilience and sustainability considerations, health, comfort and wellness attributes, computational analytics and digital workflows and the aesthetics of the building skin.

Building science at USC recognizes that exemplary architecture requires a creative response to natural forces, based on informed good judgment in the areas of architectural technology. The Certificate in Building Science is intended as a supplement for students enrolled in graduate course work in architecture, landscape architecture, his­toric preservation, urban planning or related discipline.

The Graduate Certificate in City Design + Housing at the USC School of Architecture offers students the opportunity to gain focused knowledge and specialized expertise in the topics of inclusive and equitable urban design and housing production. This multidisciplinary program equips students with the tools necessary to critically analyze and address pressing issues related to contemporary urban development and housing provision. Studies within the certificate program emphasize innovative approaches to urban design and housing solutions that prioritize social and environmental equity. With a comprehensive understanding of spatial and social justice principles, students delve into alternative modes of designing cities and residential housing stocks that promote inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience. 

Ideal for professionals who wish to augment their academic credentials in order to facilitate their work on heritage conservation projects, the 14-unit certificate program includes four core classes that impart the fundamentals of the discipline. The certificate is also an ideal complement to a graduate studies in architecture, landscape architecture, building science, planning, public art administration, geography, anthropology, or other related disciplines.

This program is intended to introduce at the graduate level the basic subjects inherent to the field of landscape architecture: plant materials suitable to urban conditions; urban utility and transportation systems in relation to topography, natural drainage and pathways; plant and wildlife communities; as well as inquiries about landscape infrastructure and ecology, and the history of human settle­ment in the evolution of urban landscapes. Southern California and Los Angeles provide an exceptionally valuable natural and socio­cultural laboratory for landscape architecture studies. 

The Graduate Certificate in Performative Design + Technology at the USC School of Architecture offers an intensive exploration of advanced technologies shaping the future of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This specialized program equips students with the specialized knowledge and focused expertise needed to excel in key areas such as parametric modeling, design computation, data-driven design, artificial intelligence and digital fabrication. 

This multidisciplinary program provides students with the tools necessary to understand and quantify the sources of energy use in buildings and landscapes. Studies emphasize improving sustainable design choices regarding natural and man-made systems considering the performance of the built environment, the reduction of its embodied and operational energies, and the influence of other resource issues.

Sustainability is an imperative for our planet as climate change, population growth and dwindling oil supplies are all reminders that our resources are finite and we need a new paradigm to adjust to these global changes. The built environment represents the majority of our energy use and design can help reduce both the embodied and operational energy of our buildings and urban landscape.

This certificate provides students with the tools necessary to understand and quantify sources of energy use in buildings and landscapes and to use design of natural and man-made systems to reduce their energy use. This certificate will give students the background to help them make sustainable design choices through informed decision making that considers the performance of the built environment related to the energy required to make it, the energy it absorbs or releases, the energy required to maintain it, and the energy required to replace it. Environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions will be explored through the coursework.

The Summer Short Course in Heritage Conservation offer clusters of lecture and field-based learning sessions about the fundamentals of the discipline in an intensive two-week format. Taught by a team of practicing professionals in fields ranging from conservation and engineering to economics and law, the course also includes visits to historic sites, such as the Gamble and Freeman Houses, the laboratories of the Getty Conservation Institute, and current rehabilitation projects. Designed for those interested in a career change, city officials needing to brush up on the basics, or students interested in learning more about the field, the Summer Short Course can be taken in sections or as a complete for-credit course.

Graduate Students

Student to faculty ratio

of students are first generation students

students received scholarship grants in 2020

faculty members

in research grants awarded to faculty and students in 2020