Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
Pratt Institute
University of Southern California (USC)
Tulane University
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Temple University
University of Oregon
Cranbrook Academy of Art
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
Kansas State University
5 yr M.Arch vs. 3-3.5 year program after B.S.?
I'm wondering if anyone has experience/opinions on whether or not it is easier to find a better job with a M.Arch from say, SCI-arc, GSD, UCLA, etc. As opposed to the schools offering 5 year M.Arch such as K-State or Tulane. (I'm from the Midwest originally and have friends who have graduated from these programs.) It just makes me sick when I think that I will end up putting in 7.5 years in school to hold the same degree as my best friend's little sister who is in her 3rd year at K-State. It's obvious that I will have more knowledge because I will have more schooling, but does that matter to employers?
There might be jobs out there by the time you finish the five year M. Arch. Seriously.
OP - do you mean a 5 year B.Arch? Or am I missing something...
No, 5 year M.Arch. I have a friend who graduated from Tulane with it and I know another girl currently enrolled the program at K-State.
At my current and previous firms, having a quality portfolio and relevant work experience is far more important than having academic credentials.
You will not develop any more relevant knowledge in an architecture program than you would sitting up all night behind a desk scripting a Rhino model because some non-architect professor thought you didn't understand his criticism and how awesome his theory was.
The only thing anyone cares about is if you have relevant work experience, a professional degree, and a portfolio that compliments their work.
Otherwise, you will be in school for another couple years racking up debt, destroying your livers, while you could be learning practical and making money.
I'm going to start a 4 year M.Arch and hope someone else can come up with a three year one, because a 4+2 program basically amounts to 3-3.5 years of arch credits.
How can one get "relevant work experience" without a degree? I have a BS in architectural studies and landed a job as an interior designer in a top firm as soon as I moved to LA. The problem I discovered after leaving said firm for a much smaller firm that actually does decent design and their own cad work instead of outsourcing to India, is that my 16 months of experience was really not so relevant because I basically had no opportunities to learn at the big firm and got stuck doing red lines or picking out fabrics (my worst nightmare) I am getting my M.Arch because my end goal is to teach. I understand I could find myself stuck in a cad jockey type of job if I am not very careful, but I like to think I will do more than that and that my portfolio and education when I finish my M.Arch will land me a great job.
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