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General Information

Introduction

The study of architecture develops intellectual, professional and creative skills, and knowledge in the design of form and space together with the integration of construction technology. Architectural studies offer students the opportunity to generate physical solutions to difficult and complex problems, often with competing economic, social, and political, as well as physical, parameters. The profession of architecture attracts those who have a wide range of interests and skills and wish to make a unique contribution to society.

To accommodate a broad range of student backgrounds, the school offers an Architecture Doctorate (ArchD) as a professional degree. This program fulfills the academic requirements for licensure in the profession of architecture and is the only such degree program in the state of Hawai'i.

Mission and Goals

The primary mission of the School of Architecture at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, is to offer the highest quality architectural education to prepare students to be ethical and humane professionals, with a desire for life-long learning, a commitment to excellence, and the aspiration to be contributing members of society.

The academic program of the School of Architecture offers opportunities to focus on meeting the special needs of Hawai'i, Asia and the Pacific Region. The school strives to be the center for the study of Asia-Pacific architecture, committed to the aggressive pursuit and establishment of the knowledge base for this regional architecture, and to effectively disseminate the accumulated knowledge to the students, the professional community, and the public at large. The school has the distinction of producing graduates who are competent practitioners, especially equipped to meet the architectural challenges of Hawai'i, Asia and the Pacific region.

Existing Programs

The School of Architecture currently has both a five-year accredited Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture program. These two programs will continue for all existing majors until they have completed their respective programs. The school has applied for accreditation of the new Architecture Doctorate (ArchD) with the National Architectural Accrediting Board. This new degree program, the first of its type in the United States, is the only offered program. Until this new degree is accredited, graduates of the ArchD program will also receive an accredited BArch degree at the same time. Currently accredited programs, including the school's BArch and MArch programs, generally conform to the published National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accreditation conditions and procedures of existing programs: "In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programss in architecture, recognizes two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a five-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards. Master degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree."

Description

The Architecture Doctorate (ArchD) is a 212-credit program which can be completed in six to seven years. The curriculum carefully integrates off-campus professional practice training and overseas cross-cultural experience within the comprehensive academic program.

The ArchD program consists of two segments. The first segment is Pre-Professional Studies, and the second segment is Professional Studies. The Pre-Professional segment addresses the University liberal arts core requirements along with the study of architectural design principles and applications. Students without a prior baccalaureate degree will have a double major in architecture and liberal studies. Upon completion of this segment of studies, students will qualify for a BA in liberal studies from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences.

The Professional segment continues the study of architectural design principles and applications including a number of elective courses. It provides the students opportunities for overseas studies and involves them in the professional practice of architecture which incorporates real-time experience in architectural firms. Culmination of the individual student's experience will be in the form of a doctoral project in the final year of the program. With careful planning and full utilization of the summers and/or prior university education, the seven-year program may be completed in less time. 

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