The Catholic University of America

The School

The School of Architecture and Planning is dedicated to the professional education of architects and planners and others who will design, build and conserve the built environment.

Central to the graduate program is the design studio, where students pursue their architectural inquiries individually or in teams. Design studios are directed by faculty members who have extensive experience in both practice and teaching. Visiting critics whose professional experience is relevant to the studio projects are brought into the school to provide richness and diversity to the students’ design education. The studio experience culminates in a design thesis.

Supporting the studio experience are advanced courses in architecture, planning and related fields. Lectures, seminars and exhibitions are devised to introduce the student to a multitude of considerations faced by the practicing architect to reveal differing philosophies and attitudes toward architectural design.

The school has had relationships with numerous Washington, D.C., cultural and artistic institutions, including the National Building Museum, the Library of Congress and others. In addition, the school's location offers it unparalleled access to many national chapter headquarters of various design-oriented organizations, such as The American Institute of Architects, or AIA; the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture; the National Architectural Accrediting Board; and the American Institute of Architecture Students. Over the last several years, the school has also maintained a relationship with various embassies in the region, sponsoring cooperative lecture and exhibit programs with the embassies of Japan, Finland, Switzerland and others.

Mission

In keeping with The Catholic University of America's mission of service to the Church, to the community and to the nation, our school educates future architects and designers to be engaged and active citizens in their communities and the world at large.

 

Degree Programs

The School of Architecture and Planning offers a variety of degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate students, both professional and academic.

 

History

The School of Architecture and Planning has a rich history, dating from its founding in 1911.

 

Organizations

Accreditation

CUA's professional program in architecture is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture. The school received the maximum term of accreditation during its last review.