University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
School of Architecture & Urban Planning
The School remains steadfastly committed to a tectonic conception of architectural practice. Students learn how to put a building together and how to derive formal poetics from constructive assembly. Constituting the backbone of the architecture curriculum, this passionate commitment to conventional tectonics is complemented and challenged by many avenues of experimentation and research that confront professional norms. Elective courses propose alternative practices and theories for architecture by speculating on thermodynamic form, cultural geography, performative envelopes, digital prototyping, and new ecological and programmatic compositions for water management. Sponsored studios leverage expertise from the professional community in unique partnerships that benefit students and also have an impact on the community and region--in many cases through constructed works.
http://www4.uwm.edu/sarup/
Setting
UWM earned the highest rating for a research institution, R-1, from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Only 115 universities across the country earned this rating. UWM is the largest university in Southeastern Wisconsin, located blocks from beaches along Lake Michigan, 10 minutes from downtown, and 90 minutes to Chicago. UWM is positioned in the center of a growing metropolitan area that doubles as a learning laboratory. Celebrating 45 years as a Center for Excellence in the UW system, the School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP) is among 14 schools and colleges at UWM acquiring over $60 million in research and hosting 24 Distinguished Professors. The School’s leadership in the urban and global community includes a design assistance program managed by Community Design Solutions (CDS), sponsored studios that collaborate with industry partners, and an active tradition of global outreach through overseas programs.
Milwaukee has both dynamic indoor and outdoor cultures. Besides being a bike friendly city there are many opportunities for cross-country skiing, hiking, kayaking, skating, canoeing, beach volleyball, swimming, and sailing within the city limits. Access to state parks for camping and downhill-skiing is a short day-trip away. The Brewers, the Bucks, and the Green Bay Packers keep sports fans busy all year long. Our indoor culture is strong too with a world-class symphony, a nationally acclaimed ballet company, opera companies, cultural and art museums, and the world’s largest music festival: Summerfest.
Milwaukee sits on the Third Coast of the largest group of freshwater lakes on the globe. Comprising 21% of Earth’s surface freshwater, Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes are a source of a number of interdisciplinary city, regional and UWM research initiatives related to water issues. The School leverages the post-industrial landscape of Milwaukee’s rich manufacturing background to address local, regional, and global issues related to the connections between architecture, urban planning, and infrastructure.
School Philosophy
Maximum curriculum choice is considered a hallmark of the architecture curriculum at UWM. After completing the core educational requirements, students are able to construct an educational path from a wide array of elective seminars, independent study, research assistantships, and studios that best suits their personal values and aspirations. Our goal is for students to be committed to architecture as a form of disciplinary inquiry that is compositionally ambitious, technically provocative, and to continually reinvents professional ethics and beauty.
Programs
Bachelor of Science, Architectural Studies (BSAS) is a four-year undergraduate pre-professional program that prepares students for graduate studies in architecture and related design and construction fields. The primary goal of the BSAS program is to introduce students to architecture as both a technical and cultural practice. The four-year BSAS program is comprised of a three-year core, followed by one year of specialized and individualized study. Over the course of their studies, a BSAS student enrolls in a variety of studios, lectures and seminars to accrue skills in architectural making, thinking, design, visualization, digital fabrication, prototyping, and simulation. In addition to learning essential analytical and creative-problem solving skills, students are required to complete courses in structures & construction, environmental & building technology, human behavior, and contemporary criticism. In their fourth year, students are asked to select from a wide range of architectural electives and advanced studios, allowing them the opportunity to craft a curriculum based on their areas of interest. Graduates of the BSAS program can continue their studies at UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning by applying to the Master of Architecture (M. Arch), Master of Science in Architecture (MS-Arch), or Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program.
The Master of Architecture (M. Arch) is a professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). It educates and prepares students to become registered, licensed architects. But more than this, it prepares students to be innovative designers, thinkers and leaders in the field of architecture. This degree program requires 2 to 3 years of graduate study, depending on previous academic background and qualifications. For students who acquire a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture or a closely related field, the M. ARCH program requires 60 credits and is usually completed in 2 years. For students with a non-pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture or an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field, the M. ARCH program requires 90 credits and is usually completed in 3 years.
In addition to our diverse collection of student-selected design studios, students can choose to further customize their education by selecting a degree concentration in Ecological Design, Historic Preservation Studies or Real Estate Development, or by pursuing a Joint Masters Degree in architecture and urban planning.
of Focus
1. Art & Design
2. Community Design
3. Design/Build
4. Digital Design & Visualization
5. History | Theory | Criticism
6. Industry Collaborations
7. Materials and Construction
Opportunities
Study Abroad
Facilities
Individual Computer Provided
Large-format Printer
Laser Cutter
Woodshop
3D Printing
CNC Milling
Fabrication Lab
Policies
Transfer Policies
Thank you for your interest in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at UW-Milwaukee. Potential Transfer Students are encouraged to contact Undergraduate Academic Advisor Tammy Taylor for assistance in the transfer process. Please call 414/229-4015 or email Tammy directly at ttaylor@uwm.edu to arrange for an in-person or phone appointment.
