University of Tennessee-Knoxville
College of Architecture + Design
With a mission to educate future design professionals, the School of Architecture within the College of Architecture + Design is committed to the development of individuals with creative imagination, intellectual curiosity and technical knowledge.We educate students in the design disciplines who are confident decision makersÑindividuals who can form independent judgments grounded in the broader contexts of cultural traditions. We strive to provide an academic environment of respect and empowerment for our students.
http://archdesign.utk.edu
Setting
As both a flagship and land-grant institution, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville is a 550-acre campus located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, and serves both state and nation with a broad spectrum of academic programs, public service, as well as the research, creative activity, and civic engagement of its faculty. Eleven colleges enroll 21,000 undergraduate and 9,000 graduate students. UTK is a Category I research institution, with the caliber of faculty and resources that the designation would imply. The library system is a particular strength, as is the wide variety of student support services. The University is embedded in the City of Knoxville and is well-known for its surrounding natural beauty and mild climate.
School Philosophy
Architecture involves the study and transformation of the built environment, from the scale of furniture to the scale of the city. The goal of an architectural education is to develop a rigorous thought process that is simultaneously analytical and creative. Creative thinkers must address all aspects of the built environment, in its cultural, social, and ethical context. Undergraduate and graduate design education is based on a passionate commitment to the teaching mission. The award-winning design of the Art + Architecture Building promotes a sense of community among the highly qualified student body and dedicated faculty.
Programs
Undergraduate Program: Students begin design studio courses in their first year of study, so they receive immediate exposure to a creative and rigorous thought process in visual thinking. While the design studio is at the core of the professional program, students also take architectural history and technology courses, including computer applications. Approximately 30% of the curriculum is devoted to the humanities and electives, so students have an opportunity to explore areas of personal interest. Many students have been able to pursue minors in other subjects such as language or business. Others have laid the groundwork for pursuing additional academic degrees. Students in their fourth year of study may elect to spend one semester off-campus in one of three programs organized by the college, or at any number of other international programs. Since 1993, the architecture program has had a very successful exchange agreement with the University of Krakow, allowing students the opportunity to study in this historic university center of Poland. At the advanced level, elective studios are offered in special topics such as advanced structures, urban design, sustainability, housing, and real estate development. Graduate Program: The Graduate Program in Architecture offers both a professional and a research-oriented graduate degree. These degrees are distinguished by the length of study required and by the nature of each degree's thesis. The M.Arch. program is a professional degree program designed to accommodate students who come from a variety of academic backgrounds and interests. This includes students who have had little or no previous formal study in architecture. The M.Arch. Advanced Placement program (4+2) accommodates students who have received an architectural education but have not completed the requirements for a professional degree. The M.Arch. II program is a research degree designed for students holding an accredited professional degree in architecture, who seek to develop an area of specialization. Most graduate-level classes are small with the student/teacher ratio in design studios being approximately 12:1. The core values of the Graduate Program in Architecture are based on a design-centered curriculum that promotes personal development, ethical imperatives, critical thinking, and ecologically sustainable practices. These values are expressed in an education that challenges students to expand their awareness, to become leaders, to master the discipline, and to engage real world problems in their cultural and social contexts with the responsibility of stewardship for the built and natural environment. The program is committed to preparing our students for leadership roles not only within the profession, but also within the broader communities they join and influence. The College recently added an intercollegiate Landscape Architecture Program to its Graduate Studies. This program offers graduate students in Architecture opportunity to substantively explore the integration of designed and naturally occurring landscapes with the built realm.
of Focus
1. Art & Design
2. Building Technologies
3. Community Design
4. Design/Build
5. Digital Fabrication & Technology
6. Urbanism
Opportunities
Study Abroad
Facilities
Large-format Printer
Laser Cutter
Woodshop
3D Printing
Metalshop
CNC Milling
Fabrication Lab
Policies
Transfer Policies
College students from UT or other accredited institutions can transfer into undergraduate Architecture or Interior Architecture, and thanks to our summer transfer program, you might not have to add any time to your college experience. Keep reading below to learn all about the process of applying to transfer, including our advice about portfolios.
Transfer Application Review Process
We do not have prerequisite requirements for applying to the college, but previous academic success, standardized tests (ACT/SAT) and your statement of intent are thoroughly reviewed to evaluate your desire and ability to participate in our programs. Please note that we require a minimum GPA of 2.50.
Once we receive your application, we will contact you to schedule an in-person meeting with the director of the School of Architecture. The director will formally notify you by email of his decision regarding your admission, and if you are accepted, you will be informed of the term of entry (Summer or Fall). Summer or Fall admission largely depends on the current cohort numbers and available seats. Upon acceptance, your major will officially change, and you may set up an advising appointment in our Center for Student Development to discuss specifics of your academic plan.
If you start in the summer, you’ll engage in the summer transfer program, a 10-week intensive curriculum that fast-tracks the first-year studios (ARCH 171 + 172) and drawing classes (ARCH 121 + 122). You should expect to be in class all day up to four days per week. Once you successfully complete the summer transfer program, you would join the second-year cohort the following fall.
