School of Architecture

Dean : V. Nathan

Associate Dean: C.S. Griffen

Director, Architecture Program : D.M. Breiner

Director, Architectural Studies Program : S.M. Singletary

Director, Interior Design Program : L. Baumbach

Director, Landscape Architecture Program : C.G. Phillips

Faculty : L. Baumbach, D.M. Breiner, J. Carnell, G. J. Crowell, K. Douglas, D. Dunham, E. Keeter, R.M. Fleming, S.I. Frostén, R.A. Fryer, C.S. Griffen, C. Harnish, C. Hermann, D. Kratzer, M. Livingston, A.A. Messinger, V. Nathan, C.G. Phillips, L. Phillips, A. Plata, S.M. Singletary, J. Tucci

The School of Architecture recognizes that design professionals require an in-depth understanding of economic, technical and aesthetic issues within a complex social, cultural and environmental framework. Building on the University’s goal to provide professional skills combined with a broad general education, the School’s mission is to prepare students to be creative, independent thinkers and innovative problem solvers. Emphasis is placed on critical excellence, balanced with the fundamental knowledge and skill required for meaningful contributions to professional design practice. In congruence with the mission of the University, the School encourages students to establish a “foundation for success, lifelong learning, and active citizenship,” as stewards of a sustainable society.

The School draws from the academic context, location and professional orientation of the University in pursuing its mission. Six different career options are offered in an intimate collegiate setting and cooperative faculty/student-learning environment. The School encourages interdisciplinary and collaborative work in offering the following professionally related degree programs:

• Five-Year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)

• Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (B.S.)

• Five-Year Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies/M.S. Construction Management

• Five-Year Joint Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies/M.B.A. Program

• Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (B.S.)

• Five-Year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.)

The five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program, accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), is committed to an interdisciplinary approach at all levels of the curriculum. It shares an integrated curriculum with Landscape Architecture and Interior Design, providing students with opportunities for collaboration and time to experience aspects of allied design disciplines. The studio, considered the core of the architecture program, is the center of activity where course material and learning are synthesized. Opportunities are provided for professional internships, study abroad, elective enrichment, specialization and independent pursuits.

The four-year Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (B.S.) program offers a pre-professional degree for those who wish to have a foundation in the field of architecture and to pursue a concentration in cognate fields such as Construction Management and Historic Preservation. This program shares foundation studies courses; required technology, visualization and history courses; and elective courses with the Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design programs. Students have the option to pursue a five-year B.S./M.S. Construction Management or the Joint B.S./M.B.A degrees.

The four-year Bachelor of Science in Interior Design (B.S.) program prepares graduates to be articulate, creative and socially aware design professionals. Specific highlights of the program include accreditation by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA, formerly known as FIDER), interdisciplinary studios with allied design disciplines, study abroad, professional internships in design offices, elective enrichment, specialization, independent pursuits and collaboration.

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) program meets the needs of landscape architecture students who are pursuing a first professional undergraduate degree. Throughout the education process, landscape architecture students are challenged to develop a thorough understanding of a site including its socio-cultural and environmental factors. At the core of the program are planning and design studios in which students focus on the development of sustainable responses and solutions to site problems and opportunities. The Landscape Architecture Program is fully accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB).

Retention of Student Work

Projects completed by students in design studios and courses may be selected to become part of the University’s collection for exhibition and/or review. Student work not selected will be stored for only 30 days into the following semester.

Architecture

The primary goal of the five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program is to provide a comprehensive professional education that will develop the knowledge, skill and vision necessary for the student to understand contemporary global issues and address the varied needs of society. Fundamental to the program’s philosophy is a commitment to design excellence and innovation, including the nurturing of creative individuals. An essential premise of the program is the recognition of the critical relationship between theory and practice in shaping and sustaining the built environment (buildings, cities and landscapes). A diverse faculty, traditional campus setting and dynamic urban context combine to create an ideal environment for the development of the intellectual rigor and imagination necessary to achieve the program’s goals.

