The University of Arizona School of Architecture takes advantage of its location at the edge of the Sonoran desert and has developed programs aimed at the study of architecture in arid climates. With cross-disciplinary studies with the School of Landscape Architecture, students graduate with specialized training and practical knowledge. A five-year course of study results in a graduate earning a Bachelor of Architecture Degree. The fifth year includes study in sustainable design and historic preservation. Admission is based on high-school grade-point average, SAT and ACT scores. The first year is considered the pre-architecture year and studies include two design studio courses. Advanced degrees are also offered. Financial aid is available.
Multiple design disciplines are brought together under one roof at Arizona States' School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Located in a rapidly expanding metropolis, the school integrates its program of study with the needs of the community. Interior design, industrial design and urban and community studies are included in the course offerings. To graduate with professional status, a student must complete a master's degree in architecture. Further studies in remote areas of the world contribute to the experience and working knowledge of graduates, and are recommended. Architectural studies candidates must pass a portfolio design examination at the end of the freshman year to continue in the major. Financial aid is available.
A bachelor of architectural studies and Master of Architecture degrees are offered at Taliesin. Since 1932, students who are inspired by the landscape and the fine arts have benefited from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation's determination to deliver a hands-on education that blends the natural and the built environments. The bachelor's degree is a pre-professional undergraduate degree and the holder must enter a professional-level graduate school to achieve professional status. Rigorous design, critical thinking and hands-on training are the components of the program. There is no traditional grading, but instead a portfolio review and interviews with instructors and mentors indicate a student's progress through the course. Students live at the Taliesin West campus at the edge of the Sonoran Desert and summer at the Taliesin Campus in Wisconsin. Study abroad is also advised. Financial aid is available through grants and loans.
If a 4 to 5 year program of study in architecture isn't possible, the Arizona Western College in Yuma offers occupational degrees in architectural technology. With drafting as the basis of the program, courses in interior design, structural design and the understanding of building materials are offered. This is a two-year program and includes intensive study of computer generated drafting models. The admissions and registration office works with all applicants to structure an admissions application. Financial aid is available.