The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects (AIADO) is proud to announce a three-year term of initial accreditation for its Master of Architecture program.
SAIC’s Master of Architecture program is one of just five accredited by NAAB, the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degrees in architecture. SAIC’s visiting NAAB review team commended SAIC’s interdisciplinary educational community as a provocative and effective context for exploring the social and cultural implications of material and technological creative work.
SAIC President Walter E. Massey says, “We are tremendously proud of SAIC’s architecture program, a vigorous, contemporary model for inquiry into built environments. This accreditation is an endorsement of the excellent work by our faculty, staff, and students.”
“Though design education has been a part of SAIC’s mission since its inception, the accreditation of the MArch program is a milestone for the AIADO department, SAIC, and the city of Chicago—enriching them all,” notes Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs in Architecture and Interior Architecture, Douglas Pancoast.
The Master of Architecture program’s thematic cluster of courses is integrated around a common intellectual theme, while each component class approaches the theme from a particular vantage point. Case study labs develop technical skills and real-world proficiency. Collaborative studios in the second year offer a chance to develop the interdisciplinary approach demanded by many of today’s problems. In the third year students collaborate with artists in the wider SAIC community, working to place work in the public realm.
SAIC offers a single NAAB-accredited professional architecture program with the following four well-differentiated tracks:
Master of Architecture, total 102 credits (requirement: non-professional degree)
Master of Architecture, Option II, total 60 credits (requirement: pre-professional degree)
Master of Architecture with an Emphasis in Interior Architecture, 102 credits (requirement: non-professional degree)
Master of Architecture with an Emphasis in Interior Architecture, Option II,60 credits (requirement: pre-professional degree)
Fall 2012 Application Deadline: January 15, 2012
Since this deadline falls on a weekend, applications will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. (CST) on January 16, 2012.
The AIADO department also offers the Master of Design in Designed Objects and Master of Fine Arts in Designed Objects. The two programs offer distinctly different educational structures for prospective students interested in the field of 3D design.
Fall 2012 Application Deadlines:
Master of Design in Designed Objects: January 15, 2012
Since this deadline falls on a weekend, applications will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. (CST) on January 16, 2012.
MFA in Designed Objects: January 10, 2012
Contact the Admissions office at 312.629.6100, 800.232.7242, or [email protected] with questions about the application process. For application requirements and to apply online, visit saic.edu/gradapp.
About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
A nationally accredited leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to nearly 3,200 students from around the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, SAIC has an educational philosophy built upon an interdisciplinary approach to art and design, giving students unparalleled opportunities to develop their creative and critical abilities, while working with renowned faculty who include many of the leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC’s resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its new Modern Wing; numerous special collections and programming venues provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. For more information, please visit saic.edu.
