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2023 List of Scholarships and Career Resources for Underrepresented Students

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In our pursuit of a more equitable profession, we are providing a list of resources for prospective students of color. It is our hope that the list of resources below will help students of color who aspire to become architects find networks and opportunities that help them to achieve their goals.

The following list is not all-inclusive, so if you would like for us to add others, please do not hesitate to contact us to add them.

Fellowships and Scholarships

 

American Indian Science and Engineering Society Scholarships

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) helps students move forward in their educational journeys by providing a wide range of programs and scholarship opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Canada. To apply, you must be an AISES member.

Deadline to Apply:  Varies by Scholarship

AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship

AIA Chicago Foundation Diversity Scholarship Initiative, managed by the AIA Chicago Foundation, is an opportunity to attract and retain diverse, talented young professionals in Chicago and recognizes the value of new and unique voices in the profession. One $10,000 graduate scholarship and one $10,000 undergraduate scholarship are awarded each year.

Applications accepted through May 12, 2023

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)

AIAS has a great list of scholarships and fellowship opportunities for students.

Deadline to Apply:  Varies by Scholarship

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Worldstudio Scholarships

AIGA Worldstudio Scholarships benefit minority and economically disadvantaged students who are studying photography, illustration, and design disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States. Scholarships are awarded annually to encourage social and environmental responsibility and cultural awareness in the next generation of artists and designers.

Deadline to Apply:  April 7, 2023

Association for Women in Architecture Scholarship

The Association for Women in Architecture Foundation offers annual cash awards to women students studying Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban and/or Land Planning, Interior Design, or Environmental Design leading to a college degree.

Applicants must be residents of California or attending a California school, and must be enrolled in one of the qualifying majors for the current school term. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 18 units in their major by the application due date.

Deadline to Apply: April 25, 2023

CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to African-American or Black students who are pursuing a degree in the visual arts. 

This award is for full-time African-American or Black students pursuing a degree in visual arts including, but not limited to, architecture, ceramics, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, sketching, video production and other decorative arts.

Deadline to Apply: April 14, 2023

CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Architecture & Design

Candidates in the fields of architectural design, interior design, urban design and urban planning may submit applications for the CINTAS Foundation Fellowship in Architecture. For the purpose of historical value and documentation, architectural award recipients are encouraged to submit architectural drawings (i.e., representative samples of their work) to be added to the CINTAS Fellows Collection after the grant period. To be eligible, applicants must have either Cuban citizenship or direct lineage. 

Eligibility for this fellowship: Creative artists of Cuban citizenship or direct lineage (having a Cuban parent or grandparent). Applicants engaged in research, students, or performing artists are not eligible to apply for CINTAS Fellowships. 

Deadline to Apply: May 1, 2023

College Raptor Scholarship

To help students take a thoughtful approach to the college decision process and pay for college, College Raptor is awarding a $2,500 scholarship.

For eligibility, applicants must:

  • Be legal residents of the United States, District of Columbia, or a U.S. Territory.
  • Be age 16 or older.
  • Be enrolled (or enroll no later than the fall of 2023) in an accredited post-secondary institution of higher learning (college, university or trade school).

Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2023

Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program

The Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program is open to underrepresented, low-income and first-generation college-bound students. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree full-time in transportation, math, science, engineering, architecture, environmental design, PreMed, psychology, Spanish language/literature. The applicant does not have to be a U.S. citizen but must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and proof of attending college beginning in the fall semester. Recommendation by a faculty member is optional but highly suggested.

Deadline to Apply: March 14, 2023

Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship Fund

Michael Ford’s $10,000 Hip Hop Architecture Scholarship awards $2,500 per year for four years, totaling $10,000 to a minority high school senior who accepted into a 4 year college or university to study architecture. Recipients will be contacted to reapply for the scholarship when entering graduate school.

Deadline to Apply: April 14, 2023

Houzz Scholarship Program

Houzz offers four different architecture scholarships—Women in Architecture, Residential Design, Sustainable Residential Design, and Residential Construction Management—each for $2,500. Scholarships are open to current undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in interior design, architecture, landscape architecture, architectural engineering, or construction management programs.

Deadline to Apply: March 31, 2023

SmithGroup Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholarship Program

We have created the SmithGroup Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Scholarship Program to support and mentor students from historically underrepresented demographics in architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture and engineering.  The program’s mission is to provide these students with the opportunity to attain their professional goals while advancing the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry and improving the built environment.

