similarities and differences in the university education for architects
TRANSCRIPT
RIBA-USA New York
3rd August 2016RIBA USA
Deborah Bentley RIBARIBA-USA New England
Similarities and Differences in the University Education for Architects.
USA vs UK
www.riba-usa.org
Transition I SpaceExtract from 2014 research paper: https://www.academia.edu/7038297/RIBA_Validation_or_NAAB_Accreditation-_A_comparison_of_architecture_education
There are 4 PILLARS of ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION regardless of
where you study in the world.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
HUMANITIES
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Transition I Space
B. Arch 5 year course is 150 to 160 credit hours
45 of these credit hours must be taken in GENERAL EDUCATION outside the field of architecture.
Total B. Arch Hours studying architecture =II5 credit hours
PART 1 : 3 years ( B Arch) = 95 credit hours
PART 2 : 2 years (M Arch) = 65 credit hours
160 credit hours
50% of all assessed work must be design studio projects.
UK
USA
The study compared the 5 year architecture courses in the UK and the US. A UK credit hour was converted to be equivalent to a US credit hour
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EDUCATION CRITERIA :CORE REQUIREMENTSEach governing body has education requirements listing what courses should teach. The RIBA has 33 educational requirements, and at the time of this study NAAB had 32. NCARB was changed in 2014/15 but the recipe remains the same.
36%
15%18%
30%
RIBA
Design TechnologyHumanities Professional
22%
25%
16%
38%
NAAB
The educational requirements were ‘blind categorized’ by practicing architects into the four pillars of an architecture courses. Transition I Space
CREDIT HOURS ACTUALLY BEING TAUGHT ON VALIDATED/ACCREDITED COURSES
51%
13%
17%
9%
6%
2% 3%
RIBA
DesignTechnologyHumanitiesProfessionalResearchInterdisciplinaryElectives
44%
13%
19%
10%
2% 12%
NAAB EXCLUDING GENERAL EDUCATION
12 ½% of architecture courses in each country credit hours taught were analyzed.
Architecture students are being taught very similar courses in both countries Transition I Space
WHAT IS REQUIRED VS WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT
RIBA EGC NAAB SPC0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Design Technology History Professional
Educ
ation
Crit
eria
Req
uire
men
t
UK School US School0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Cred
it Ho
urs
The research exposed that what is being asked for by the validating / accrediting body and is what is actually being taught is remarkably different. In the US, NAAB system professional studies was the most important requirement and in the RIBA, UK system it was the second most important subject matter, yet in both countries professional studies were the least studied subject by a long way.
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Design Technology Humanities Professional Research Interdisciplinary Electives0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 83
20.827
149.2
3.8 5
51
1522
12
2 0
14
RIBANAAB
RIBA/ NAAB CREDIT HOURS BY SUBJECT.
RIBA courses spend more than 30 credit hours in the design studio.
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IS THE EXTRA YEAR SPENT DESIGNING IN BRITISH UNIVERSITIES WORTH IT?
Is the £9000+ spent on the extra year at university studying design, the best way to prepare a student for the requirements of the profession in the 21st Century?
Are RIBA architects better designers than their American Educated Counterparts?
IF THE ANSWER IS NO then
Would the profession be stronger if students spent more time studying business and
research? Transition I Space
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONNCARB3 years of professional practice and sitting the multiple choice ARE.
ARE 4 does not contain a paper on professional practice. It focuses on Health, Safety and Welfare, most of which is covered in various building codes.
ARE 5 ( starts 11/16) demands more understanding of professional practices, but still is heavily weighted to issues that are covered and examined at university and by building codes.
RIBA2 years of professional practice and sitting
RIBA Part III Course and Exam which is a written and oral professional practice based exam based on how architects practice in the real world.
The argument can be made that professional practice is taught in the office and in the Professional registration exam, however this does not explain why there is a lack of professional studies in university courses when it is demanded by the validation boards.
? Transition I Space
WHAT THE PROFESSION WANTS FROM GRADUATES•More education in professional subjects
•The education of architects has to change to reflect how we practice today.
•More practical Research in university will lead to research in practice.
Graduates want fulfilling well paid employment.http://
www.buildingfutures.org.uk/assets/downloads/The_Future_for_Architects_Summary.pdf
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Architects don’t get struck off the register for designing buildings badly.
They are struck off for bad professional practice.
HONESTY IN ACCREDITATION***
IT IS TIME THAT PROFESSIONALS CHANGE
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS
THANKS TO THE SPONSORS