Florida International University
Department of Architecture
Architecture involves the study and transformation of the built environment, from the scale of furniture to the scale of the city. The goal of the educational experience is to educate knowledgeable and creative designers who will be informed citizens and innovative professionals. The program is committed to nurturing and promoting critical thinking and the creative design process by encouraging students to form independent, imaginative and creative decisions grounded in the broader contexts of intellectual knowledge and inquiry. The course of study provides students with the intellectual knowledge and technical skills that will enable them to respond creatively, effectively and responsibly to the challenges confronting urban society. The program maintains a commitment to excellence in teaching, creative activity, research and scholarship and seeks to attract a diverse student body with a variety of academic backgrounds, experiences and interests. Our student body and our faculty reflect the diverse areas of knowledge which play a critical role in the making of the built environment and in the establishment of successful design practices. Trans-disciplinarity: The extensive range of coordinated disciplines within the School of Architecture (architecture, interior design and landscape architecture) provides an opportunity for the student to work with colleagues and faculty in a wide array of educational, scholarly, and professional initiatives. Students at the School of Architecture benefit from the cross-fertilization via multidisciplinary studio classes, open electives, lectures, as well as the sharing of faculty and resources between the disciplines. Sub-specialties and certificate programs include; design, technology, history/theory, digital technologies and urban design, and provide opportunities for the student to work with colleagues and faculty in a wide array of educational, scholarly, and professional initiatives that cut across boundaries.
http://carta.fiu.edu/architecture/
Setting
FIU is a multi-campus public research university located in Miami, a vibrant, international city. FIU offers more than 180 baccalaureate, masters, professional, and doctoral degree programs to over 46,000 students. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement and is committed to finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our times.
School Philosophy
As part of FIU, a "top public research university," the Architecture Department is dedicated to educating future generations of ethical professionals, creative designers and informed citizens. We believe architecture to be a conceptually based intellectual endeavor and a form of critical inquiry that addresses the physical environment from the scale of the city to the scale of furniture. The Architecture Department is committed to producing conceptual thinkers and skilled makers who are versed in the techniques, history and theory of the discipline and who are grounded in the broad intellectual and societal values that engender the production and reception of architecture. To realize these objectives, design is taught as a critical and creative endeavor that embraces both the humanities and the sciences. Our mission embraces: Diversity To serve a diverse student body with a variety of academic backgrounds, experiences and interests by creating an open atmosphere of inquiry and exchange that engages the varied cultural and academic experiences of faculty and students. Design as Critical Thinking To present architecture as a reflective and conceptually based problem-solving discipline. We encourage students to form thoughtful and imaginative solutions to the challenges confronting urban society here and abroad and to cultivate intellectual curiosity and life-long learning. Knowledge & Skill-Based Learning To explore the diverse areas of knowledge and the technical skills that play a critical role in thoughtful formation of the constructed environment and which are essential for successful design practices. A Commitment to Innovation To celebrate the power of innovation and experimentation and our discipline's commitment to imagine and construct beautiful, healthful and responsible environments. An Appreciation for Constructed and Natural Environments To foster sensitivity and appreciation for the constructed and natural environments of South Florida. The Architecture Department values the unique opportunities and challenges for creative exploration and problem solving afforded by South Florida's rich sub-tropical ecologies, urban contexts, multicultural and multilingual populace. A Culture of Connectivity To promote connections between the Architecture Department and members of the design community in local, national and international, academic, professional and lay contexts. In particular, we seek to engage our colleagues in the College and the School, local practitioners in design education and to develop cooperative links with schools of design in North America, Latin America and Europe. An Ethos of Trans-Disciplinarity To engage adjacent disciplines within the School of Architecture to create an atmosphere of trans-disciplinary cooperation that can collaboratively address the complex spatial, social and environmental challenges of contemporary practice.
Programs
The five-year Master of Architecture degree is accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB). With a dedication to excellence in design and studio-based work as the foundation to the program, the intensive course of study is organized into five thematic areas; design, history/theory, building technology, digital technology, and professional practice. The course of study is comprehensive and rigorous, preparing graduates to be creative leaders, and skilled innovators in all aspects of the profession. In addition to the five-year Master of Architecture degree for students starting as freshman, the program offers two other tracks towards the professional degree. Three-Year M. Arch Track The three-year track is a professional degree program for students with no background in architecture and who possess a four year undergraduate Bachelor degree in any area. The track consists of 106 credit hours and is usually completed in three and one half years. The course of study consists of six semesters of design studio course work followed by a semester long master's project. Supporting courses in history/ theory, building technology, digital technology, professional practice as well as cross-disciplinary electives complete the course of study. Students are eligible to spend a semester studying in Genoa Italy. Two-year Track The two-year track is a professional degree program for students who possess a four-year undergraduate degree in architecture. Students will continue their architectural education by following a course of 60 credit hours that is usually completed in two years. The course of study consists of four semesters of design studio course work followed by a semester long master's project. Supporting courses in history / theory, building technology, digital technology, professional practice as well as cross-disciplinary electives complete the course of study. Students are eligible to a semester studying in Genoa Italy. One-Year Post-Professional Master of Arts in Architecture The post-professional Master of Arts in Architecture is a 36-credit, post-professional degree program that enables students to pursue advanced studies in theoretical and applied research and special topics in practice. Individual areas of concentration are pursued through course work and independent study and include the philosophy and history of design, digital technologies and visualization, mapping, technology, sustainability, neuroscience and architecture, furniture and industrial design, and sustainable development. These concentration areas work with the current focus in the FIU SOA curriculum and allow students to pursue advanced research combining cross-disciplinary course work with faculty areas of specialization.
of Focus
1. Design/Build
2. History | Theory | Criticism
Opportunities
Study Abroad
Facilities
Metalshop
CNC Milling
Fabrication Lab
Policies
Transfer Policies
As South Florida’s first and only public research university, FIU welcomes nearly 9,000 transfer students every year. We make it easy for you to transfer through partnerships with other Florida public and community colleges and through campus life programs to get you feeling the Panther spirit. Follow this checklist here: (https://admissions.fiu.edu/how-to-apply/transfer-applicant/index.html) to apply and if you need help, just contact an admissions counselor.
