Bachelor of Architecture students exhibit their projects and present to faculty and peers during studio final reviews. Photo by USC School of Architecture.
The USC School of Architecture offers undergraduate and graduate education in architecture and architectural studies, landscape architecture, heritage conservation and building science. Its faculty is active in professional practice, design research 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 to develop design and research excellence.
The school is located in the center of Los Angeles, 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 practicing architects.
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 Art and Design and the Fisher Museum of Art.
USC School of Architecture
Watt Hall 204
(213) 740-2723
FAX: (213) 740-8884
arch.usc.edu
Administration
Brett Steele, AA DIPL, HON FRIBA, FRSA, Dean
Amy Murphy, PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Trudi Sandmeier, MA, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Director, Heritage Conservation Programs
Esther Margulies, MLArch, Diversity and Inclusion Liaison; Director, Landscape Architecture and Urbanism Programs
Kyle Konis, PhD, Director, Chase L. Leavitt Graduate Program of Building Science
Alvin Huang, MArch, Director, Graduate & Post-Professional Architecture Programs
Lauren Matchison, MArch, Interim Director, Undergraduate Architecture Programs; Director, Pre-College Programs
Faiza Moatasim, PhD, Director, Center for City Design
Yo-ichiro Hakomori, PhD, Director, Global Studies
Faculty
Della and Harry MacDonald Dean’s Chair in Architecture: Brett Steele, AA DIPL, HON FRIBA, FRSA
Judge Widney Professor of Architecture: Frank O. Gehry, FAIA, MArch
Professors: Diane Ghirardo, PhD; John V. Mutlow, MArch (UD); Douglas E. Noble, PhD; Victor Regnier, MArch*; Brett Steele, AA DIPL, HON FRIBA, FRSA; John Wilson, PhD
Associate Professors: Joon-Ho Choi, PhD; Vittoria Di Palma, PhD; Alison Hirsch, PhD; Alvin Huang, MArch; Kyle Konis, PhD; Charles Lagreco, MFA (Arch); Amy Murphy, PhD; Alexander Robinson, MLArch; Doris Sung, MArch
Assistant Professors: Sascha Delz, DSc; Aroussiak Gabrielian, PhD; Faiza Moatasim, PhD; Ginger Nolan, PhD; Bhavna Sharma, PhD
Professors of the Practice of Architecture: David Gerber, DDes; Yo-ichiro Hakomori, PhD; Wesley Jones, MArch; Karen M. Kensek, MArch; Esther Margulies, MLArch; Lauren Matchison, MArch; Lee Olvera, MArch; Gary Paige, BArch; Hadrian Predock, MArch; Trudi Sandmeier, MA; Selwyn Ting, MArch
Associate Professors of the Practice of Architecture: Valery Augustin, MArch; Scott Mitchell, MArch; Olivier Touraine, Dipl Ing (Arch); Geoffrey von Oeyen, MArch
Adjunct Professors: Michael Arden, MA; Tigran Ayrapetyan, MS; Vinayak Bharne, MArch; Mina Mei-Szu Chow, MArch; Mario Cipresso, MArch; John Dutton, MArch; Miller Fong, BAArch; Russell Fortmeyer, MArch; T. Jeff Guh, PhD; Eric Haas, MArch; Peyton Hall, MED; Michael Hricak, MArch; Rob Ley, MArch; Lorcan O’Herlihy, MArch; Lawrence Scarpa, MArch; Warren Techentin, MArch
Adjunct Associate Professors: Jasmine Benyamin, PhD; Rob Berry, MArch; Victoria Coaloa, MArch; Lauren Dandridge Gaines, BS; Brian De Luna, MS; Wendy Fok, DDes; Sophia Gruzdys, MArch; Jessica Henson, MLArch; Jose Herrasti, MS; Andy Ku, MArch; Jimenez Lai, MArch; Lisa Little, MArch; Eric Nulman, MArch; Fernanda Opperman, MArch; Robyn Reed, MLArch; John Southern, MArch; Takako Tajima, MLArch; Scott Uriu, BArch, Eui-Sung Yi, MArch
Adjunct Assistant Professors: Giulia Amoresano, MS; Janek Dombrowa, BS (Arch); Peter Ekman, PhD; Carrie Gammell, MDes; Meslissa Guerrero, MLArch; Kathryn Horak, MHP; Christof Janzten, MArch; Erin Kasimow, MArch; John Lesak, MArch; Ryan Tyler Martinez, MArch; Jay Platt, MS; Sally Reynolds, MLArch; Marcos Sánchez, PhD; Lee Schneider; Brian Tichenor, MLArch; Elizabeth Valmont, PhD
