Bachelor of Architecture
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The Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) is an undergraduate academic degree designed to satisfy the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to professional examination and registration. It is awarded for a course of study that lasts up to five years. In some cases, a B.Arch can only be undertaken after having completed a three-year generalist architectural degree, in which case, it may be as short as two years. Many architecture schools using this bi-partite structure have re-badged their B.Arch programs as M.Arch degrees.
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[edit] Australia
Architectural education in Australia varies depending on the university offering the course. At some, such as the University of New South Wales and RMIT University, architecture is a 5-year B.Arch degree with at least 6 months practice experience. At other universities it is a 3-year Bachelor degree in Architecture, a year of practice experience followed by a 2-year M.Arch. Registration as an architect is via state-based boards and requires a minimum of 2 years practice experience under the supervision of a registered architect. In addition there are double degrees offered by many universities, such as those combining architecture with construction or landscape architecture. Some universities also offer Masters programs in Architecture via coursework or research. Many architecture faculties offer related programs in landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, property and construction. Entry to Australian architecture programs is highly competitive and the proportion of students at some architecture schools from outside Australia is very high, up to 40%.
Universities in Australia offering professionally-accredited architecture programs:
- University of Adelaide
- University of South Australia
- University of Western Australia
- Curtin University
- University of Melbourne
- RMIT University
- Deakin University
- University of Tasmania
- University of New South Wales
- Sydney University
- University of Technology Sydney
- Queensland University of Technology
- University of Queensland
- Australian National University
- University of Newcastle
[edit] United Kingdom
Architectural education differs slightly in the United Kingdom. A five year course used to exist in a similar fashion to the United States, but the 1960s saw the introduction of the Sandwich course and a split of the Barch into a 3 year BA degree (or in some cases BSc) followed by a year working in practice, after which a 2 year B.Arch is completed. A further year of work completes the student's education upon the passing of Part III final examinations (See below). Registration as an architect is then permissible by the Architects Registration Board. Many UK universities offer postgraduate programs by coursework and research in architecture and related fields such as landscape architecture, planning, and urban design.
[edit] The RIBA 3 Part Examinations
In effect, for most student to become an architect in the United Kingdom they must pass or be exempted from Part I,II and III of the RIBA's examinations. Completion of the 3 year BA or BSc gives an exemption from Part I. Completion of the 2 year B.Arch gives exemption from Part II and the final year of supervised in practice training, with supplemental assignments makes up the requirements for Part III.
An alternative route to qualification exists by sitting the exams directly - currently this administered by Oxford Brookes University on behalf of the RIBA.
[edit] Studying architecture in the UK
Universities offering architecture courses validated by the RIBA in the UK:
- University of Bath
- The Bartlett at University College London
- University of Cambridge
- University College for the Creative Arts
- University of Sheffield
- University of Nottingham
- Oxford Brookes University
- University of Newcastle upon Tyne
- University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University at the Manchester School of Architecture
- Robert Gordon University
- Queen's University of Belfast
- University of Ulster
- Birmingham City University
- University of Brighton
- University of the West of England
- University of Cardiff
- University of Dundee
- Edinburgh College of Art
- University of Edinburgh
- Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Glasgow
- University of Huddersfield
- Leeds Metropolitan University
- De Montfort University
- University of Lincoln
- University of Liverpool
- Liverpool John Moores University
- University of the Arts, London Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design
- University of East London
- University of Greenwich
- Kingston University
- London Metropolitan University
- Royal College of Art
- London South Bank University
- University of Westminster
- Northumbria University
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Plymouth
- University of Portsmouth
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Architectural Association School of Architecture
[edit] United States of America
The Bachelor of Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) as a professional degree, allowing the recipient to qualify for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
There are also universities that offer a four-year degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (B.S.Arch) or a Bachelor of Art in Architectural Studies (B.A.Arch). These are non-accredited, pre-professional degrees, and so these students must enroll in a Masters degree (M.Arch) program to be professionally-licensed. However, enrolling in a pre-professional program often gets a student into a shorter M.Arch program. Any architecturaly related curriculum can eventually make licensure possible. With a lesser degree more experience is needed but experience in a firm is always necessary.
The course of study of the Bachelor of Architecture includes studio courses on design and aesthetic theory, as well as practical courses on structures, building mechanical systems, electrical systems, plumbing and construction. Student work is often in the form of drawings and renderings, either through computer-aided design or drafting by hand. Students also build physical models and create presentation boards for drawings and graphics.
In nearly all architecture schools in the United States, student life and work revolves around a studio class. Other classes in the architecture curriculum are designed to support the concepts emphasized in studio. One particularly rigorous aspect of studio classes is the "critique" or "review." Students "pin-up" their models and presentation drawings for instructors (and students) who offer constructive criticism.
As of December 2005, there were sixty-seven accredited Bachelor of Architecture programs in the United States.
Colleges and universities in the United States where a Bachelor of Architecture degree can be obtained are listed below:
Note: Universities denoted by a * also have accredited Master of Architecture programs at their schools
- Auburn University
- Ball State University*
- Boston Architectural College*
- California College of the Arts
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona*
- Carnegie Mellon University
- City College of the City University of New York
- Cooper Union
- Cornell University*
- Drexel University
- Drury University
- Florida A&M University*
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida International University*
- Hampton University*
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges
- Howard University
- Illinois Institute of Technology*
- Iowa State University*
- Kansas State University
- Kent State University* (until 2009)
- Lawrence Technological University*
- Louisiana State University*
- Louisiana Tech University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology*
- Mississippi State University
- Montana State University*
- New Jersey Institute of Technology*
- New School of Architecture and Design*
- New York Institute of Technology
- North Carolina State University*
- North Dakota State University
- Northeastern University*
- Norwich University*
- Oklahoma State University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Philadelphia University
- Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
- Prairie View A&M University*
- Pratt Institute*
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute*
- Rhode Island School of Design*
- Rice University*
- Roger Williams University*
- Savannah College of Art and Design*
- Southern California Institute of Architecture*
- Southern Polytechnic State University
- Southern University and A&M College
- Syracuse University*
- Temple University
- Texas A&M University*
- Tulane University
- Tuskegee University
- University of Arizona
- University of Arkansas
- University at Buffalo*
- University of Detroit Mercy*
- University of Florida*
- University of Houston, Hines College of Architecture*
- University of Illinois at Chicago*
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign*
- University of Kansas*
- University of Kentucky*
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette*
- University of Maine at Augusta (Offered as a BA in Architecture, not BArch)
- University of Maryland, College Park*
- University of Miami*
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas*
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte*
- University of Notre Dame*
- University of Oklahoma*
- University of Oregon*
- University of Southern California*
- University of Tennessee*
- University of Texas at Austin*
- University of Texas at Arlington*
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee*
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University*
- Washington State University
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
- Woodbury University
[edit] See also
-> List of international architecture schools
