Architecture program among nation’s best
TROY, N.Y. » The School of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was ranked the 13th best undergraduate program in the nation — highest in the school’s history — by architectural research organization DesignIntelligence.
The DesignIntelligence Quarterly’s annual America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools edition ranked architecture programs from coastto-coast based on the input of hiring professionals from nearly 2,000 firms, who were asked to identify programs that are best preparing students for success in the profession. In addition, deans and chairs from 215 academic programs completed surveys and more than 4,300 students and recent graduates were polled on the quality of their programs and their plans after graduation.
Survey participants were also asked to consider 11 design education focus areas, with RPI ranked sixth nationwide in Engineering Fundamentals, ninth in Design Technologies, Construction Materials and Methods and Interdisciplinary Studies and 10th in Research.
“It’s quite satisfying to know that the exceptional achievement of our students and faculty is being recognized nationally,” said Evan Douglis, dean of RPI’s School of Architecture. “I really believe we have one of the premier architecture programs today throughout the country. Given the pedagogical diversity of our faculty, our unique culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, our commitment to the study of architecture as the integration of art and science, our robust study abroad program providing our students with a life-changing cultural immersive experience, and our unwavering commitment to architecture as an important social project, the education of an architect here at Rensselaer is creatively and intellectually rigorous, experimental, comprehensive and timely in response to a complex and changing world. I am confident we are preparing our students to become future leaders in the profession.”
The School of Architecture offers an immersive, contemporary program that combines the artistic and scientific aspects of the discipline with critical lessons in archi-
tecture as a creative, ethical and sustainable practice. The school offers two undergraduate programs, the five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree and the four-year Bachelor of Science in Building Sciences
degree, as well as graduate professional and post-professional architecture degrees and internationally renowned graduate research programs in architectural acoustics, lighting, and built ecologies.
Last year the school awarded 54 bachelor’s degrees, 32 master’s degrees and 4 doctoral degrees.