School of Architecture

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Architecture involves the study and transformation of the built environment, from the scale of furniture to the scale of the city. The goal of an architectural education is to develop a synthetic thought process of critical thinking and creative problem solving. Creative thinkers must address all aspects of the built environment, in its cultural, social, and ethical context.

As a professional discipline, architecture spans both the arts and the sciences. Students must have an understanding of the arts and humanities, as well as a technical understanding of structures and construction. Skills in communication, both visual and verbal, are essential. While knowledge and skills must be developed, the school strongly emphasizes a process of critical thinking and creative activity.

Progression

Students must maintain an overall 2.3 grade point average by the end of 32 hours in order to maintain “full status” in the program. Delinquent students will be put on “temporary status” for one semester. These students will have one semester to raise the overall GPA to 2.3. If the GPA is not brought up to a 2.3, the student will be dropped from the architecture program.

In order to graduate, students must receive a grade of C or better in all required professional courses from the School of Architecture.

Students may advance to second year design (ARCH 271 ) with satisfactory completion of the first year program (including mathematics) with a grade point average of 2.3. Students may advance to third year design (ARCH 371 ) with the completion of all first and second year courses.

For ARCH 271  and all subsequent design courses, students must maintain a design grade point average of 2.3. Students must repeat the previous level design courses(s) until the average is raised to 2.3.

Electives on the 300 and 400 level are open to all students who have the necessary prerequisites at any time.

Exceptions to academic policies may be made through petition, reviewed by the School’s Academic Standards Committee.

Special Programs in Architecture

The School of Architecture is committed to providing a variety of meaningful learning opportunities beyond the classroom itself. Lectures, panel discussions, films, symposia, and exhibits are all important components of a lively academic environment. Within the regular course of study, students have an opportunity to explore diverse aspects of architecture related to urbanism, historic preservation, and community service. Since its founding, the school has always sponsored a foreign studies opportunity.

Exhibits

The Ewing Gallery in the Art and Architecture Building hosts numerous exhibits related to art and architecture. Adjacent to the Commons Space is an Exhibition Wall for more informal exhibits of students, faculty, and visiting artists and architects. In the Commons itself are more spontaneous exhibits of current student work.

Field Trips

Throughout the year, various field trips are organized by the school. The purpose of the field trips is to expose students to major cities with important architecture and to works of architecture that may not normally be open to the general public.

Lectures, Films, and Videos

The Robert B. Church III Memorial Lecture Series is an annual endowed gift in memory of a former dean of the school. Over the years, the Church Lecture Series has allowed the school to bring prominent architects to Tennessee. The regular lecture series features architects, artists, theorists, planners, and historians who discuss their work and ideas. Films and videos also introduce students to a wide range of issues related to architecture, art, urbanism, and culture. Every spring, General Shale Corporation hosts a lecture as part of The Annual All College Spring Thing (TAAST), a traditional series of events organized by students.

Special Topic Design Studios

For many years, the school has provided opportunities for students to participate in off-campus design studios located in urban areas of the state. These studios combine creative work with community service to make an exceptional learning experience for advanced students.

During the summer, students may elect to participate in different programs sponsored by the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design. Furthermore, students may also participate in summer programs sponsored by other accredited architecture schools. Students will receive appropriate college credit, which may lead to advance standing within the program.

Opportunities for Foreign Study

Students in their fourth year of study may elect to spend one semester studying abroad in a program organized either by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, or by other accredited architecture programs. Since 1988, the school has had a very successful exchange agreement with the University of Krakow in Poland. In 2006, the college established a new summer semester abroad program, the Finland Summer Architecture Institute, in association with the distinguished Helsinki University of Technology’s Department of Architecture.

In cooperation with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS), a program is regularly offered in Copenhagen which attracts architecture students from around the world. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the following study abroad/exchange programs: International Advanced Architectural Design Program (IAAD) at the Bauhaus University Weimar, Germany; Dessau Summer School of Architecture in Dessau, Germany; the Royal Melbourne Institute of Architecture in Melbourne, Australia, and mini term - grand tour programs open to all Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design students, listing: Sweden, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Gulf of Finland.

During the summer, many different summer programs abroad sponsored by other architecture schools are available to UT Knoxville students for transfer credit. Students are encouraged to seek new educational experiences.

The Profession’s Participation in the School

As the only accredited architecture program in the state, the School of Architecture tries to maintain a close relationship with the architectural community of the city, state, and region. Professionals regularly come to the school to attend and respond to student presentations, to conduct workshops, to participate in School events, and to interview graduating students. Every spring, the architecture community of Knoxville attends an exhibit of graduating students’ work, where students have the opportunity to discuss their designs with practicing architects.

Architecture is a broad field of study with many diverse ways for individuals to become involved in the profession. The profession itself is diversifying and changing rapidly due to changing financial structures, increasing specialization, expanding liability, and evolving electronic technology. Students are strongly urged to visit and work in different architectural offices in order to acquire a better sense of the profession and career commitment.

Return to: College of Architecture and Design