General Information

Accreditation

The School of Architecture is a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established institutional standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a preprofessional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

• B. Arch. (161 undergraduate credits)
• M. Arch (preprofessional degree + 60 credits)
• M. Arch. (non-preprofessional degree + 111 credits)

Most recent accreditation visit for all programs: 2018

The Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture satisfy the registration requirements of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.

The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design satisfies the interior design registration requirements of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, and is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning is accredited by the American Planning Association.

Mission

The School of Architecture seeks to assist those who wish to develop knowledge, sensitivity, and skill in design, planning, and construction, so that as architects, interior designers, and planners they may improve the human environment. The curriculum offers opportunities for a broad education in professional subjects and in the arts and the humanities. Through avenues that stress solving actual and theoretical problems, the school seeks to enhance the knowledge and skill necessary to link understanding to experience, theory to practice, and art to science in ways that respond to human needs, aspirations, and sensibilities. Through its consortium of architects, interior designers, planners, and educators and scholars in these fields, the school provides a service to society and to the architecture, interior design, and planning professions by advancing the state of the art in design and technology.

History

The University began offering professional degrees in architecture in 1910 within the Department of Engineering. The School of Architecture was established in 1948 as a division of the College of Engineering and became an autonomous school of the University in September 1951. Graduate study in architecture began at the University in 1912. More than five thousand undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture and planning have been conferred.

Education in community and regional planning was first offered as an undergraduate study option in the School of Architecture from 1948 to 1957. The Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning was formally approved in October 1959; the Doctor of Philosophy, in April 1995.

Education in interior design was first offered in 1939 within the degree of Bachelor of Science in Home Economics. In 1992 the College of Natural Sciences created the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree program; in the fall of 1998 this program was transferred to the School of Architecture. The first interior design degrees were conferred by the school in May 2001.

Facilities

The School of Architecture is centrally located on campus in four adjacent buildings: the historically significant Battle Hall (1911); Sutton Hall (1918, renovated in 1982), designed by distinguished American architect Cass Gilbert; Goldsmith Hall (1933, expanded and renovated in 1988), designed by noted architect Paul Philippe Cret, one of the primary planners of the forty-acre campus; and the West Mall Office Building (1961).

The Architecture and Planning Library, a branch of the top-tier University of Texas Libraries system, provides reference and instructional services through expert staff to researchers who have access to over 100,000 volumes, including 20,000 rare volumes in Special Collections, 300 periodicals, and a wealth of online resources.

The Alexander Architectural Archive joins the library as a research center of national importance with nearly half a million drawings, 1,800 linear feet of papers, photographs, and other formats acquired, preserved, and made available for scholarship.

The Visual Resources Collection + Darkroom + Lighting Studio includes a growing collection of over 140,000 digital images of significant works of architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture for use in teaching, research, and scholarly publications. A fully equipped black and white darkroom and a lighting studio—where models can be photographed using professional equipment—are available by appointment to currently enrolled School of Architecture students.

The University Co-op Materials Resource Center offers an inspirational environment of material systems and technologies. The circulating library includes 28,000+ samples representing emerging, innovative, and sustainable design materials.

The Technology Lab + Computer Classrooms are the technological environment for individual, group, and classroom work. The classrooms have computer workstations formatted with up-to-date software. The Technology Lab houses the Service Desk, a central hub for access to production and digital fabrication facilities, including high-resolution plotting, printing, 3D printing, laser cutting, scanning, portfolio printing, and equipment checkout.

The Thermal Lab is a research facility used by the School of Architecture and the Cockrell School of Engineering for experiments on the ways innovative building facades perform with respect to light, heat, and energy use.

The Wood Shop plays an integral role in the creation of design, ranging from models to full-scale applications, by providing equipment and training, primarily in wood, but also in metal, plastic, and glass.

The Center for American Architecture and Design regularly stages symposia; publishes CENTER, Centerline, and the O'Neil Ford Monograph and Duograph book series; and supports independent research and scholarship in architecture and design. In addition, the center hosts the bi-weekly Friday Lunch Forum Series.

The Center for Sustainable Development supports the study and practice of sustainable development in Texas, the nation, and the world through complementary programs of research, education, and community outreach. Associated faculty and students strive to better understand the connections between the environment, economic prosperity and social justice.

The Architectural Conservation Lab provides a facility for Historic Preservation materials conservation courses and for faculty and students with conservation research projects. Additionally, the space allows the Historic Preservation program to establish affiliations with related facilities on the University campus.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center exists to conduct innovative native plant research, develop comprehensive educational materials, and consult on landscape development projects of all sizes to capitalize on the ability of native landscapes to improve communities. The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants, and landscapes.

The Harry Ransom Center, one of the world’s foremost institutions for literary and cultural research, houses a large collection of rare architecture books, including the classics of architectural literature.

The Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies and the Benson Latin American Collection provide exceptional opportunities for the study of Latin American architecture.

