Programs

The architecture program at Wentworth is structured as a four-year Bachelor of Science degree (BS-Arch), followed by a one-year first professional degree program.  All entering freshmen are admitted to the Bachelor of Science degree program.  During the sophomore year, students apply to one of three academic concentrations:  Design and Research, Design and Technology or Design and Culture. (see description of concentrations, below).  Acceptance to a concentration is based on student preference, GPA, and a portfolio submission.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science curriculum, students may apply to the one-year first professional degree program at Wentworth, or may elect to continue their architectural studies elsewhere.  Admission to the first professional degree program is based on GPA, a portfolio submission, a statement of intent and references.  Students will complete their first professional degree program in the same academic concentration as their BS-Arch.

Curriculum Description

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

The first two years of the Bachelor of Science program provide a broad introduction to the field of architecture for all students, and serve as the common core for all concentrations.  Lecture courses provide an overview of the field – history, theory, technology, and practice – while studio courses focus on graphic skills, design fundamentals, and conceptual understanding of structure and building tectonics.  The department’s emphasis on both the art and the science of architecture is strongly conveyed in this introductory curriculum.

The third and fourth years of the Bachelor of Science program continue to build on the skills and knowledge of the first two years, while introducing students (by concentration), to more complex and varied studio topics including: building tectonics, building and landscape, comprehensive design, structure, environmental systems, and community design. Studio content is closely coordinated with co-requisite courses, encouraging students to make connections between subjects and to develop a well-synthesized approach to design.

First Professional Degree in Architecture

The first professional degree curriculum provides one year of intensely focused study within a chosen concentration. A special topic studio, required coursework on theory and methods of research, and a thesis preparation seminar prepare the student for the final semester thesis studio and supporting advanced topics coursework. This final year offers each student the opportunity to fully develop and defend original research in the form of a design thesis, the capstone requirement of the first professional degree program. This degree provides an important credential for those who aspire to professional registration and licensure as architects.

Program Concentrations

Design and Research

The concentration in design and research provides students with an intellectually rigorous curriculum grounded in the study of formal, historical, and compositional aspects of the built environment.  The program explores design theory and corresponding methodologies, while maintaining a strong connection with the department’s tectonic tradition. Students in the concentration acquire a deep understanding of architectural theory, design methodology, the history and criticism of architecture and computational theory. The design and research concentration provides graduates with a comprehensive understanding of the discipline, as well as highly developed skills in architectural research and their applications in contemporary practice.

Design and Technology

The concentration in design and technology provides students with an in-depth knowledge of the nature of building systems and architectural processes that inform the design of our built environment.  Deeply rooted in the institute’s tradition of building and technological innovation, the program places particular emphasis on the tangible, material nature of architecture.  Design and technology encompasses the building science aspect of architecture: the art, culture, and technology of making buildings. It encourages both an analytical and intuitive understanding of the building systems and construction processes that are the framework of contemporary architecture.  The design and technology concentration provides graduates with a broad and creative understanding of contemporary building technologies and innovative design applications in professional practice.

Design and Culture

The concentration in design and culture provides students with the skills and insight to make positive contributions to cities, neighborhoods and communities by developing a keen awareness of existing social, cultural and built environments. The program emphasizes the role of research and analysis in order to promote rigorous and imaginative design thinking.  It places special focus on existing physical and cultural fabric in the design of cities and towns.  It also educates architects to communicate across disciplines and with diverse constituents, while learning to respect existing built and social context.  The design and culture concentration engages students with real-world design problems that embody the interdisciplinary nature of urban and community design in architectural practice.

Accreditation

 The Department currently holds a full 6-year term of accreditation for its first professional degree program from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

 “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 U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees:  the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture.  A program may be granted a 6-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education.  However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.”                                                                                   

NAAB Conditions for Accreditation, 2004

Study Abroad Programs

The Department of Architecture offers a full-semester study abroad option for students in the BS-Arch program. Currently, this is a four-month Berlin-based program led by a German architect who is a Wentworth faculty member. During their residence in Berlin, students work closely with German design and planning professionals as well as with German students through an institutional affiliation with the Technische Fachhochschule Berlin. There are also intensive study-travel units, currently in Scandinavia and Italy, which give students additional exposure and perspective.  

The Architecture Department also has agreements with Quigdao Technological University, Qingdao, China and The Universidad Central De Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, which provide the opportunity for interchange of students via co-op or focused travel / study programs.

Co-operative Work Experience

The Architecture Department has a substantial and well-established cooperative education component embedded in the curriculum. This program provides students with two semesters of experience in an architectural or allied design professional office.  The department works with the Career Center to reinforce the learning content of these placements, and to align work experiences with the Intern Development Program (IDP), a required step towards professional licensure.