Curtis Sartor, Dean 

Department of Architecture

Keelan Kaiser Department Chair
Christopher Miller Assistant Chair for Graduate Programs
Ian Hoffman Assistant Chair for Undergraduate Programs

Faculty

David Amundson, Jhennifer Amundson, Yael Breimer, Stacie Burtelson, Jae Cha, August Domel, Craig Fansworth, Alan Frost, Sean Gallagher, Susan Harris, John Hvrinak, Thomas Jaeger, Keelan Kaiser, Christopher Lauriat, Jeremy Lindsey, David Ogoli, Curtis Sartor

Department of Architecture Vision and Mission

Vision:

The Judson Architecture Program aspires to be a global leader in architectural education and Christian Service.

The Architecture Program provides Judson students with a Christ-centered comprehensive, professional architecture education. Delivered by a committed faculty, the program focuses on:

• Inspiring students to demonstrate their commitment to our natural environment, sustainability and the development of a quality built environment.
• Encouraging students in academics and community through a interdisciplinary approach that prepares leaders and tempers professionals.
• Nurturing students in the exploration of architecture and its divergent approaches, their creativity in design, and their expressions of personal beliefs in their personal and professional activities.
• Demonstrating a strong faith-based worldview through our program, teaching, and lives.
• Continuously exploring and defining the intersection between Christianity and architecture education and service.

Mission:

We are a Christ-centered community who appreciate diversity, embrace critical and creative excellence, develop visual and spacial imagination, and model stewardship and hope in service to local and global communities.

1. Admission into the Pre-Professional Years (Years 1 and 2) of the Architecture Program:
   
   To be admitted into the architecture program, a student must complete both a Judson University application and an architecture program application. Students are first admitted into Judson University before they are considered by the Department of Architecture for admission into the architecture program. Both applications must be received before the date specified (generally mid-April) in the architecture application. Space is limited in the architecture program, and not all applicants are admitted. The department admits well-qualified students who meet certain academic standards in an Early Action Admission with an application deadline of November 30 and a second deadline of February 1. Contact the Department of Architecture or the Office of Enrollment Services for information regarding either early action or regular admission to the architecture program.
   
   Students admitted into the architecture program as freshmen are admitted first into the pre-professional years of the program. Separate admission is required to be admitted into the professional and graduate years of the program. 
   
   Transfer students without a background in architecture are placed as freshmen. Advanced standing may be granted to transfer students with degrees or credit in architecture.
2. Admission into the Professional Years (Years 3 and 4) of the Architecture Program:
   1. Completed application form.
   2. A portfolio of work that shows growing proficiency and promise of future success in the profession.
   3. A letter of intent that indicates strong professional aspiration.
   4. Transcript of grades including:
      a.  An overall GPA of 2.50.
      b.  An overall GPA of 2.75 in all ARC, ART and DES subjects:
   5. Approval by the vote of the Department of Architecture faculty based upon the applicant's demonstrated commitment to the field of architecture. Students who are not admitted from the pre-professional years into the professional years may work to improve application credentials and apply in the next year or may transfer into another degree program.
    
3. Admission into the Master of Architecture Degree Program
   
   Criteria for entry into the Judson University graduate year are:
   1. Successful completion of a B.A. or B.S. degree in Architectural Studies or equivalent.
   2. A summary undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher.
   3. A cumulative architecture course GPA of 3.00 or higher.
   4. A comprehensive portfolio of both academic and professional work.
   5. A Judson university M.Arch. application form.
   6. A letter of support from the Judson university Department of Architecture faculty or three (3) letters of recommendation if the applicant completed their undergraduate degree elsewhere.
   7. Written acceptance by the Graduate Dean in consultation with the Graduate Council.
      
      

      The M.Arch. application deadline is February 15 for fall semester priority enrollment, July 1 for fall semester late enrollment or November 15 for spring semester enrollment. Applicants will be notified by March 31, August 15, or December 31, respectively, of their application status. (Applicants who have completed a B.A. or B.S. degree in Architecture or another field from another regionally accredited institution may apply to the graduate program following the above application requirements).  In addition,  the applicant must take the GRE and have results submitted to the registrar's office.  The applicant must also provide three letters of recommendation from those familiar with their academic and/or professional work with their application.  In most cases, these applicants will be expected to complete "preparatory courses" as designated by the Architecture Department, which satisfy NAAB and departmental mission requirements for the professional degree. An interview with the department chair is required in conjunction with the application.  These applications  will be considered on a case by case basis collectively by the Department Chair and the Graduate Council/Graduate Dean.

      The whole of the above will be considered regardless of any particular strengths or weaknesses of any single component.

      APPLICATION TO THE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM 

    

Continuation of Good Standing in the Graduate Year

Students must maintain a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00.

Permission to Take Graduate Credit

Undergraduate students are permitted to take up to 6.0 hours of graduate credit on the following basis:

Completion of third year of the B.A.A.S. program evidenced by:

1. Completion of 96 credits.
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Transfer Students and Transfer Credit

The Judson University Department of Architecture professional program in architecture is designed for motivated and creatively endowed students entering directly from high school. However, the program will accept transfer students. Students without any architecture or art/design coursework must apply as architecture freshmen with both a Judson and an architecture application.

Exceptional students with some coursework in architecture may receive advanced standing after submission of Judson and architecture applications and evaluation by the department faculty. The university does not accept transfer credit at the graduate level.

Credit of Architecture Subjects Toward Graduation

A student in both the Architecture Pre-Professional Program and the Architecture Professional Program must receive a C- or above in all subjects in the Architecture Core (i.e., subjects with a prefix of ARC) for that subject to count toward their graduation requirements. A grade of D+, D or D- is treated as an F grade and the course must be repeated satisfactorily.

School of Art, Design, & Architecture Handbook

Details of the above and other departmental policies and procedures (such as definition of architectural electives, Architecture Study Tour, internships, and the final year studio project) are outlined in the School of Art, Design, & Architecture Handbook, which is available from the department office.

Retention of Student Work

As part of the process of sustaining accreditation by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB), the Department of Architecture is required to prepare a periodic exhibition of student work for each NAAB accreditation visit. Samples of student work for many course assignments completed during their BA and M.Arch. program are required. Consequently, a comprehensive archive of student work must be kept.

All student work produced as part of course work in the Department of Architecture is subject to archiving. The work of a student does not permanently remain the property of the department and school, and will be made available to the student after it has served its purpose for accreditation. The possibility exists that a student's work may be kept for up to six years. The student retains ownership of the work.

The department will endeavor to keep the work in the best possible condition, but cannot be responsible for any loss or damage. Students may check out their work from the archive for a short period and have it photographed for their portfolio.

ACCREDITATION HISTORY

Records of previous accreditation visits and results are available on the university website.