NAAB Architecture Program Report (APR) 2013 - Tulane School of ...

Tulane UniversityArchitecture Program ReportSeptember 2013Part Two (II).Educational Outcomes and CurriculumII.1.Student Performance CriteriaArchitecture Program DegreesThe Tulane School of Architecture has two programs leading to the accredited Master of Architecturedegree: the MArch (5-year) non-Baccalaureate degree program; and the MArch I (3.5-year) graduateprogram. The MArch I graduate program also accommodates a 2-year-long track for applicants holdinga pre-professional degree in architecture.Master of Architecture Degree: (MArch; 5-year) non-Baccalaureate undergraduate programThe undergraduate, 5-year program combines a well-rounded, liberal arts undergraduate educationwith Masters-level professional preparation in the discipline of architecture. This program includes bothrequired and elective architecture courses, and general education requirements and electives to givestudents thorough professional preparation, opportunities for study in the liberal arts, and advancedstudy in architecture. The curriculum of this program is designed to allow student to complete all corerequired architecture courses and general education requirements during the first three years. Thelatter two years are devoted largely to advanced, graduate-level elective study. The fourth year allowsa high degree of flexibility for students to pursue individual interests via advanced and elective seminarsand studios. Topics of option studios and elective courses represent the wide-ranging interests of TSAfaculty, and reflect the unique opportunities afforded by Tulane’s strong engagement in thecommunities of New Orleans. Some areas of focus of elective course work include: study abroad, urbandesign, historic preservation, sustainable real estate development, design-build, materials research,advanced digital modeling, digital fabrication, and community outreach and engagement. A requiredThesis Research course and Thesis Design studio in the fifth year serve as a professional capstone tothe student’s education.Master of Architecture Degree: (MArch I; 3.5-year) graduate programThe Master of Architecture (M.Arch I) is a professional degree program for students who have alreadyreceived a previous college degree that is not a pre-professional degree in architecture. These studentsbegin their course of study with a 10-week summer program, followed by two years in which theycomplete core architecture requirements of the degree. The final year is typically devoted to advanced,elective study that may include study abroad, design build or community outreach studios, digitalfabrication courses or studios, urban design, preservation, or other optional areas of specialization.Thesis Research and Thesis Design studio are optional for graduate students, giving them the flexibilityto pursue advanced studios and other elective courses best suited to preparing them for their individualprofessional aspirations and specialties.Master of Architecture Degree, Advanced Standing: (MArch I; 2-year) graduate programThe Master of Architecture (MArch I) with "Advanced Standing” is for students who have earned a 4-year, pre-professional degree in architecture. In most cases, Advanced Standing M.Arch I studentsenter into Year 2 of the 3.5 year M.Arch I degree program. However, the transcript of each studententering the graduate program with advanced standing is individually assessed by the GraduateArchitecture Program Director for satisfactory completion of required coursework (reference sectionII.3.)59