Does anyone know of similar emerging/interdisciplinary architecture-informed programs?

Yeah, it's called a liberal arts degree.

You'll save a ton of money, take less classes and focus only on the things you want to focus on!

And because you'll fall under a different college, you won't have to put up with the bullshit of the Arch department!

yeah i wonder about that one...

and to uxbridge, if you think architecture has cornered the market on academic bullshit, you are sorely mistaken

There's a new two-year degree of Master in Arts of Design Criticism at UIC, which is (obviously) a theory/criticism degree and would require you to be an very good writer. It's very interesting... Mad Crit

(Bob Somol started it up)

i should clarify that i'm looking for a studio program. although "studio" means something different to architects than it does to artists, i've found.

I was pointing out merely that Architecture-- unlike Arts, Humanities or Liberal Arts-- is often inflexible when it comes to educational programs.

There is often little room for alternatives and many degrees often require you to take classes whether you want to, think they are worthy or have no interest in them.

Every one knows you can't get around structures or pro-practice. I wouldn't even advise dodging those classes. But the theory and intellectual masturbatory classes? Depends on who is teaching them.

Many liberal arts programs will let you retake the same classes over and over again (especially studios) and receive proper credit. So, you could literally take 1st-year studio 8 times and still graduate with a degree.

"BTW, MIT admissions told me that they had an extremely low number of applicants this year, sounds like good news for anyone who applied. wonder if this is the case for other schools?"

Interesting if it is true. I wonder if people is realizing that "If I do the Master's degree now, by graduation the economy will be recovered" is just plain wishful thinking.

have a look at the designed objects program and the MFA in Arch at SAIC.

I believe it's true, Hawkin. The woman in the architecture dept. at MIT didn't seem to be intent on pulling my leg, and would have access to the numbers, given that it was after the app deadline.

Get a job...seriously. At a fabricating company etc...
In general we don't need more overly educated academics teaching, we need people with skills that pay the bills.

less applicants muahahaha...less competition for us old guys to get more work, yes..the recession is going to pay off for those of us who don't work at starbucks yet.

Whatever happened to being an apprentice? You are allowed to read books right?

Being an apprentice is what M.Arch's do these days after graduating. I just worked at a design/build firm in NYC, and the place was full of recent Columbia grads who were WORKING FULL TIME FOR FREE. excuse me, for a lunch "stipend". and yes, being a fabricator is what I did. there were two major differences between myself and all the M.Arch's at the studio: number one: I got paid. Number two: they were taught how to use the equipment, were allowed to have input on the designs, etc. My lack of degree in an arch. field led my employers to assume I couldn't possibly understand these issues, despite the fact that I have made a shit ton of work on my own that rivals theirs in complexity and aesthetics. I have no problem getting a job with my skills in NY, apparently making more money than architects. unfortunately for me and my bank account, this is not satisfying enough.

and relax "design ninja", I don't plan to teach structures or anything. Also, given the extreme over-saturation of the architecture field in our long-term declining economy, I disagree that the field needs more people with "skills to pay the bills.", especially if "old guys" like yourself want less competition. we need people who can think around traditional roles of architecture so that the field can adapt and survive. possibly.

and fewer applicants doesn't mean fewer students or fewer graduates, it just means less competition to get in.

I truly wonder why people who like to learn something such as CNC and laser facilities, etc., want to go to architecture program. Those are just minor skills in architecture industry.
It seem to me that they are trying to learn "sculpture" in a "painting" class. You could learn brief idea about "sculpture" in a "painting class", but it's always minor.

If you like to be fully involved with something like CNC or digital prefabrications, you'd better go to industrial design program where you could fully concentrate on that..

i didn't say that was my end goal, i just want access to that stuff in the process of educating myself. besides, making sculpture in a painting class is an awesome way to learn and to simultaneously challenge your fellow students and your teacher. painters who only study painting make the most boring paintings on earth.

So you are not well versed in bullshit? Sorry to hear that. Obviosly I don't know your former or current job situation politically but if I were you I'd somehow read design books your coluimbia grads employees read and just jump in on the design discussions.

Thinking outside the box is easy man easy...you watch any cartoons lately? Is american education that limiting?

No we need guys like you teaching bullshitters how to operate machinery that informs material what to be.

Man I can't remember the author of a book delanda recommended us to read in grad school, a metalurgist turn philsophical about materials...search for structure was the title

Tadao Ando after boxing, probably with a good bank account traveled the world and studied architecture. He did pretty well for himself there.