The faculty of the Architecture program includes individuals accomplished in research, design and professional practice. Areas of faculty expertise include history, theory, technology, professional practice, sustainable design and digital technologies. Adjunct faculty and visiting critics complement full-time faculty, bringing contemporary theory and practical experience from the region’s leading architectural practices. In the professional architecture program, the design studio is the focus of activity where course work and learning are synthesized and design fundamentals are stressed. The content of the curriculum is based on recognition of local, regional and global views of architecture. Emphasis is on understanding the forces that shape design and the process of making buildings and places. During the first year, foundation studies courses are conducted in an interdisciplinary environment, introducing principles, values and the common vocabulary necessary for effective professional teamwork. The second-year foundation studies courses continue teaching the building blocks for future design studios. Also, during the first two years, general education courses are emphasized and digital, technical and history of architecture and interiors courses are introduced.

During the third, fourth and fifth years, more advanced technical and professional courses are added to the curriculum, supporting studio design projects of increasing complexity and scope. For one half of the fourth year, students choose from a group of diverse design studios. Options range from specialized studios within the Architecture program to design studios offered by the other programs on campus and studios set in study-abroad programs. The Architecture program’s study-abroad option in Rome, Italy, is part of a consortium of institutions at the University of Arkansas Rome Center. Fourth-year focused research papers lead to fifth-year studio instruction emphasizing independent research, programming, and critical analysis which establish the theoretical basis for design work. At this level, students’ designs articulate a physically and theoretically comprehensive resolution of a thesis.

Course options at the advanced levels are designed to encourage students to develop their individual interests and professional directions. In addition to courses in other schools and programs, opportunities for specialization and enrichment are also available in areas such as housing, experimental structures/materials, furniture design, historic preservation, design theory, photography and visualization techniques.

The Architecture program is committed to providing state-of-the-art computer technology and software to facilitate the integration of digital technologies in the design process and project development.

The School of Architecture requires the purchase of a laptop computer before entering the second year of each program: Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Science in Interior Design; and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. The University bookstore makes every effort to offer the lowest possible prices of the required software for coursework. Visit www.phila.edu/oir for hardware and software recommendations.

Professional Accreditation

The five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Five years of study is the minimum time required for this professional B.Arch. degree.

In the United States, most state 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 U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. 

Depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards, a program may be granted a six-year, three-year or two-year term of accreditation,. Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The Architecture check sheet can be found by clicking here.

Architectural Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies program offers a pre-professional degree for those wishing a foundation in fields cognate to the discipline of architecture. The degree is intended as preparation for advanced degree programs (i.e., architecture, landscape architecture, construction management, urban design and planning, business, architectural photography, historic preservation, etc.) or for employment in the construction industry, historic preservation agencies, and other related fields. The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies is not intended as preparation for architectural practice.

The first two years of the Architectural Studies curriculum are similar to the first two years of the five-year professional architecture (B.Arch.) program curriculum. The program shares foundation studies courses and required technology, visualization and history courses, as well as elective courses with the Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design programs. During the first year, foundation studies courses are conducted in an interdisciplinary environment, introducing principles, values and a common vocabulary. The second-year foundation studies courses continue teaching the building blocks of design for future studios. In addition, during the first two years, general education courses are emphasized.

In the third and fourth years of the curriculum, students majoring in Architectural Studies are required to complete a concentration in an architecture-related discipline, such as construction management or historic preservation, in addition to required College Studies and elective courses. Students should select their concentrations with the assistance of their academic advisors.

Construction Management Concentration

This concentration provides a foundation in the field of Construction Management. Courses cover a range of topics from construction technologies to business practices and offer a broad understanding of issues essential to the planning, programming and supervision of complex construction projects.

Required courses:  

Recommended electives: (3 Credits)

Historic Preservation Concentration (33 credits)

This concentration provides a foundation in the field of Historic Preservation. Courses cover a range of skill sets and knowledge bases, including preservation law, policy, and advocacy; historic building technologies and structural systems; period styles and building types; material properties and processes of deterioration; research methodologies and diagnostic criteria; and methods of technical and graphic documentation. Students acquire the tools to analyze and assess the condition of historic structures and to formulate comprehensive, sustainable preservation strategies based upon these findings.

