Academic Programs

Historically, the profession of architecture has placed the highest priority on the artful creation of place, incorporating Vitruvius’ three principles of firmness, commodity and delight. Consequently, the architect must be well versed in the arts, technically skilled, and possess a deep understanding of the human condition. Thus, the school seeks to impart a proper sense of ethics and a spirit of service to the community and the emphasis on these qualities gives professional training its distinctive character at The Catholic University of America.

Undergraduate Program
The School of Architecture and Planning is dedicated to the professional education of those who will design, build, and conserve the built environment, principally as architects and planners. The goal of the undergraduate program is to provide the student with the knowledge, skills and abilities fundamental to his or her training as a professional, enriched with a broad foundation in the humanities.

Graduate Program
Utilizing Washington and other cities as design laboratories, the graduate program provides an enriching educational climate in which students investigate the realms of design, theory and building in the context of the world in which we live. Students are exposed to a diversity of architectural experiences through a choice of design studio options that include cultural studies/sacred space, digital architecture, digital fabrication, real estate development, and urban design/conservation.