USC
University of Southern California
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USC School of Architecture

In cooperation with the Global Architecture Brigades, School of Architecture students construct a multipurpose building for a Panama community farm recently devastated by fierce winds. The students’ innovative design diverts winds and ensures stability.

The USC School of Architecture offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral education in architecture and architectural studies, landscape architecture, historic preservation and building science. Its faculty is active in professional practice, in design research, in the supervision of programs at the Gamble House and Freeman House and in extended professional education.

Work in the school is conducted in an intellectual climate, which promotes inquiry, introduces principles and values and teaches the disciplines necessary to work in collaboration with other professionals and to develop the common vocabulary essential to effective teamwork in later years.

Significantly, the school is located in the center of the second largest urban region in the country, which offers a unique understanding of 21st century growth and change. In such an environment the possibilities for teaching and learning are extraordinary.

The school is highly selective in its admissions and enjoys the strong support of alumni and the professions it serves. The opportunity exists for students to have close contact with faculty, other students and the practicing architects who assist them in their apprentice training.

An architecture curriculum was initiated at USC in 1914. In 1919, a Department of Architecture was created and a separate School of Architecture was organized in 1925. The school shares Watt and Harris Halls with the USC Roski School of Fine Arts and the Fisher Museum of Art.

USC School of Architecture
Watt Hall 204
(213) 740-2723
FAX: (213) 740-8884
arch.usc.edu

Administration

Qingyun Ma, M.Arch. Dean

Amy Murphy, M.F.A. Vice Dean

Douglas E. Noble, Ph.D. Chair, Ph.D. Program

John V. Mutlow, M.Arch. (U.D.) Chair, Graduate Programs

Alice Kimm, FAIA, M.Arch. Chair, Undergraduate Programs

Stefano Di Martino, A.A. Dipl. Director, Master of Architecture Programs

Anders Carlson, SE, Ph.D. Director, Chase L. Leavitt Graduate Program of Building Science

Kenneth Breisch, Ph.D. Director, Graduate Programs in Historic Preservation

Robert S. Harris, M.F.A. (Arch.) Director, Master of Landscape Architecture Program

Edward R. Bosley, M.B.A. James N. Gamble Director of the Gamble House

Faculty

Della and Harry MacDonald Dean’s Chair in Architecture: Qingyun Ma, M.Arch.

MacDonald and Diane Rusling Becket Professor of Community Design: Charles A. Lagreco, M.F.A. (Arch.)

Professors: Kim Coleman, M.Arch.; Diane Ghirardo, Ph.D.; John V. Mutlow, M.Arch. (U.D.); Victor Regnier, M.Arch.*; Goetz Schierle, M.Arch., Ph.D.Arch.; Marc Schiler, M.Arch.Sci.; James Steele, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: Charles Lagreco, M.F.A. (Arch.); Graeme M. Morland, Dipl.Arch.; Amy Murphy, M.F.A.; Douglas E. Noble, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: Kara Bartelt, M.Arch.; Rachel Berney, Ph.D.; Gail Peter Borden, M.Arch.; Anders Carlson, Ph.D.; John Enright, M.Arch.; David Gerber, D.Des.; Karen M. Kensek, M.Arch.; Gregory Otto, B.Arch.

Visiting Professor: Neil Leach, Ph.D.

Visiting Associate Professors: Gerdo Aquino, M.L.Arch.; Victor Jones, M.Arch.; Alice Kimm, M.Arch.

Visiting Assistant Professor: Ying-Yu Hung, M.L.Arch.

Associate Professor of the Practice of Architecture: Kenneth Breisch, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors of the Practice of Architecture: Stefano de Martino, B.Sc.; Janek Tabencki Dombrowa; Michael Lehrer, M.Arch.; Lee Olvera, M.Arch.; Paul Tang, M.Arch.; Selwyn Ting, M.Arch.

Adjunct Professors: Douglas A. Campbell, M.L.Arch.; Regula F. Campbell, M.Arch.; Scott Johnson, M.Arch.; Robert Perry, M.L.A.; Stefanos Polyzoides, M.Arch., M.U.P.

Adjunct Associate Professors: Arthur Golding, M.Arch.; T. Jeff Guh, Ph.D.; Olivier Touraine, Dipl. Ing. (Arch.); James Tyler, B.F.A., B.Arch.; Edwin Woll, Ph.D.; Dimitry Vergun, M.S.; Eui-Sung Yi, M.Arch.

Adjunct Assistant Professors: Valery Augustin, M.Arch.; Tigran Ayrapetyan, M.S.; Michael Chung, M.Arch.; Andrew Liang, M.Arch; Erik Mar, M.Arch.; Doris Sung, M.Arch.; Warren Techentin, M.Arch.; Roland Wahlroos-Ritter, Dipl. Ing.