Required courses: (33 credits)

Recommended electives: (6 credits)

History/Theory Elective – Choose from the following: ARCH-409 The Great American City, ARCH-410 Vernacular Architecture, ARCH-422 Theories of Architecture Seminar, ARCHDSN-493 Architecture Internship I (Historic Preservation)

The Architectural Studies check sheet can be found by clicking here.

Architectural Studies/M.B.A. Joint Degree

The joint program in Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies/M.B.A. offers the opportunity to combine the Architectural Studies program with a pre-M.B.A. minor for non-business majors. Upon completion of the requirements outlined below, students in good standing will be awarded first the B.S. in Architectural Studies and then the M.B.A.

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (pre-M.B.A. minor) offers a pre-professional degree for those wishing a foundation in architecture and business. The degree is intended to serve as preparation for application to the M.B.A. program or as preparation for employment in the construction industry, business and other related fields. The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (pre-M.B.A. minor) is not intended as preparation for architectural practice.

The first two years of the Architectural Studies curriculum are similar to the first two years of the five-year Architecture (B.Arch.) program curriculum. The program shares foundation studies courses and required technology, visualization and history courses, as well as elective courses with the Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Industrial Design programs. During the first year, foundation studies courses are conducted in an interdisciplinary environment, introducing principles, values and a common vocabulary. The second year foundation studies courses continue teaching the building blocks of design for future studios. Also during the first two years, general education courses are emphasized.

In the third and fourth years of the curriculum, students are required to complete a 27-credit hour pre-M.B.A. minor in addition to required Architecture, College Studies and elective courses. The pre-M.B.A. minor is composed of a series of undergraduate and graduate business courses. Official application to the M.B.A. program may be made only after completion of the sophomore year and no later than the start of the senior year. Application should be made through the Graduate Admissions Office. Transfer students may also apply. Currently enrolled students will be considered for admission if they have maintained a 3.0 GPA. The GMAT is required for full acceptance to the M.B.A. program and must be taken before the end of the senior year.

Students interested in the Joint B.S./M.B.A. program should obtain a copy of the “Pre-M.B.A. Requirements for Non-Business Majors: Planning Guide.” The guide describes the requirements for admission and the application process as well as the Pre-M.B.A. course requirements. Planning guides are available from upper-level advisors, as well as from the Graduate Business Programs Office in Tuttleman 104.

The Architectural Studies/M.B.A. Joint Degree check sheet can be found by clicking here.

Interior Design

The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design provides an extensive education to meet the demands and challenges of this exciting and creative profession. In preparation for a rapidly evolving, technology- and information-driven society, Interior Design requires an in-depth understanding of the aesthetic, cultural, technical, environmental and economic issues pertaining to the built environment.

The mission of the Interior Design program is to prepare designers to become innovative problem solvers and independent thinkers who can begin the professional licensing process. The program strives to instill in its graduates the highest standards of professionalism and professional practice, integrity, competence and excellence in design. A multidisciplinary faculty and a close-knit campus community provide a stimulating setting for the informed and inventive academic development of every student.

This four-year professional program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA, formerly known as FIDER). At the program’s core are design studios in which students explore the creative process through a series of varied and progressively more complex projects. The functional knowledge necessary for design is introduced through formally structured courses focusing on such varied topics as space planning, ergonomics, universal design, sustainable design, computer visualization, detailing, design, color theory, furniture design and selection of furniture. Students also study the history of architectural interiors from pre-history to contemporary works and understand and analyze their cultural relevance.

The interior design studios foster an interdisciplinary environment, centered on creative experimentation, where material from other courses is synthesized through the act of design. Each year, the student will build upon earlier courses and begin to integrate functional and cultural issues into the design studio. In the fourth year, the thesis/capstone project is the culmination of all previous studies, integrating design ideas, history, theory, humanistic values and innovative materials in shaping interior spaces.

