Becoming an Architect: The Journey Ahead

Introduction for Prospective Architecture Students and their Families

In the United States there are many more ways to become a licensed architect than in similarly licensed professional fields such as law, engineering, or medicine. While this often proves confusing to prospective architecture students and their families, it does provide a variety of options to accommodate a range of personal needs and educational styles. The National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) establishes minimum conditions that all professional architecture programs must meet, but allows each program to design how best to deliver an architectural education. All accredited professional architecture degrees end in “Arch”— a B. Arch, M. Arch or D. Arch indicates a professional degree program accredited by the NAAB.

In 2004, there were 115 accredited architecture programs in the United States. Accredited programs automatically become members of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA). The Association periodically publishes a guide to all accredited programs. The seventh edition of the Guide to Architecture Schools was published in 2004. It may be available in your local high school’s guidance center or can be ordered directly from the ACSA. Many prospective students find this publication useful in comparing architecture programs. Once you have identified a list of programs that interest you, visit their web sites or call to request information. The best way to figure out if an architecture program will be a good fit for you is by visiting when classes are in session and speaking to current students.

We hope this document helps you find an architecture program that fits your needs. Please explore our web site, call us or visit us for more information. Maybe architecture at Illinois is right for you!

The First Part of the Journey: from High School to Architecture School

There are many possible ways to complete an architectural education. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a 4 + 2 program. This means that a 4-year undergraduate pre-professional program (Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies or BS in AS) is followed by a 2-year professional program (the Master of Architecture or M. Arch). The M. Arch is the professional architecture degree available at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A NAAB-accredited professional degree is required for licensure in most states. Students must apply and be admitted to the Master of Architecture program. Some students enter the M. Arch program directly and others take time off to work in an architect’s office before returning for the professional degree.

4 + 2 programs vary considerably in the amount of architectural coursework required at the undergraduate level. In general a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Architectural Studies or Environmental Design will include fewer technical courses at the undergraduate level than a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) program like ours.

Some schools offer only pre-professional programs with the expectation that students will complete the professional degree at another institution.

Other universities may offer a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture or B. Arch degree. This is also a professional degree. B. Arch programs generally allow less time for liberal arts or general education courses in fields related to but outside of architecture. Many M. Arch programs (like ours at Illinois) allow a greater degree of specialization than is possible in the shorter 5-year programs.

Some Ivy League universities only offer 3- or 4-year graduate (M. Arch) programs in architecture, although students with a pre-professional degree from Illinois can often earn advanced placement. Many students in these programs earn an undergraduate degree in a field other than architecture, such as art, philosophy, biology, or mathematics. Illinois also offers a program for such students to earn a graduate (M. Arch) degree in 3-4 years.

A few universities offer other types of professional degrees for students direct from high school including 5-year M. Arch degrees or the 7+ year D. Arch program at the University of Hawaii.

At Illinois, we’ve offered a 4 + 2 program since the mid-1970s because we believe it provides greater educational opportunities, allows students to be more mature before deciding to enter a professional program and produces more well-rounded graduates who are better prepared for professional practice and life.

The Second Part of the Journey: The Intern Development Program (IDP)

In all states, some form of internship is required for professional licensure as an architect and in most states is required before a candidate can even take the licensure exam. Illinois and most other states participate in the National Council of Architecture Accrediting Boards (NCARB) Intern Development Program (IDP). The Internship Development program requires interns to document their experiences in defined categories. Interns must earn 700 units, with each unit equaling 8 hours. The program can usually be accomplished in 3 years of full-time employment.

Students in professional and pre-professional architecture programs are eligible to begin earning IDP points for professional employment after completing a minimum number of credit hours in architecture (at Illinois, typically after the junior year). Many students find part-time or summer jobs in professional offices at this time and begin earning IDP credit while still in school. A typical summer job in an architectural firm will earn about 60 IDP units.

The Third Part of the Journey: The Architect Registration Exam (ARE)

In Illinois, candidates must fulfill all the requirements of the Intern Development Program before they are eligible to sit for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE). The ARE is a 9-part computer based exam. Each part of the exam may be taken separately; together the sections take about 40 hours. Candidates have 3 years to successfully pass all sections of the ARE. Once you’ve passed all sections of the exam, you may apply to your state registration board for a license. They will review your record and, if satisfied, you will be an architect.

Illinois graduates are extremely well prepared for the ARE because of the relatively high technical content in our curriculum. We also offer ARE review classes through the Building Research Council in Champaign and Chicago since most exam-takers are 2-3 years out of school. The School of Architecture is committed to preparing graduates for professional licensure and practice.

The Journey Continues: Yes, There’s More!

Architecture, like all professions, is continually changing in response to new societal demands, legal decisions and technological advancements. Continuing Education is an important part of the profession and is required to maintain your license in Illinois and to maintain professional membership in the American Institute of Architects.

An Illinois education prepares you for this challenge of lifelong learning. We teach you how to learn tomorrow, not just what you need to know to pass a multiple-choice test today. Illinois graduates are equipped to make professional judgments and become leaders in the profession. We’ll even help you earn your continuing education credits if you stay in Illinois. The School’s Building Research Council is a certified provider of AIA/CES continuing education programs and offers courses in Champaign and Chicago.