Hi,

I did the MSAUD program in 2001-02. As a matter of fact, it is a lot in only one year, but it's possible if you're willing to offer your social life in sacrifice.

It's a very intense pace, starting in a dense summer studio introduction. Since you need a professionnal degree to get there, you meet with architects from all around the world, and benefit from exchange as most of the work is done in groups. At some point I was in 7 different groups for 3 courses and the studio. That's the main difference with the other Masters, say Advanced Architecture Design, where it mainly focus on personnal development.

There are some work tobe done by yourself. Though I feel like the groupworks helped me being prepared to the actual way projects are done in large offices today.

You have choices for optionnal courses and can pick any of the GSAPP: I had two seminar with Kenneth Frampton, Studies in Tectonic culture and Modern Architecture since 1970. That was the best for me. But you could choose any, from Meshing to Fundamental of Digital Design as you wish. (The 3D courses staff are among the best, I don't know if Joshua Uhl is still there, but he rocks)

A good thing about this program also is you'll travel. Usually the last studio (winter) start with a 1 month travel to the city you're going to study and have your final project in. They've been out to Asia a lot lately, with Brian McGrath. The director Richard Plunz took us to Belgrade in Serbia in 2002. That was a very good experience.

Anything I dislike? To be honest, nothing that actually came from the school, but the events that happen in New York that year, were pretty scary.

Compare to other MUD programs. I cannot compare to what I don't know, but it seems to me that this one as much more ressources and is well established, compare to others (some MUD just started, usually it is less obvious for student's to get what you need). Nothing compare with a full access to Avery, as far as I'm concerned.

I recommend. What you do after with it is up to you. I went is offices that were doing both UD and Architecture. Now I'm working more in Arch but after work I'm involved in great Urban debates in my city (Montreal).

Good luck,

Hey,

thanks a ton for the post.

I have recieved an acceptance from Columbia for the MSAUD program. Have almost decided on it.

Since you have completed the course, maybe you could answer a couple more questions i have.

Plunz's statement outlines ways in which the schhol works with government agencies and public interest groups. does that really happen?

do international students manage to get some financial aid at all?

is the course heavy on theory?and since its majorly group work, am i right in assuming that the class would be quite lively with debates and discussions, with the faculty as well?

do classes and courses go beyond the Avery and extend into the city of New York?

there are just too many questions!! guess i'm a bit anxious!

thanks

I also got accepted to the MSAUD, its pretty much the top choice for me right now since I am looking forward to expanding beyond just getting a masters in arch. Going to the open house to get more info on it though.

I think its great that you get to travel esp. since the program is only a year, I was wondering though what those "lecture" courses really are... is there planning / statistics / market trends / lots of crunching numbers involved or is it more related to design? I was more impressed with this program because it seems more attached to design / architecture instead of the GSD's program which is in the Planning program.

I am sure these are all questions I should ask at the open house but just like a.sr, a bit anxious here as well

oh didnt mean to sound cavalier by stating "JUST" a masters in arch... getting a masters in architecture is extremely respectable, personally - just wanting to fuse more site and regional info into design and this seems like an opportunity to learn something new.

oh didnt mean to sound cavalier by stating "JUST" a masters in arch... getting a masters in architecture is extremely respectable, personally - just wanting to fuse more site and regional info into design and this seems like an opportunity to learn something new.

First, congradulation to you both to be accepted

I'm happy to share about this program, so I'll answer.

Works with government agencies and public interest groups does happen. Although the program tend to be design oriented, a major part of it is understanding the complexity of large urban scale projects within it's socio-political context. When we had a studio on Newark, we came to meet not only the mayor, but social organisations as well, and many local professionnals involved in their community. I tell you this is a card in your play once on the market, as many projects fail just because the designers are not able to communicate with the people who'll get the impact of the project.

International students can get financial aid? I must admit that I didn't dig too deep in the matter, I got my financial aid from a Quebec government program. There are many foundations who have grants, some for american students, other that apply to all students. The best way to find out is to call Dean Shiller at the admissions office.

The course does have its share of theory, but it is all recent stuff, and a lot of it open to discussions still. Say Jane Jacobs or Colin Rowe theory, it's nothing to knock you out, but definitely a good base for good discussions.

You are right in assuming that the class would be quite lively with debates and discussions. Although the first month would start a bit slow in that matter as a majority of the student's speaks other language and are for the first time submerge in a english language environment. Since people come from so many different backgrounds, a big piece of the learning might as well come from participating to these discussions, and confronting your ideas with others.

Classes does extend to the city of New York and its region in the first time. Using the city as a benchmark for applications of theories, some that works, some that didn't, you'll learn from travelling from NJ to Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn, how this city was to be what it became. The idea is to be able to zoom in and out and see what makes a big city like this work. Study the implications of planning at different stage of development and the political powers that came to model parts of it.

In the final, it's a big mix of design-theory and field discoveries to get a picture on theory.

If you want to get a better definition, I would invite you to read Richard Plunz book on the history of housing in NY and evolution of that morphology. You'll need the book for the course anyway:

A History of Housing in New York City

Good luck,

[img]http://www.arch.columbia.edu/UD/summer01/studio/group3_image/group3.image.07.jpg
[/img]

Studio 1

Studio 2

Just to share what my class did. Our websites.

I understand that today, environmental concerns have a much bigger importance in the program.

I'm considering applying myself. I'm working on my first professional degree, which is a March I, but I feel that I'm not getting enough from my education in terms of urban design. Have you met many students there who come in with March degree?

They all do. Its a post-professionnal degree.

hey, thanks again for all the info

from the program's website page: 'All applicants for admission to the program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design must have a B.Arch or M.Arch degree or equivalent in landscape or environmental design. '

and i also know someone enrolled in the program with a bachelor's degree in landcape (which is typically a 4 year degree).

based on the above, would you say that a 4 year B.Sc Arch, BA Arch or any 4 year architecture bachelor's degree also meet their admission degree prerequisite?

i'm REALLY interested in applying for it, and maybe shoud've asked the admission office directly, but thought i'd test the water by throwing the question here first. Anyone with first hand experience regarding the above or just mere opinions care to give their 2cents? many thanks

anyone care to comment, please? :)