Categories: New Students

Image

FAQ for New Students

FAQ for New Students Here are questions most commonly fielded by our First Year Experience (FYE) Coach, Alicia Guerra. We hope new students will find this helpful. Alicia is available to answer additional questions! What size monitor do I need? A 27" Monitor is ideal for viewing course content, Conceptboard, and Zoom Meetings. More information…

Image

Graduate Online Studio Desk Crits

Graduate Online Studio Desk Crits In architecture school, a "desk crit" refers to the informal conversation between faculty and students (short for desk critiques). Desk crits are specifically for work-in-progress. Design education is not possible without trust between faculty and students because receiving feedback, or"critique," requires making oneself vulnerable. Developing a rapport between faculty and…

Image

Advice for Graduate Students

Advice for Graduate Students First Day of Semester is Wednesday, 1/28/2026 Welcome (back) to the School of Architecture! For first day of class, please be sure to have your computer and course supplies ready. Check in to each of your classes on the Student Portal. If you have any questions, contact us at architecture@academyart.edu Studio…

Image

Advice for First Semester Architecture Students

Advice for First Year Architecture Students First Day of Semester is Wednesday, 1/28/2026 Welcome to the School of Architecture! For first day of class, please be sure to have your computer and course supplies ready. Check in to each of your classes on the Student Portal. If you have any questions, reach out to architecture@academyart.edu…

Image

ARH 110 OL Studio 1 Zoom Sessions

ARH 110 OL Studio 1 Zoom Sessions Please check in with your studio faculty each week through synchronous Zoom meetings (OR view recordings). This can be as short as 20 minutes though you are encouraged to stay for the entire session! All-Section Zoom Sessions - Every Wednesday (5-6pm Pacific Time), instructors from multiple sections jointly…

Image

Learning and Teaching Culture Policy

Learning and Teaching Culture Policy Our Learning and Teaching Culture Policy strives to create a positive environment at the School of Architecture.  We hold design thinking to be both driver and catalyst to building a better world.   Inherent in our policy is the assumption of respect for one and all - every community member…

Image

Tech Support Available

Graduate Computer Specifications An investment in a good computer and a large monitor is recommended. Please refer to these documents before purchasing a new computer: Graduate Computer Specifications LINK TO PDF Undergraduate Computer Specifications A computer meeting minimum specifications, listed below, is required. A mouse, with a scroll wheel, is also required. Chromebooks, tablets, mobile…

Image

Concept Board Tools

Concept Board Building a studio culture in a virtual class room requires additional effort, empathy, time, and most importantly, a "shared space." Concept Board is a virtual shared space that facilitates desk crits. The drawing and commenting tools in Concept Board, whether used alone asynchronously or synchronously during Zoom calls, approximate the in-person desk crit…

Image

Welcome to the School of Architecture

Back to About Us

Image

In-Person Workshop for Online Students

In-Person Workshop for Online Students First semester online students, join us in San Francisco for an immersive in-person experience!   Dates: 09/03 Wednesday – 09/06 Saturday (During Week 1 of Fall Semester) Location: School of Architecture at 601 Brannan St. San Francisco Cost: no additional tuition cost Apply at THIS LINK   For first semester…

Image

Math Placement Exam

Math Placement Exam Architecture students need to determine math placement in their 1st semester to meet pre-requisites for ARH 320 and ARH 330 Structures. Landscape Architecture students need to determine math placement in their 1st semester to meet the pre-requisite for LAN 260 Site Engineering. The Liberal Arts department will review each case and determine…

Image

Undergraduate Curriculum Map

Undergraduate Curriculum MapB. Arch Fundamental design, ethical awareness, and liberal arts prepare students for the upper division courses in which students engage with the profession within and beyond the classroom through a rich array of field trips, firm visits, networking events, and internship opportunities. Our rigorous design studio curriculum prepares students to contribute meaningfully to…

Image

Designing the Built Environment: Architecture / Landscape/ Interior

Designing the Built Environment: Architecture / Landscape/ InteriorSchool of Landscape Architecture (LAN) The School of Landscape Architecture offers AAS (2 year) and BFA (4 year) programs for undergraduate students. The world needs Landscape Architects now more than ever! Our communities need solutions to environmental issues that the profession of landscape architecture has long recognized and put…

