Purpose and Goals

The School of Architecture is dedicated to preparing students to play a leadership role in rebuilding America's cities and improving the quality of the built environment. By offering a diverse curriculum led by an accomplished faculty in a computer and studio intensive environment, the School of Architecture will educate significant practitioners and leaders in architecture, planning and construction.

Students majoring in architecture will be challenged to develop their abilities in problem solving, creative thinking and informed decision making as a focus of their education. They will accomplish this in a well protected and student centered environment that fosters personal development and professional excellence. The location of the School near the City of Houston offers an opportunity for students to enrich their learning experience through access to the greater architectural and construction community of the region and to many employment opportunities in the fields.

The Master of Architecture is the accredited, professional degree offered in architecture for students entering the School of Architecture starting Fall 2002.

There are three program options available for students wishing to complete the professional degree in architecture.

Program I

For students matriculating from Program A - the Professional Track of the Prairie View Architecture Program: This option will offer the coursework necessary to complete the accredited professional degree in architecture.

Program II

For students matriculating from a four-year, pre-professional program (for example the Program B option above or similar B.S. in Architecture or related degrees ): This option will require between 36 and 72 semester credit hours of study depending on the extent and level of the preparation of the applicant.

Program III

For students entering with a bachelors degree in some field other than architecture: This option will require a minimum of 109 semester credit hours of study involving a combination of undergraduate and graduate study.

Accreditation

"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 US professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a five-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.

Masters degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree." (NAAB, 1998)