Lecturers: Jeffrey Allsbrook, M.Arch.; Michael Arden, M.A.; Andrew Atwood, M.Arch.; Victoria Turkel-Behner, Ph.D.; Vinayak Bharne, M.Arch.; Mark Bittoni, M.Arch.; Laurel Broughton, M.Arch.; Andy Cao, B.S.L.A.; Mary Chou, M.Arch.; Mina Mei-Szu Chow, M.Arch.; Annie Chu, M.S. (Arch.); Mario Cipresso, M.Arch.; Christopher Coe, M.Arch.; Richard Corsini, M.Arch.; Katherine Diamond, B.Arch.; John Dutton, M.Arch.; Liz Falletta, M.Arch.; Hunter Fleetwood, B.Arch.; Miller Fong, B.A.Arch.; Sarah Graham, M.Arch.; David Gray, M.Arch.; Arianne Groth, M.Arch.; Sophia Gruzdys, M.Arch.; Anthony Guida, M.Arch.; Eric Haas, M.Arch.; Peyton Hall, M.E.D.; Heather Hoeksema, M.Arch.; Michael Hricak, M.Arch.; Albert Huang, B.Arch.; Ali Jeevanjee, M.Arch.; Marta Johansen, M.Arch.; Christoph Kapeller, M.Arch.; Jeffrey Kim, M.S.; Christopher King, M.Arch.; Susan Lanier, M.Arch.; Cara Lee, M.Arch.; Kenneth Lee, M.Arch.; Steffen Leisner, M.Arch.; Kenneth Lewis, B.S.Arch.; Rebecca Lowry, M.Arch.; Johnny Lu, M.B.S.; Paul Lubowicki, M.Arch.; Esther Margulies, M.L.Arch.; David C. Martin, M.Arch.; Leonard Marvin, M.B.A.; Lauren Matchison, M.A.; Christy Johnson McAvoy, M.A.; Mark McVay, M.Arch.; Murray Milne, M.Arch., M.S.; Scott Mitchell, M.Arch.; Anna Neimark, M.Arch.; Sandra Novales, M.B.S.; Rudabeh Pakravan, M.Arch.; Robert Perry, M.L.A.; Jay Platt, M.S.; Mark Rios, M.L.Arch.; Alexander Robinson, M.L. Arch.; Trudi Sandmeier, M.A.; Susanna Seierup, M.Arch.; Janice Shimizu, M.Arch.; Niloofar Shokoohy, B.Arch.; Clark Steven, M.Arch.; Joe Sturges, B.F.A.; Doris Sung, M.Arch.; Linda Taalman, B.Arch.; Rennie Tang, M.S.; Elizabeth Valmont, M.B.S.; Christopher Warren, M.Arch.; Chet Widom, B.Arch.; Denise Zacky-Popoch, M.Arch.

Emeritus Professors: James Ambrose, M.S.; Frank Dimster, M.Arch.; Robert Harris, M.F.A. (Arch.); Samuel T. Hurst, M.Arch.; Ralph Knowles, M.Arch.*; Roger Sherwood, M.S.Arch., M.C.R.P.

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degree Programs

The School of Architecture offers curricula leading to the following degrees.

Bachelor of Architecture: a five-year undergraduate accredited professional degree program.

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies: a four-year undergraduate non-professional architectural studies degree program providing specialization in related fields and an alternative path to graduate studies in architecture and other design fields.

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture: a four-year undergraduate degree program concentrating on design of spaces in the urban environment.

Minor in Architecture: provides the flexibility of complementing a student’s major with an area of specialization. Not available for architecture majors.

Minor in Landscape Architecture: provides students with the ability to integrate the natural and cultural profession of landscape architecture into their course of study. Not available for architecture majors.

Master of Architecture (two tracks): The first track is a 48-unit, three-semester program for students who hold a first professional degree from an accredited school of architecture. The second track is a 64-unit, two-year accredited degree for students holding a pre-professional degree with a major in architecture.

Master of Historic Preservation: a 48-unit program designed to prepare individuals to work in a wide variety of fields in both the private and public sectors including: architecture, planning, historical consultation, real estate development, construction and conservation.

Master of Landscape Architecture: a 48-unit, three-semester curriculum for students who hold an accredited Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree or the equivalent; a 64-unit, four-semester curriculum for students who hold a first non-accredited degree in architecture, landscape architecture or environmental design; a 96-unit, six-semester curriculum for students with no prior degree in architecture, landscape architecture or environmental design.

Master of Building Science: a 48-unit, two-year program for applicants who hold an architecture, engineering or science-related degree (e.g., Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Environmental Studies, Physics or Mathematics). Students with five-year professional degrees in architecture and a minimum of five years of experience may be given advanced standing.

Dual Degree in Architecture and Planning: a 72-unit program leading to the post-professional Master of Architecture and the Master of Planning degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required.

Dual Degree in Landscape Architecture and Planning: a 66-unit program leading to the Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Planning degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required.

Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture: This program is designed to prepare individuals for university level teaching and professional research and for leadership positions in industry and professional architectural practice.

Certificate in Architecture and Urbanism: The focus of this program is on understanding the broad and complex role of architecture within the urban context. Studies focus on cities throughout the world where conditions of increasing density, environmental challenges and cultural complexity require design initiatives that support amenity, sustainability and cultural meaning. The certificate is open to graduate students not pursuing a Master of Architecture degree.

Certificate in Building Science: This program is intended as a supplementary credential for students enrolled in graduate course work in architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, urban planning or related disciplines, and also for practicing design and planning professionals with undergraduate or graduate degrees and related experience.

Certificate in Historic Preservation: This program is directed at practicing professionals who wish to obtain an academic credential for their involvement in historic preservation projects and at graduate students who wish to obtain a complementary credential to a degree.

Certificate in Landscape Architecture Studies: This program provides an opportunity for professionals  and graduate students to develop understandings and skills related to the basic subjects inherent in the field of landscape architecture.

National Architecture Accrediting Board Statement

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees, the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three‑year or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its degree of conformance with established educational standards.

Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre- professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The USC School of Architecture Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture “+2” programs are accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board.

National Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board Statement

The Master of Landscape Architecture degree program has “Candidacy Status” for accreditation. The program includes three curricula. Curriculum +3 for students with no prior design education, introduced in 2009-10, and Curriculum +2 for students admitted with advanced standing, initiated in 2008-09, have “Candidacy Status” in the process of accreditation by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board. Curriculum +1.5 for students with advanced placement is a post-professional study program and is not subject to accreditation. Information about landscape architecture education and accreditation in the United States may be found online at www.asla.org/Education.aspx.