Image

Architectural Licensing Advisor

Architectural Licensing Advisor Sameena Sitabkhan is the Licensing Advisor for the Architecture Department supporting both undergraduate and graduate students. Licensing is the culmination of your education and gives you the right to call yourself an architect and practice in the United States. Licensing consists of an education requirement, work experience, and a set of exams.…

Image

Model Making – Part 1 – Making Models at Home

Dear Students, Since many of you are online and working from home, we wanted to publish this small guide for making sophisticated models with simple means. In terms of working from home there are many model building techniques which are very suitable when you have no access to a professional shop facility.  01. The first…

Image

Using Onsite Facilities

  Using Onsite Facilities   The ARH shop and studio spaces are located in 601 Brannan. Drafting desks, shop access, tool checkouts are some of the resources available. Detailed information at Brannan-Facilities-Information Questions should be directed to architecture@academyart.edu To make a reservation, go to the Facilities, Equipment & Spaces page at https://my.academyart.edu/students/facilities   Here is an…

Image

NOMAS AAU

NOMAS AAU nomasaau Celebrating minority students’ excellence at @aauschoolofarchitecture. linktr.ee/nomasaau   NOMAS AAU on Discord Find architecture students who are also members of the AAU NOMAS chapter on Discord. This student-led group is part of a national student organization and they are excited to meet new students. Ask questions about NOMAS, get advice on classes, or just…

Image

Best Laptops for Architects 2023

Dear Students, Architizer published a 2023 update to their list of best laptops, that we are sharing here: 13 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers (NEW for 2023)   Architizer just published a good 2022 update about potential laptops for architects. There is also a section with budget laptops to consider: 15 Top Laptops for…

Image

Accessibility Resources

Accessibility Resources   Facilitates equal access throughout the university, both online and on-campus, for students with disabilities and health conditions.   Accessibility Resources PDF Accessibility Resources ensures equal access and opportunities for students with disabilities. As a student with a disability, you may be used to receiving accommodations and having IEPs or 504 Plans in high school. These…

Image

Remote Laser Cutting & 3D Printing

Remote Laser Cutting & 3D Printing   We are excited to announce that remote laser cutting and 3D printing is available! Submit your digital files via email to the fabrication shops at 1849 Washington and pick up in person OR pay for shipping to have the pieces mailed to you. Shipping is available within the…

Image

Shop Orientation and Safety

  Dear ARH Students,   Welcome to the fabrication shop at 1849 Washington!   To view shop policies and safety rules, please read Basic Shop Proficiency Guide-- 2020 Afterwards you will need to complete a safety quiz and submit a usage agreement before you can reserve time to work on shop machinery. Links to the quiz…

Image

UNDERGRADUATE Course Archive InDesign Template

Undergraduate Course Archives   Notes to Faculty: Please distribute the InDesign template file in the beginning of the semester. The file should first be modified to list the assignments specific to your course. The undergraduate template files are different from the graduate version. If you are teaching in both grad and undergrad department, please be…

Image

Graduate Journal/Archive Tutorials

Dear Students, please find InDesign tutorial videos under this LINK for creating your archive. Please note that this will require your LMS log-in.

Image

Video Tutorials for Manual Drawing

Video Tutorials for Manual Drawing   There are video tutorials available on the School of Architecture Resources on Brightspace for enrolled students. Please self-enroll at this link to access the videos: https://online.academyart.edu/d2l/le/discovery/view/course/13450 Click the button that says "Self Enroll," then navigate to this link. You will see a collection of video tutorials listed below. Manual…

Image

Video Tutorials for Model Making

Video Tutorials for Model Making There are video tutorials available on the School of Architecture Resources on Brightspace for enrolled students. Please self-enroll at this link to access the videos: https://online.academyart.edu/d2l/le/discovery/view/course/13450 Click the button that says "Self Enroll," then navigate to this link. You will see a collection of video tutorials and PDF downloads listed…

Image

Model Making – Part 2 – Material and Tool Resources

Dear Students, Here are some model making material resources for you, places where you can order needed materials online, tool suppliers, 3D print services, and laser cutting services. Some of these resources might be overseas, so careful planning might be required on your part so you have all the necessary materials for the classes you…

Image

Model Making – Part 3 – Foam Core Tutorial Videos

Dear Students, for Foam Core model building techniques, please see these two videos. Foam core is a great material for building larger, more spatial models. The tutorials are made by a product designer but the the techniques are universal and can be easily applied to architecture. Please also regard our other model building resource blog…