Lecturers: Kais Al-Rawi, MArch; Frances Anderton; Oluwatobiloba Ashiru, MArch; Maya Bartur, MArch; Victoria Turkel Behner, PhD; Hallie Black, BArch; Anthony Brower, MArch; Isaac Brown, PhD; Gesa Buttner-Dias, MArch/MS; Erik Carver, MArch; Vlanka Catalan, MArch; Dora Chi, BArch; Kate Chiu, MArch; Matt Conway, MArch; Chava Danielson, MArch; Meredith Drake Reitan, PhD; Sarah Hammond, BArch; Douglas Kent, MS/MLA; Rayne Laborde Ruiz, MArch; Alejandra Lillo, MArch; Xun Liu, MLA; Demar Matthews, MArch; Anna Meloyan, MArch; Soheil Mohammadi, MS; Amanda Ortland, MArch; Michael Patterson, PhD; Shane Reiner-Roth, MArch; Juan Salazar, MArch; Gillian Shaffer Lutsko, MArch; Santosh Shahi, PhD; Kevin Sherrod, MArch; Teddy Slowik, MArch; Julia Sulzer, MArch; Gideon Susman, PhD; Takayuki Tachibe, MArch; Sanjeev Tankha, MBS; Evelyn Tickle, MArch; Ying Wang, MArch; Jia Zhou Zhu, MArch
Emeritus Faculty: James Ambrose, MS; Kenneth Breisch, PhD; Frank Dimster, MArch; Ralph Knowles, MArch*; Graeme M. Morland, DiplArch; Goetz Schierle, PhD; Marc Schiler, MS, ArchSci; James Steele, PhD
*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 Science in Architecture and Inventive Technologies: This program will look at architecture and the architectural market through a lens of entrepreneurship as students develop critical thinking skills to address the wicked problems of the 21st century, such as climate change, social justice, health and wellness, and our increasingly virtual world.
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 Advanced Architectural Studies: a 48-unit, three-semester program for students who hold a first professional degree from an accredited school of architecture.
Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies, City Design and Housing Emphasis: a 42-unit, three-semester program for students who hold a first professional degree from an accredited school of architecture.
Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies, Performative Design and Technology Emphasis: a 42-unit, three-semester program for students who hold a first professional degree from an accredited school of architecture.
Master of Architecture: a 102-unit, three-year accredited degree for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree with a major other than one of the design professions; a 64-unit, two-year accredited degree for students holding a pre-professional degree with a major in architecture.
Master of Heritage Conservation: a 48-unit program designed to prepare individuals for work in heritage conservation and its allied disciplines, including architecture, urban planning, cultural resource management, real estate development, construction and materials conservation.
Master of Landscape Architecture: a 96-unit, six-semester curriculum for students with no prior degree in architecture, landscape architecture or environmental design; a 64-unit, four-semester curriculum for students who hold a first non-accredited degree in architecture, landscape architecture or environmental design; a 66-unit, four-semester curriculum for students who hold a Bachelor of Architecture degree.
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 Advanced Architectural Studies and Urban Planning: a 72-unit program leading to the post-professional Master of Architecture and the Master of Urban Planning degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required.
Dual Degree in Building Science and Heritage Conservation: a 72-unit program leading to the Master of Building Science and Master of Heritage Conservation degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required.
Dual Degree in Heritage Conservation and Urban Planning: a 60-unit program leading to the Master of Heritage Conservation and Master of Urban Planning degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required. For information, see the description at Master of Heritage Conservation/Master of Urban Planning (MHC/MUP) .
Dual Degree in Heritage Conservation and Landscape Architecture: a 87- or 111-unit program leading to the Master of Heritage Conservation and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required.
Dual Degree in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning: a 84- or 110-unit program leading to the Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Urban Planning degrees. Admission to both degree programs is required.
