Graduate Options Architecture and Sustainability

Upon graduation, students have the option to seek employment in the architectural field or transfer into an accredited Master of Architecture program, thereby providing students the educational path to architectural licensure.

The licensing of architects is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people. The entire path to licensure varies from state to state, but typically requires eight to ten years – five to seven years in school plus a three-year internship as a salaried employee working under the supervision of registered professionals. In addition, successful passing of a comprehensive examination is required. Once the education, internship and examination requirements of a jurisdiction are complete, licensure or registration is obtained.

The first step in this process is completion of an accredited degree in architecture. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programs in architecture. Since most state registration boards in the United States require an applicant for licensure to have graduated from a NAAB-accredited program, obtaining such a degree- typically a Master of Architecture - is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture.

Ferris’ BS in Architecture and Sustainability degree is conceived as the initial step toward architectural licensure for its graduates. As an undergraduate degree, however, it cannot fulfill accreditation requirements on its own; students must complete a Master of Architecture degree at another institution.

Typically Ferris’ graduates articulate into a two-year Master of Architecture track at another university. Ferris’ BS degree and its emphasis on community studies, the environmental context, and the inclusion of technology, design, and history provides the appropriate undergraduate background for entry into these two-year MArch tracks. Admission into a Master of Architecture program is competitive with requirements set by each institution. Admission decisions involve a review of the student’s past academic history, test scores and a portfolio. Because architecture is a visual discipline, a portfolio is often the key determining factor for admission.

The path to licensure in the State of Michigan, for a typical Ferris graduate, will include:

• Education:
  • 2 years (Ferris’ AAS in Architectural Technology)
  • 2 years (Ferris’ BS in Architecture and Sustainability)
  • 2 years (Master of Architecture)
• 3 years of Internship (IDP)
• Successful completion of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)