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How do you plan on attending Athabasca University without a highschool diploma nor a desire to go finish the courses?  Do they accept students without highschool requirements?  Most 'more reputable' architecture schools are VERY competitive.  You'll not only need the required highschool courses, but also require high marks to be considered for an interview.  Remember, most top schools have 1500-2000 students applying for 70 spots every year.  They only take in the best of the best, although you just might be the first exception who hasn't completed highschool. ;)  

@accesskb

Please read my initial post. 

They are an "open" public university (meaning no HS required) that is accredited in the US and Canada. Many mature students attend Athabasca and complete a full year and then transfer to a more "reputable" school. I was thinking of finishing BSc in Arch at Athabasca and then applying for Masters at a reputable school.

@CD.Arch,

Athabasca is an open accredited university. Which means that anybody can be accepted, it's guaranteed admission. 

To my knowledge, graduate programs look at your portfolio, letter of recommendations, and GPA/studies in undergrad, meaning they don't look at high school.

Does that make sense? 

@CD.Arch,

What are your thoughts regarding my situation? Thanks again for you participation in this thread :)

@CD.Arch,

It allows you to get RAIC Diploma as it follows their syllabus (Canada). But I would primarily be looking at using it to either a) transfer after one successful year to a brick and mortar university for BArch (they offer some still in Canada) or finish at Athabasca and get an MArch anywhere.

Don't most people either get BSc in Arch or BArch? 

lol. Hi @63degrees

I'm in a similar position I suppose i.e. mature prospective student (not successful entrepreneur! :P ) - I think you've already worked out quite a nice plan? And you don't need anyone to tell you what to do. Take it from me - I do the same thing when I'm nervous or something.

So!
if the school is accredited - that's not what you're worried about.
Maybe you could start talking to some grad programs/schools about how they view transfers from the school? What courses are especially valued or something - if only for the purpose of appeasing your doubts? But i don't think it necessary really...

And I also think selling off a business trumps any stupid old HS diploma any day - you have experience and shiz to offer and hopefully an interesting essay! :) Good luck!

Hi @Fisher Moth,

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you're understanding. I'll contact some grad schools, I don't quite know how the courses transfer. Here is an excerpt of their undergrad architecture courses from http://architecture.athabascau.ca/programs/courses/undergraduate.php:

• APST 215 - Introduction to Graphic Representation
• APST 220 - 3D Modeling, Digital Representation & Presentation
• APST 240 - Introduction to Structures
• APST 350 - Applied Architectural Sciences
• APST 470 - Building Envelope and Assemblies
• APST 480 - Mechanical Equipment of Buildings
• ARCH 200 - History of Ideas in Architecture I
• ARCH 300 - History of Ideas in Architecture II
• ARCH 320 - History of Canadian Architecture
• ARCH 330 - Architectural Design Theory Fundamentals
• ARCH 340 - History and Theory of Modernism
• ARCH 350 - Landscape
• ARCH 400 - Urbanism
• ARCH 420 - Contemporary Architectural Theory and Research

I've tried finding other BSc of Arch courses, but I can't seem to find somewhere that has them presented. Do you (or anyone) have any idea if these are typical classes in BSc of Arch?

Btw, I went on your site. Great drawing man, I wish you the best with your endeavors and hope you find a program that you'll fall in love with. 

Get your 4 year BSc at Athabasca then go on to apply for your MArch. No schools in Canada do the 5 year BArch, they are all a 4+2/3 type of system. There are also few undergrad architecture programmes in Canada and not even all the schools that offer a Masters offer a Bachelors. I think transferring between undergrad schools is pretty difficult because each school teaches architecture is such a different way, you might be able to transfer but not get full credit for everything you've done, which as a mature student (I was one too) would be a real pain since you're already so late to the game.

Anyway, if you are worried about the reputation of the school, I wouldn't. People will only care about your Masters (ie: Professional) qualification and even then... they will only care about it until you've gotten enough experience in practice. Though getting your professional degree at a more reputable school matters in so far as the network you can build.

I'm curious to know how Athabasca will approach the studio aspect of education since its courses are usually by correspondence...

Hi @63degrees..

Did you actually already enrol at Athabasca U? Like you, I'm super interested in this program too and wanted a feedback of someone already in it..

@Caitlin.. I totally appreciate your encouragement towards people like us.. :) 

I don't really see the point of enrolling in syllabus + this new Athabasca program. The whole point of the syllabus program is to allow someone who don't have a professional degree (B.Arch/M.Arch) to complete that external coursework and thus make them eligible to sit for the exams, independent of any other schooling. So what does the Athabasca stuff do? It doesn't really make sense.

@Bench: From my understanding, the syllabus and the B.Arch are two different programs.

The Syllabus is an apprenticeship oriented program leading to RAIC's Diploma in Architecture. The academic component of the RAIC's Diploma in Architecture is completed through Athabasca's architecture course offerings... the syllabus is a very VERY long program (10-12 years on average).

The B.Arch on the other hand is your typical pre-professional architecture degree for admission to any M.Arch I (3 or 7 semesters, or AP) and M.Arch II (research), offered completely online.

I'm really curious to hear about people who've followed the B.Arch project, teach in the program, applied to the program or are currently student.

I'm guessing the first graduation class will be around 2018, I wonder how admission office will deal with a distance education degree... I feel the stigma around distance education ism't warranted anymore.

With a decade long curriculum, that's what I was thinking, but in a 4+2 stream seems like a sensible route for someone to at least complete their undergrad.

has anyone complete the Bcs in arch at athabasca and actually got accepted in a masters degree program somewhere?

the degree and the syllabus are two different things. 

I have heard of the school but not for Architecture, good for them for trying to break the typical educational protocol. I went to school with several "mature" students who didn't do an undergraduate degree and for that matter I don't know if they graduated high school either. I would go for it and see if they permit you to enroll as a mature student ( you might have to write and english placement exam or something similar and get your degree.  Just be wary that it has the necessary provincial accreditation to permit you to move on to master's program in the future to complete your full Arch education.  You may not ever wish to pursue your masters but good to have the ability to go that direction isf desired with out having to back track with course work.

@63degrees hi there, I went to university for a B.arch (not AU) and the program you listed is almost identical to mine, maybe their electives have a more scientific focus, but it's just the same, in response to your question.

I think your best bet if you want to transfer during your undergrad would be to complete 2 years at athabasca then apply to one of the 2 year bachelor programs ( u of Calgary, u Manitoba, and Dalhousie have them, maybe others). Most people entering these programs have a 4 year degree, but the requirement is only 2 years worth of undergrad credits. They wouldn’t  care if you have a high school diploma as long as you have the university credits. If you complete the BSc at athabasca, grad schools won’t ask for a high school diploma either.