Certificate in Architecture: The focus of this program is on understanding the broad and complex role of architecture within the urban and cultural context. Studies focus on cities and architecture 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 Façade Art Science and Technology: The program is designed to provide students with the deep knowledge and skills necessary for careers in the increasingly technical field of façade system design, fabrication, delivery and operation.
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 City Design + Housing: This program offers students focused knowledge and specialized expertise in inclusive and equitable urban design and housing production. This multidisciplinary program equips students with the tools to critically analyze and address pressing urban development and housing issues, emphasizing innovative solutions that prioritize social and environmental equity. Students delve into alternative modes of designing cities and residential housing, promoting inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience, preparing them to become agents of change within the built environment.
Certificate in Heritage Conservation: This program is for those who wish to augment their current work in heritage conservation, and for graduate students who wish to obtain a complementary specialization in conjunction with their degree.
Certificate in Landscape Architecture: 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.
Certificate in Performative Design + Technology: This program offers an intensive exploration of advanced technologies shaping the future of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This specialized program equips students with expertise in key areas such as parametric modeling, design computation, data-driven design, artificial intelligence, and digital fabrication. It prepares students to excel in a rapidly evolving industry by providing the knowledge, technical skills, and visionary mindset needed to leverage emerging technologies and lead transformative projects.
Certificate in Sustainable Design: This certificate provides students with the tools necessary to understand and quantify sources of energy use in buildings and landscapes and to use design of natural and man-made systems to reduce their energy use. Environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions will be explored through the course work.
National Architecture Accrediting Board Statement
In the United States, most 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 professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year, three-year or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.
Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
The University of Southern California School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
Bachelor of Architecture (160 undergraduate credits)
Master of Architecture (pre-professional degree + 64 graduate credits)
Master of Architecture (non-professional degree + 102 graduate credits)
Next accreditation visit for all programs: 2031
Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure Initiative
The USC School of Architecture is one of the initial 14 accredited architecture schools in the United States accepted to participate in the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s (NCARB) Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure Initiative (IPAL). IPAL monitors and provides support for obtaining architectural registration in designated professional accredited programs with an integrated approach to Architectural Experience Programs (AXP) and Architectural Registration Exam requirements required for licensure.
Participation in the IPAL program does not change any of the existing professional degree requirements. With guidance and support, both BArch and MArch students at the USC School of Architecture will be encouraged to take advantage of the increased access to state and national licensure examinations concurrent with enrollment in their degree studies. The programs will provide support and encourage architectural experience in the professional community, which will allow the opportunity to significantly reduce the amount of time necessary to become a licensed architect while increasing the awareness and interaction between professional and academic experiences.
National Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board Statement
The USC Master of Landscape Architecture first professional curricula (three-year and two-year curricula) are accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB). The LAAB conditions of accreditation (including the student performance criteria) are posted on the ASLA website, asla.org/AccreditationLAAB.aspx. The last review in October 2023 was completed successfully and we were granted the maximum renewal until 2029.
Other Programs
Exploration of Architecture Summer Program for High School Students
The School of Architecture offers a four-week program for high school students (must have completed ninth grade by the start of the program) who have no previous experience but are interested in architecture. The program, which began in 1983, is particularly rewarding for students who are contemplating a career in architecture. However, all students find the exposure to the unique problem-solving methodologies of architecture a benefit regardless of their final career choice. Living on campus in a USC residence hall, high school students experience what it is like to be a university student. They participate in studio classes with professional critics and present their ideas in reviews attended by parents and friends.
The program also exposes them, through case studies, sketching exercises and field trips, to some of the most dramatic and impressive historical and modern architecture of Los Angeles.
Obtain program details by visiting the School of Architecture website or by calling (800) 281-8616.
The Building Science Program in Civil Engineering
The Sonny Astani Department of Civil Engineering offers an undergraduate program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, with an emphasis in building science. The curriculum includes most of the work that is required for the major in structures, plus 30 units in architectural studies offered by the School of Architecture. See the USC Viterbi School of Engineering , Civil Engineering section of this catalogue for further information.
Bachelor’s Degree
Minor
Master’s Degree
Dual Degree
Graduate Certificate
Doctoral Degree
Architecture
All courses must be taken in sequential order, a before b.
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