Architecture Schools in Chicago, Illinois with Degree Program Information
Higher Education Articles March 28, 2013Within fifty miles of Chicago, Illinois there are four schools that offer programs in architecture. In this article, we will provide an overview of three schools’ admission information, requirements, and programs and students can discover which school is right for them.
Chicago Architecture Schools Comparison
There are several schools in Chicago, Illinois that offer architecture degrees at various levels. The University of Illinois at Chicago is a public four-year university that has a traveling studio in Barcelona, along with a bachelor and master student exchange program. The School of Art Institute of Chicago is a four-year art school that is located near downtown Chicago and has the smallest student population compared to the other three schools profiled. The Illinois Institute of Technology is a private four-year school that offers doctoral, master, and bachelor degree programs.
| University of Illinois at Chicago | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Illinois Institute of Technology | |
| Degree Programs Offered | Master of Science in Architecture Master of Architecture Bachelor of Science in Architecture |
Master of Architecture Bachelor of Fine Arts – Architecture Pathway |
PhD in Architecture Master of Science in Architecture Master of Architecture Bachelor of Architecture |
| Related Programs Offered | Master of Arts in Design Criticism | Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture Bachelor of Interior Architecture Bachelor of Fine Arts – Designed Objects Pathway |
Master of Integrated Building Delivery Master of Landscape Architecture |
| Type of School | Public, Four-year | Private, Four-year | Private, Four-year |
| Student Enrollments | 28,091 | 3,308 | 7,787 |
| Campus Setting | Large City | Large City | Large City |
| Tuition & Fees | $25,512 (out-of-state) $13,122 (in-state) |
$39,020 | $37,969 |
| Financial Aid Percentage | 82% | 100% | 100% |
| Acceptance Rate | 64% | 78% | 54% |
| Retention Rate | 79% (full-time) | 78% (full-time) | 89% (full-time) |
| Graduation Rate | 54% | 60% | 64% |
| Relevant Facilities | N/A | Graduate studios Lighting/materials/colors lab Materials library Exhibition Space |
The Material Lab The Multimedia Lab The Graham Resource Center |
| Noteworthy | The Co-Op Program | In 2012, U.S. News & World Report ranked School of the Art Institute of Chicago number two in fine arts compared to other colleges around the nation | The Interprofessional Projects Program (IPRO) for undergrads studying architecture |
| Distance from Downtown | 2 miles (7 minutes) | 1 mile (6 minutes) | 3 miles (9 minutes) |
University of Illinois at Chicago Degree Programs
Along with the main campus-based programs, students attending the University of Illinois at Chicago are allowed to study abroad in Barcelona. While studying abroad, students can learn Spanish if necessary and intern at an office. The university features exhibitions, reviews, a career fair, and lectures.
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
The architecture undergraduate program has a four-year sequence described by the department as follows: Options, Urbanisms, Technologies, and Operations. During the fourth year, Options, students will decide on their own path for their projects. Students will gain knowledge about technologies within complex urban landscapes, model building techniques, and architecture.
Master of Architecture
The master degree program can be completed within three years by students. Individuals who are admitted into the first year program are required to attend a boot camp course, which takes place two weeks prior to fall classes. Students will learn how to combine design with architectural technology, about contemporary collective space, and how to interact with various audiences. While earning their master degree, students will have to complete a research project.
Master of Science in Architecture
The Master of Science program offered at University of Illinois at Chicago is a one-year program, which starts during the summer term and continues through the fall and spring semesters. The program is designed for professional architecture degree-holders. Students will spend their time in design studios during the fall semester; they will complete their cumulative design research project during the spring semester.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Degree Programs
Students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago will discover slide scanners, mold-making room, 3D rapid prototypes, 3D scanners, and fabrication workshop while earning an architecture degree.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) – Architecture Pathway
Design studio sessions and courses concentrating on theoretical concepts and design history of architecture are taught in the four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts program. There is also a focus on architectural design ethics and technological innovation.
Master of Architecture
Collaborative studios are included in the second year of the master degree program while during the third year; students will share their work with local community and collaborate with artists. The program areas of specialization include emerging technologies, designed objects, and interior architecture. It will take students approximately three and a half years to earn their master degree.
Illinois Institute of Technology Degree Programs
The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) faculty includes award-winning architects and landscape architects. International professors can teach at different colleges and universities for a semester or a year through the visiting faculty program.
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
To meet the licensing requirements for practicing architecture, students will need to enroll in a Bachelor of Architecture program. Courses may include architectural computing, architecture studios, physics of architects, and freehand drawing. There are different areas of specialization for students to select from, including regional and city planning, landscape architecture, and digital design.
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
The Master of Architecture program at Illinois Institute of Technology is a three-year professional degree program that concentrates on students’ studies on architectural history, planning processes, construction materials, concepts of design, among other subjects. A cumulative master’s thesis project is required, in which students have to design an architectural project that is socially conscious, advanced in its design, and green friendly. Examples of projects’ focal areas may include urban design, architectural theory and history, community-based planning, and sustainable cities.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Architecture
The Master of Science in Architecture is an accelerated degree program that is designed for individuals who have earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree and usually takes one year to complete. It is a thirty-two credit program that culminates in an eight-credit research thesis project. Students will select their area of focus and conduct their own research on a particular subject for their thesis. A specialization in Sustainable New Cities is also available to students.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Architecture
The doctoral program in architecture is geared toward students who want to go into research or academics. Students are required to complete their doctoral dissertation while pursuing their Ph.D. degree. Individuals will be taught through a combination of research, design, classwork, and seminars.
Other College or University Option
Judson University is another school in Chicago, Illinois that offers architecture programs; this is a private non-profit four-year school that is located thirty-seven miles from Chicago, which offers a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture.