Financial Assistance Available through the School

Scholarship funds established by individuals, firms, foundations, and the University are available to current undergraduates in the School of Architecture. These include:

Scholarships
Yvette Atkinson Memorial Scholarship in Architecture
Marvin E. and Anne Price Beck Endowed Scholarship
Carl O. Bergquist Endowed Scholarship
Myron Geer Blalock Endowed Presidential Scholarship
Hal Box Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
C. William Brubaker/Perkins+Will Endowed Presidential Scholarship
John Buck Company and First Chicago Investment Advisors for Fund F Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
Matt Casey Memorial Scholarship in Architecture
John S. Chase Endowed Presidential Scholarship
Dick Clark Student Travel Fund
Fred W. and Laura Weir Clarke Endowed Presidential Scholarships in Architecture Honoring Carl Bergquist and Alan Y. Taniguchi
Peter O. Coltman Book Prize in Architecture and Planning
Fred Winfield Day, Jr. Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
Jorge Luis Divino Centennial Scholarship in Architecture
Amy Dryden Endowed Scholarship
Snøhetta Endowed Scholarship in Architecture established by Craig Dykers and Elaine Molinar
William H. Emis III Traveling Scholarship in Architecture
Ford, Powell and Carson Endowed Scholarship
Ted Freedman Endowed Scholarship
Suzie Friedkin Endowed Scholarship in Interior Design
Adam Conrad Grote Memorial Scholarship in Architecture
The HDR Architecture Endowed Scholarship
The Janet C. and Wolf E. Jessen Endowed Presidential Scholarship
Henrietta Chamberlain King Endowed Scholarship
Lake/Flato Endowed Scholarship
Lynne Brundrett Maddox Scholarship in Interior Design
Mike and Maxine Mebane Endowed Traveling Scholarship in Architecture
Jack H. Morgan Endowed Scholarship; the Charles M. Nettles Endowed Presidential Scholarship
Oglesby Prize Endowment
Overland Partners Endowed Presidential Scholarship
Barbara and Donald Pender Endowed Scholarship
Edward J. Perrault Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Interior Design
Alma Piner Scholarship in Architecture
Boone Powell Family Prize in Urban Design
Debbie Ann Rock Scholarship in Interior Design
School of Architecture Scholarship and Fellowship Award Endowment
Brandon Shaw Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Louis F. Southerland Endowed Scholarship
Lance Tatum Endowed Scholarship
University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture’s Advisory Council Women’s Endowed Scholarship
Wilmont “Vic” Vickrey Endowed Scholarship
Lily Rush Walker and Coulter Hoppess Scholarship in Architecture
Robert Leon White Memorial Fund—Architecture
Roxanne Williamson Endowed Scholarship

Additionally, there are several scholarships provided by the American Institute of Architects, the American Architectural Foundation, the Texas Society of Architects, the Texas American Planning Association, and the Texas Architectural Foundation. Additional information is available in the Office of the Dean.

Incoming students may wish to contact local chapters of the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Interior Design Association, and the University’s Texas Exes, as well as other civic organizations, for information about locally sponsored scholarships. Students are also encouraged to contact the University’s Office of Financial Aid for information about other merit- and need-based scholarships.

Student Services

Academic Advising

In the School of Architecture, the undergraduate dean’s office, located in Goldsmith Hall 2.116, and the academic adviser’s office, located in Goldsmith Hall 2.118, are responsible for providing information and advice to undergraduate students. An important aspect of the advising system is the third-year portfolio requirement described in the section Third-year Portfolio Review Requirement later in Admission and Registration. The student should also consult Degree Audit in the Graduation section.

Career Services

The Career Services Center, located in Sutton Hall 2.126, serves the students and alumni of the School of Architecture by offering career development and job search resources, connecting them to employers, mentors, and key professionals.

Student Organizations

The Undergraduate Architecture Student Council (UASC) represents all School of Architecture undergraduate students through the promotion and development of an awareness of the built environment and serves as a nucleus for student activities. The UASC acts as a liaison between students and faculty members as well as administrators.

Alpha Rho Chi (APX) is a professional and social co-ed fraternity for architecture and the allied arts that promotes the artistic, scientific, and practical proficiency of its members and the profession. The Dinocrates Chapter at The University of Texas at Austin unites students from various years and studies through philanthropic and professional activities.

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is a professional organization whose mission is to promote excellence, appreciation, and advancement of architecture, and to enrich communities in a spirit of collaboration. AIAS strives to provide a sense of community and a forum for sharing different views.

Ampersand (&) is a student organization that combines the student chapters of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), provides students with networking opportunities, and promotes involvement within the interior design community.

The National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) is The University of Texas at Austin Student Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. The organization strives to enhance education and professional networking as well as engage solutions to ensure a healthy living and working environment for the community at large.

The Society of Engineering and Architecture Students (SEAS) focuses on providing academic and social support to students in the Bachelor of Architecture/Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering dual degree program.

Tau Sigma Delta is an honors society for advanced students pursuing architectural study and the allied arts. The national chapter originated in 1913, and the School of Architecture established its own chapter, Mu, in 1931. In 2013, the 100th year anniversary of the original honors society, the School of Architecture reactivated the Mu chapter. This organization recognizes the significant level of academic achievement present in The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture.

Study Abroad and Internship Opportunities

The School of Architecture encourages first-hand experiences of diverse peoples, places and cultures, nationally and internationally, so that we might better engage the world in which we live. Educational travel experiences can be integrated into degree plans in several ways, including, but not limited to, the following:

Study in Italy is a semester at the Santa Chiara Study Center in Tuscany, approximately an hour's drive from Florence. The program allows for an intensive study of design, history, and visual communication, while the center’s historic structure provides a congenial campus environment and a base for travel throughout Italy.

The Europe/Paris Program is a semester of study that emphasizes a broad and integrated experience covering the buildings and landscapes as well as the urban fabric across Europe. With a unique itinerary every fall, the program gives students special study opportunities with regard to design, history, and visual communication in each city visited.

Studio Mexico is a biennial advanced studio for architecture and landscape architecture students that explores the rich cultural and built environment of Mexico. During a nine-day trip to Mexico, students visit a project site and other significant places, and enjoy rich interaction with Mexican students working on the same project. Students participating in the studio are encouraged to take the Mexican architecture class taught by Professor Juan Miró, either concurrently with the studio or in the previous year.

The Professional Residency Program provides upper-level architecture students with a unique opportunity to expand their education through work experience in the architectural profession. The program has provided work experience to honors students in the school since 1974, and over the past decades our students have been linked with over 300 firms in 30 countries.