Parsons School of Design
School of Constructed Environments
The unique position of the Master of Architecture Program at Parsons resides in its particular manner of engagement with current architectural issues, its community of committed faculty and talented students, and its location in downtown New York City. The Parsons graduate program is renowned for its commitment to smart integrated design from the scale of the singular architectural object to that of the city. Integrating theory, analysis,experimentation and speculation with the logics of building, the graduate program sees such contemporary architectural issues as the activation of site and programmatic forces, the social commitment of design, tectonic and material methodologies, infrastructural and natural systems in design thinking, and digital and sustainable technologies, among others, as fields of potential for architectural investigation.
http://www.newschool.edu/parsons/masters-architecture/
Setting
New York City has the greatest resources for art, entertainment, commerce and cultural diversity in the world, making it an exceptional place to live and to study architecture and design. Faculty members are successful professionals and use the City as an extension of the classroom. Manhattan's architecture and public spaces are sources of research and inspiration. Parsons' main campus is located in Greenwich Village, near residential neighborhoods,multimedia companies and design studios.
School Philosophy
The M.Arch. program emphasizes the study of architecture as a cultural practice. Using the urban environment of New York as a laboratory, the school teaches students a way of thinking about the built environment in all of its complex forms. It examines the designed world in multiple scales: landscape, furniture, as well as multiple social practices: cities to performance space. Student's interdisciplinary training and digital expertise provide them with a range of career opportunities in the design world. Lighting design is integral to architecture, interior design, product design and theater, contributing to the success of these professions.
Programs
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architectural Design - This interdisciplinary training teaches students a way of thinking about the built environment in all of its complex forms. A rigorous design curriculum prepares students for careers in many possible fields including architecture, interior architecture, exhibition design, lighting design, and information design. Students graduating from this program can apply for admission to the M.Arch. program and can complete this professional degree in two years. Pre-Architecture Studies - This custom-designed, semester-long or year-long program introduces a student to architectural design. It is intended for liberal arts graduates or exchange students who want to focus on design,drawing and portfolio preparation in preparation for applying to graduate study in architecture. An applicant is not required to submit a portfolio. Fall entry only.
of Focus
1. Art & Design
2. Building Technologies
3. Design/Build
4. History | Theory | Criticism
5. Materials and Construction
6. Resilience
7. Urbanism
Opportunities
Cross-disciplinary experience
Facilities
Large-format Printer
Laser Cutter
Woodshop
3D Printing
Metalshop
CNC Milling
Fabrication Lab
Policies
Transfer Policies
A student’s level of placement (freshman, sophomore, etc.) at the time of admission is determined on the basis of a comprehensive review of all aspects of the application, including the Parsons Challenge, the portfolio and/or essay, and previous college transcripts. The total number of credits accrued at a previous institution(s) alone does not determine a student’s level of placement. Further, if a student has earned credit in a course that is relevant to the degree program to which he or she has been admitted but did not complete a directly equivalent course, then that course credit can be transferred toward electives. The Transfer Credit Evaluation is subject to final approval and potential redistribution of credits by the academic program.
For first-year mid-year transfers, students must have a minimum of 12 transferable credits, at least nine of which must be applicable studio credits. Students who do not meet this threshold will be required to complete summer study in order to advance to their intended major.
For students admitted as sophomore or junior transfers into the 120-credit curriculum, alternative courses can be transferred toward the first-year requirements, including Integrative Studio and Seminar, provided the student meets the minimum threshold of transfer credits.
Sophomore transfer students with a strong portfolio coupled with a minimum of 15 credits in Studio Art coursework and 9 credits in Liberal Arts coursework can begin the sophomore track (minimum of 24 credits). Coursework should preferably be equivalent to the First Year at Parsons.
Junior transfer students seeking junior entry should refer to the curriculum of their program of interest. Applicants must have completed comparable coursework in order to be considered for junior entry. Curriculum information can be found by selecting your program of interest on our Academics page. Junior entry requires a minimum of 52 transferable credits, including 34 studio art semester credits and 18 liberal arts credits. However, we prefer that junior transfers have 60 transferable credits. Please refer to the curriculum page as a guide.
Junior transfers are not permitted to the Fashion Design Program.
