School of Architecture and Planning

Geraldine Forbes, Dean
School of Architecture and Planning
MSC04 2530
2401 Central NE
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-2903, FAX (505) 277-0076
http://saap.unm.edu/

Introduction

The School of Architecture and Planning is the only institution in New Mexico granting professional degrees in architecture, planning and landscape architecture. The School is committed to preparing students who will assume leadership roles in the professions, become responsible citizens, and contribute their knowledge and expertise as members of diverse communities. The programs and faculty of the School are nationally recognized for design excellence, scholarship, and the advancement of practices essential in achieving sustainable development and design.

There is growing public awareness of the underlying importance of the built environment on the quality of life. Design and planning decisions that are critical to the advancement of civilization are both wide-ranging and complex. Cities and communities are increasingly dependent upon qualified professionals capable of meeting the challenges of future development and change. The fields of architecture, planning, landscape architecture and environmental design provide essential skills and knowledge necessary in understanding the complex relationships between people and the built and natural environments.

The School’s mission is to provide an excellent educational experience that is enabling and inspired by a solid base of scholarship, research and professional practice. The underlying academic philosophy of the School is keyed to three primary objectives: to elevate the aesthetic, ethical and theoretical foundations of our professions; to understand the significance of ecological and social conditions in planning and design decisions; and to be responsive to the culture and history of New Mexico and the region. The faculty of the School is committed to increasing public awareness of the importance of the natural and built environment and the relationship of design to societal needs and aspirations.

Academic Programs

The academic programs are deeply rooted in the traditions and environment of this region–an unparalleled cultural heritage, diverse and resplendent natural landscapes, the unique, historic urban settlements of Albuquerque and Santa Fe and the spectacular climates of the arid Southwest.

Graduate: The faculty is organized according to the three professional programs–Architecture, Community and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture–in offering the degrees Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.), Master of Community and Regional Planning (M.C.R.P.) and Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.). Individuals who hold (or will soon receive) an accredited undergraduate degree in any subject area are eligible to apply directly to these programs.

The school also offers two graduate certificate programs, Historic Preservation and Regionalism and Town Design. These certificate programs are opportunities for interdisciplinary study in areas that are directly applicable to the special needs of the state and region. Other opportunities for multidisciplinary study are available through the School’s professional and dual degree programs.

Undergraduate: The School offers two undergraduate degree programs, the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental, Planning & Design (B.A.E.P.D.) and the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (B.A.A.). Undergraduate students committed to attaining the professional Master of Architecture degree must apply and be accepted to enroll in the preparatory degree program, Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. Students interested in pursuing careers in either Planning or Landscape Architecture are encouraged to apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Environment, Planning & Design program at the undergraduate level. Recognizing the need for a multidisciplinary education to prepare students for a broad spectrum of environmental and development issues, the B.A.E.P.D. also serves those interested in pursuing a variety of career opportunities or future specialized graduate studies.

Curriculum

The curricula of the School develop abilities necessary to analyze and synthesize issues essential to the planning and design professions. Students become conversant with concepts and methods that will enable them to address complexities of historical and cultural contexts as well as behavioral, technological and socioeconomic factors. Courses are intended to nurture students’ creative efforts, intellectual development, and judgment in individual and collective efforts to craft the built environment. While developing these skills, students are expected to perform within a set of ethics consistent with community-based values and the necessity for fostering sustainable environments.

Working with the faculty, students develop a strong awareness of “place” and place-making. Courses and projects frequently utilize historic urban areas such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe as well as rural communities and landscapes throughout the Southwest Region as laboratories for learning fundamental concepts and analytical methods.

Various courses offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels are available to majors in other disciplines as well as practitioners. The School provides continuing education for professionals as well as educational opportunities directed toward part-time and non-traditional students.

Students typically engage in traditional and non-traditional educational programs in the summer. These may include international travel and exchange programs; off-campus workshops and field studies; and internships in professional offices and public agencies.

Honors and Special Recognition

For undergraduate students to be placed on the Dean’s List in the School of Architecture and Planning, students must achieve a 3.5 grade point average or higher based on a minimum of 12 credit hours (graded) in one semester. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the School who meet the eligibility requirements are also nominated for membership in Tau Sigma Delta, a national honor society that recognizes high scholastic achievement in the design and planning fields. In addition, the School’s professional programs annually grant special honors and other awards to deserving students.

Degree Programs

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (pre-professional)
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental, Planning & Design

Graduate

Master of Architecture (professional)
Master of Science in Architecture (post-professional)
Master of Community and Regional Planning (professional)
Master of Landscape Architecture (professional and post-professional)

Graduate Certificates

Town Design
Historic Preservation & Regionalism

Research/Studies

The Office of Community Outreach

The office of Community Outreach is comprised of the following centers:

The Design and Planning Assistance Center (DPAC)

The interdisciplinary Design and Planning Assistance Center was created in 1969 by the Architecture Program at the University of New Mexico, with support from the Albuquerque Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. DPAC was formed in response to the urgent need for architectural and planning services to assist communities and non profit groups in New Mexico. DPAC provides opportunities through employment and coursework for students to work on projects under faculty direction with community, agency, and client group representatives.

The Resource Center for Raza Planning (RCRP)

RCRP, a center within the School of Architecture and Planning, was established to contribute to the community development efforts of traditional communities in New Mexico. The Center promotes integration between higher education and traditional communities through the application of planning processes and techniques. RCRP conceives planning as multidisciplinary, intergenerational, directly responsive to community needs, and developed through ongoing, long-term relationships.

Course Work in Other Departments

Students are encouraged to take course work in other schools and colleges of the University. The School of Architecture and Planning, through advisement, counsels students to participate in complementary programs in other schools or departments if such studies are appropriate to the overall interests and needs of the student.

Assistantships and Financial Aid

Graduate students in good standing in the School of Architecture and Planning are eligible to apply for assistantships. A number of merit based scholarships are also available. Contact the School or Financial Aid Office for additional information on financial aid, assistantships and scholarships.

Laptop and Software Requirements

Students in all degree programs of the School of Architecture and Planning are required to own or have unlimited access to a laptop computer. The School recommends that all laptop computers meet a minimum specification. The minimum specification is published on the School’s website. Under “Resources,” software requirements are specific to each academic program and/or to individual instructors. Software requirements should be communicated in program policies and faculty syllabi.