Dalhousie University
School of Architecture
The primary aim of the School of Architecture is to educate students who plan to become professional architects.
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/architecture-planning/school-of-architecture.htmlSetting
The School of Architecture is located in a grand old building in the South End of Halifax, in a prime commercial area three blocks from the Halifax Citadel, five blocks from the harbour, and next to the new Halifax Central Library. Its urban campus is surrounded by housing, parks, shops, and distractions of all kinds.
School Philosophy
The school emphasizes design as a means of studying and practicing architecture. Studios investigate principles of built form through design exercises and historical studies. Technology and humanities courses provide an understanding of material means and human intentions in architecture. Integrated co-op work terms introduce students to responsible professional practice and anticipate career directions. The School of Architecture enjoys an international reputation, with graduates working in many countries around the world.
Programs
Dalhousie's professional architecture program is compact: three years and eight months at the School of Architecture. It recognizes a student's previous undergraduate studies and leads to a fully accredited master's degree. Its co-op work terms enable students to live and work in Canada and abroad. The tuition fees are competitive in Canada and substantially lower than at comparable universities in the United States. American students can study architecture at Dalhousie and return to the United States with a recognized professional degree. Applications from transfer students are welcome. The professional architecture program includes two degrees: Years 1-2: general studies in university subjects other than architecture; Years 3-4: Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (BEDS); Years 5-6: Master of Architecture (MArch). The BEDS program develops a basic knowledge of architecture in five subject areas: design (building design, site design, program design); humanities (history, theory, research, criticism); technology (construction, structure, environmental systems); representation (drawing, modeling, computer applications); and professional practice (professional responsibility, office management, co-op work term). The MArch program continues the subject streams and aligns students with areas of faculty research, culminating in an individual design thesis supervised by a full-time faculty member in the final year.
of Focus
1. Materials and Construction
2. Building Technologies
3. Community Design
4. History | Theory | Criticism
5. Design/Build
6. Digital Design & Visualization
Opportunities
Facilities
Policies
Transfer Policies
The School of Architecture welcomes applications from transfer students who have already completed university-level architecture courses at another architecture school in Canada or abroad. Admission and level of entry in the BEDS/MArch program are based on:
– academic standing (3.30 GPA is expected for admission at an advanced level)
– courses completed elsewhere that are equivalent to architecture courses at Dalhousie (which may include integration of the subject into the process of architectural design)
– level of achievement in your architectural design portfolio
– total years of university completed, including non-architectural subjects (general studies)
– English language proficiency for students whose first language is not English (IELTS 7.0, TOEFL 92 iBT, etc.)