Deadline to Apply: October 30, 2023

Networks and Organizations

400 FORWARD

Launched in 2017 when the 400th living African American woman achieved licensure, 400 Forward aims to boost the next generation of African American women architects—who currently make up only 0.2 percent of all licensed architects—through exposure to architecture, mentorship, and financial assistance

ArchiteXX

A non-profit organization for Gender Equity in architecture transforming the profession by bridging the academy and practice. We are a Cross-Generational group of academics and practitioners, and our organization is dedicated to the advancement of all women-identified, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and allied individuals.

Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation.

The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) is an advocacy group committed to changing the culture of the building industry for women working in architecture, landscape, engineering, and construction—market sectors where only about 17 percent of the leaders are women. Founded in 2002 by Willis, a pioneering woman in the field, the New York-based nonprofit advances the recognition of women’s contributions to architecture through grants and research and supports current professionals and students through educational and social initiatives.

Black Females in Architecture

Black Females in Architecture (BFA) is a network and enterprise founded to increase the visibility of black and black mixed heritage females within the architectural industry and other built environment fields. In so doing, BFA actively addresses issues of inequality and diversity within the industry

BFA supports its growing membership through the provision of a support network within which members benefit from shared knowledge, advice, guidance, access to the personal networks of fellow members, job opportunities, and much more.

Black Interior Designers Network

The Black Interior Designers Network’s mission is to promote diversity and inclusion within the interior design industry by highlighting designers of color and supporting black designers with business development opportunities and resources to help Black designers thrive.

Female Design Council

With the mission of establishing a strong support network for female and female-identifying design professionals—through events, exhibitions, discussions, programming, business development opportunities, and community outreach with industry partners.

National Organization of Minority Architects

Founded in 1971 by 12 African-American architects, who met at the national AIA Convention in Detroit that year and recognized the need to help foster the development of minority architects, NOMA showcases the work of Black architects through its publications and conferences. This national group relies on the strength of its local chapters for advocacy, community outreach, and professional development.

Organization of Black Designers

The Organization of Black Designers is a national professional organization of interior, industrial/product, architectural, fashion, UX, UI and graphic designers dedicated to promoting the visibility, empowerment, education and interaction of its membership and the understanding and value that diverse design perspectives contribute to world culture and commerce.

The Designer’s Workshop

Associate interior designer at Rockwell Group Kamille Glenn founded the Designer’s Workshop as a collective to unite people of color in any 3D-design disciplines, including architecture and design, and to shine a light on this underrepresented population through connectivity and collaboration.

 

Resources 

Best Colleges
Many organizations and schools offer college scholarships for Black and African American students. Learn about the top scholarships for these learners.

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Resources for African American Students

This resource is for African American Students, and it details information about different types of financial assistance available to African American students, including historically Black university scholarships, field-specific scholarships, and scholarships for women.

College Scholarships For Minorities

Student-Specific Scholarships support individual groups of college students like women and minorities.

45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students

Published by Purdue University Global, this resource shares 45+ financial aid scholarships for future and current students as well as potential graduate students to supplement the cost of education or professional development endeavors. Information on where to find scholarships and grants is supplied. Also highlighted within the resource are opportunities dedicated to specific demographics such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Students, Native Americans, and much more. The featured scholarships are current and are provided by trusted organizations. The resource will constantly be updated to ensure students can apply to the most accurate scholarships available.

Contact us at info@acsa-arch.org to add your Scholarship, Organization, or Resource for Underrepresented students to this page. 

Applications now open for 2022 Architects Foundation scholarships!

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The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for five scholarships awards for architecture students and emerging professionals.

Diversity Advancement Scholarship
This multi-year scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture program recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Scholarships may be renewed every year for up to five years or until the degree is completed ($20,000 total award toward tuition and fees).

Scholarship sponsors include The American Institute of Architects, Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, The Curry Stone Foundation, The Custom Residential Architects Network, Fireclay Tile, GGLO, HKS, Lord Aeck Sargent, The Meehan Foundation, RS&H, Safdie Architects, Semihandmade, The Sherwin-Williams Company, ZGF, and Anonymous.

Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship is a $10,000 award toward tuition and fees supporting a woman studying architecture within a NAAB-accredited bachelor or master’s degree program. The awardee will also receive a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year.

Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports a graduate student whose work demonstrates an exemplary focus at the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The scholarship recipient receives $5,000 toward tuition and fees and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, FAIA, for the scholarship year.

The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship
The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship is awarded annually to two students who demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management in the field of architecture. Each student receives a $5,000 award toward tuition and fees.

The AIA Large Firm Roundtable Scholarship
The Architects Foundation’s Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship helps fulfill the LFRT’s goal to double the number of licensed Black architects by 2030. The scholarship defrays the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), provides a one-year subscription to ArchiPrep and covers one year of Associate AIA or NOMA member dues.

The application period for these five scholarships is open through Jan. 14, 2022. More information on the Foundation’s scholarship programs can be found online.

Learn more about the Architect’s Foundation.

2019 AIA Emerging Professionals Exhibit

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The Center for Emerging Professionals sponsors an annual exhibit of architectural work, design, and art from the rising generation of architecture and design professionals. The exhibit is showcased on aia.org.

Deadline: August 6th, 2018 at 11:59pm ET

Submit!

The EP Exhibit is open to any architecture student, recent graduate, or architect licensed fewer than 10 years. Submissions from AIA and AIAS members receive priority for display, but the exhibit strives to be inclusive of all emerging professionals in architecture and design.

Personal projects or work in a firm, class, studio, or design competition are eligible.

Image credits: Collective Works designed a unique 200-seat temporary theatre in collaboration with the Old Vic Community Company, and the Community Developed Rise, a performance showcasing londoners’ hopes and fears about the environment. (Khuzema Hussain, AIA; Alasdair Dixon; Siri Zanelli; Christopher Daniel; Holly Barker)

AIA #ilookup Film Challenge - Voting Open for People's Choice

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The American Institute of Architect’s third annual I Look Up Film Challenge invites architects and filmmakers to collaborate in bringing architectural stories to life. This year’s challenge calls for films that highlight projects and architects that are helping to change communities for the better.

From 9/21/2017 – 10/06/2017 Voting is open to the public. Choose the film that resonates with you.

See all the videos.

VOTE

Here are some examples from graduates of Architecture:

Graduates of Architecture of NYIT, Dan Horn and his team created a film about a community in the Philippines studying resilience strategies.

Title: Bayanihan: Spirit of Community
Category: Community Revitalization
Description: The ORLI+ video for the ‘I Look Up Film Challenge’ explores a blueprint for better where design professionals work hand in hand with communities in need, offering technical expertise at a time where climate induced disasters are becoming the new normal for coastal communities around the world. By empowering grassroots movements within at-risk communities and leveraging the strengths of existing culture, design professionals can help proliferate long term, holistic community resilience in the places and for the people that need it most. Driven by their own experiences living through Super-storm Sandy in 2012, and by the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, ORLI+ has been working with local communities on the Filipino island of Siargao. The goal is to leverage the strong youth surfing and skateboarding culture of Siargao into an opportunity to design and construct a new community center that will be constructed in the common built-language of the area, but with more resilient construction practices as an example of resilient building techniques for the island. The hope is to utilize the energy surrounding the new community center to catalyze further long-term environmental resilience movements in the area ranging from the built environment all the way to the health of the local reef systems.
Team: Daniel Horn, Alex Alaimo, Austin Reed, Leonel Ponce, Eric Olson
Filmed by: Luke Askelson and Daniel Horn
Title: MADWORKSHOP Homeless Studio
Category: Homelessness
Description: Homelessness in Los Angeles has increased 23% since 2016. The MADWORKSHOP Homeless Studio at the USC School of Architecture decided to do something about it. Our homeless epidemic is more than a humanitarian crisis, it is a call for action. This short film tells the story of eleven 4th year architecture students and their two instructors’ journey through the world of homelessness as they tackle real world design solutions for emergency stabilization housing. From nomadic and temporary shelters to the city supported and award winning Homes for Hope, the film follows the MADWORKSHOP Homeless Studio and their designs from the encampment all the way to City Hall. The Homeless are always thinking about architecture. It’s time we started thinking about them.
Title: Rural Studio
Category: Community Revitalization
Description: Auburn University’s Rural Studio program is changing the way students and community look at architecture.
Make sure to cast your vote by October 6th, 2017!

Robert A.M. Stern Wins 2017 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion

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(via Architect Magazine)

Today, the American Institute of Architects and the Association of the Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) named Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, as the 2017 winner of the AIA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architecture Education, the highest honor given to educators in architecture. The AIA has been granting individuals this award since 1976 for their dedication to education and influence over students of architecture.

Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, was recognized by the AIA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture for his dedication to educating students of architecture.

Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, was recognized by the AIA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture for his dedication to educating students of architecture.

“He loves the debate, the conversation,” says architect Deborah Berke, FAIA, who succeeded Stern as dean of the Yale School of Architecture this summer. “He wants to hear arguments and discussions.”

Stern has expressed his dedication to the advancement of architecture education and architectural innovation through his projects, teaching, and writing. After receiving an M.Arch. from Yale University in 1965, he co-founded Stern & Hagmann in 1969. He then returned to Columbia University as a professor of architecture and director of the Historic Preservation Program at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, where he lectured for more than 20 years while also managing major projects and holding various titles. His next firm, Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) was founded in 1977. At RAMSA, Stern personally supervises the design of each project that the firm develops. The 300-person office functions as a teaching institution, producing both experienced alumni and eager-to-learn apprentices.

Photo courtesy of John Jacobson | Yale School of Architecture

Photo courtesy of John Jacobson | Yale School of Architecture

Since the birth of RAMSA, the terms New Urbanism and New Classical Architecture have been coined, and both describe styles in which Stern has always been fluent. RAMSA’s postmodern reputation for blending tradition with modernity has circulated around the world, and the firm’s success has made it one of the biggest in the world. In 1984, Stern received the AIA New York Chapter’s Medal of Honor and the Chapter’s President’s Award in 2001.

As an academic writer, he has published several books and papers, including New Directions in American Architecture (Braziller, 1969), Modern Classicism(Rizzoli, 1988), and his most recent, Pedagogy and Place: 100 Years of Architecture Education at Yale (Yale University Press, 2016).

Photo courtesy of Yale Alumni Magazine

Photo courtesy of Yale Alumni Magazine

The 2017 Topaz Medallion jury: Stephen Vogel, FAIA, University of Detroit; Mercy Geraldine Forbes Isais, Associate AIA, University of New Mexico; Sharon Johnston, FAIA, Johnston Marklee & Associates; Chere R. LeClair, AIA, LeClair Architects; Sarah Wahlgren, AIAS, American Institute of Architecture Students.

(via Architect Magazine)

MIT Mediated Matter Group Mixes Biology and Computer Engineering

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(via FastCoDesign)

“The world of design has been subjugated by the rigors of manufacturing and mass production,” says Neri Oxman, an architect, designer, and director of the Mediated Matter research group within the MIT Media Lab. “Assembly lines have dictated a world of parts and have been framing the imagination of designers and architects who have been trained—like all of us—to think about their designs as assemblies of discrete parts with distinct functions.”

That’s a problem, Oxman argued at the 2016 AIA conference last week. Because while we may have a deep understanding of how the world works, our current fabrication technology isn’t sophisticated enough to put that knowledge to good use. “The engineering tools we use today—like finite element analysis or computational fluid dynamics—are tools that operate at a much higher resolution than the tools we use to actually build the materials and products in the environment,” she says.

The major key to unlocking better design, according to Oxman, is biomorphism, or looking to how the natural world operates and infusing that knowledge into how we design and build. This is what synthetic biology is about: mixing biology and computer engineering. “We look to the biological world to extract phenomenon,” she says.

Oxman argues that some of the best natural design is a gradient of a single material, for example bones and how their density changes throughout the body or skin and its multiple functions as a barrier and a way to disperse heat to keep our bodies cool. Rather than having compositions of many parts, Oxman wants to design single material systems with different attributes, like skin. To put her work in context, she says, today “synthetic biology is the computer science of the ’80s.”

Some of her research with how a single material could be manipulated through design include hacking silkworms to build architectural scale structures or 3-D printing a dress using a single material and using no sewing or stitching to create the silhouette, and a wearable that produces food. In the context of architecture, her eventual goal is to be able to create a single material that could be used to build a column that morphs into a beam that morphs into a window—no assembly required.

“The future of design is a future where anything material in the environment—whether it’s wearables, cars, buildings—can be designed with this variation of properties and relationship with the environment that can take part in the natural ecology,” Oxman says. “Hopefully it points towards a shift that goes beyond the age of assembly into the age of a new kind of organism.”

(via FastCoDesign)

Visit MIT’s profile page on StudyArchitecture.com!