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School of Architecture

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 UH 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 offers a professional Architecture Doctorate (ArchD) degree program to new students in addition to maintaining the existing Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and Master of Architecture (MArch) degree programs for only students currently enrolled.

The five-year Bachelor of Architecture program, the variable length Master of Architecture program, and the new seven-year program, which currently awards an accredited BArch degree as well as an ArchD degree meet all the national accreditation standards of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and are accredited by NAAB for the maximum six-year term.

The professional ArchD program is unique in the nation and graduates of this program are granted a BArch degree as well as the ArchD degree, required until NAAB recognizes the latter along with BArch and MArch degrees. The 1998 NAAB Conditions and Procedures that are currently under revision state:

“In the U.S., 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 U.S. professional degree programs 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 three segments. The first three-year segment is Pre-Professional Studies, the second segment is a Transition year, and the third three-year segment is Professional Studies. The Pre-Professional segment addresses the UH Manoa interdisciplinary arts core requirements along with the study of architectural design principles and applications. The Transition year connects the Pre-Professional and the Professional Studies. 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 is 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.