Students may follow secondary specializations in business, marketing and textile applications in interiors or furniture design. Philadelphia University also offers a unique opportunity to gain a valuable, highly specialized knowledge of fibers and fabrics at the Grundy Laboratory and at The Design Center at Philadelphia University. The educational quality of the program is further enhanced by the solid liberal arts foundation required of all students. The Interior Design Program offers semester long study abroad programs, as well as one-week study abroad programs. Internships are offered for credit or non-credit in professional practices in the Philadelphia region. Our interior design students are socially aware and responsible Citizens who also participate in service learning projects.

The program is grounded in the belief that interior designers should enter the global marketplace as articulate, creative, inspired designers and socially aware professionals. The program seeks to instill in students an awareness and sensitivity to the social, technological, aesthetic, cultural and ethical responsibilities involved in the design of living and working environments.

The Interior Design check sheet can be found by clicking here.

Landscape Architecture

The primary goal of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Program is to meet the needs of Landscape Architecture students who are pursuing a first, professional undergraduate degree. As with other School programs, the Landscape Architecture Program provides a comprehensive professional education that will develop the knowledge, skill and vision necessary for the student to understand contemporary global issues and address the varied needs of society. Building on the School’s mission to prepare students to be creative, independent thinkers and innovative problem solvers, the Landscape Architecture Program promotes sustainable landscape design, with particular emphasis on ecological planning and design in the urban environment.

The Landscape Architecture Program supports local and regional leadership in confronting ecological issues of the natural and built environments within the Philadelphia Metropolitan corridor (New York City to Washington, D.C.). The focus is on urban ecological issues while searching for environmentally sustainable solutions to human problems of growth and development. The program is committed to providing leadership in confronting issues that affect urban neighborhoods, particularly those that are in need of revitalization. As its field of inquiry, the program uses the Mid-Atlantic region, which encompasses a variety of landforms including the inner city, and suburban and rural landscapes. In addition, Philadelphia University is uniquely positioned on the edge of the Wissahickon Valley Park, a 1700-acre park within the Fairmount Park System, where natural systems and restoration techniques can be easily studied. The area has a vast concentration of cultural, social, historic and natural systems, which present a vast resource to the student. 

Throughout the education process, students are challenged to develop a thorough understanding of a site, including its socio-cultural and environmental factors. At the core of the program are planning and design studios where students focus on the development of sustainable responses and solutions to site problems and opportunities. The goal is to challenge students to create site-appropriate designs, as well as to enhance the value and sustainability of places.

During the first year, there are two foundation design studios—one with other school or architecture students and the second for landscape architecture majors. Here students are Introduced to principles, values, and the common vocabulary necessary for effective professional work. The second-year courses continue teaching the building blocks of design for future design studios; design studio topics are site design and regional planning and design. Also, during the first two years, liberal arts courses are emphasized and digital, technical and history of landscape architecture courses are introduced. During the third, fourth and fifth years, more advanced technical and professional courses are added to the curriculum, supporting design studio projects of increasing complexity and scope. In the fall of the fourth year, there are three options: study abroad, 6-credit internship in a professional office or interdisciplinary design studio experience. In the spring of the fourth year, students take a restoration management and design studio.

In the fifth year, first semester, the design studio focuses on larger-scale urban design issues, e.g., waterfront development, industrial site redevelopment, neighborhood design. In construction documents, students develop a full set of construction documents based on a previous design. During the final semester each student completes an independent design project of their choosing that articulates the physical, spiritual and theoretical objectives of the project and demonstrate full resolution of sustainable landscape architectural design.

In support of the goals for professional education, the Landscape Architecture Program is committed to providing state-of-the-art computer technology and software to facilitate the integration of digital technologies in design process and project development. The Landscape Architecture Program is fully accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB).

The Landscape Architecture check sheet can be found by clicking here.