Ivy League colleges have many of the top-rated academic disciplines in various areas of study, from the sciences to the arts. Architecture and interior design fall somewhere in the middle of these two differing disciplines. Three schools in particular are renowned for their work in the field.
Harvard University
Harvard University is primarily recognized for its graduate studies in the field of architecture. "Architect Magazine" rated the top architecture schools in the nation in 2008. Harvard's graduate program was rated No. 1 among all programs nationwide.
Harvard's curriculum is interdisciplinary and its students and faculty members are leading researchers in fields such as urban planning, theory and history. Harvard is different from many other schools that offer degrees in architecture and interior design in that it only offers graduate degrees in the field. Students at the undergraduate level interested in the field can take courses in the graduate school. Harvard offers a Master of Architecture, Master of Design, a Ph.D. and a Doctor of Design degree in the field.
Harvard University 48 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-5453 gsd.harvard.edu
Cornell University
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, is another top-rated architecture and design school that is part of the Ivy League tradition. Cornell's graduate and undergraduate programs in the field of architecture were rated in the top three nationwide by "Architect Magazine" in 2008.
Cornell offers multiple degree options in the field of architecture such as the Bachelor or Architecture and a Bachelor of Science degree. At the graduate level, Cornell students can pursue a Ph.D. in urban development or architectural history or possibly a Master of Architecture or a Master of Science degree.
Cornell's interior design program leads to a Master of Arts in Design. This program is an interdisciplinary program that relies heavily upon expertise from other fields such as architecture, economics and design history. The program's primary research focus is in the areas of design history, design leadership, special populations and sustainable and regenerative design.
Cornell University 130 East Seneca Street Ithaca, NY 14853 607-255-5236 aap.cornell.edu/arch
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation is among the best in the nation. "Architect Magazine" also rated the Columbia program No. 3 in the nation in 2008 (tied with Cornell). The interior design program at Columbia is integrated into the architecture and planning program. The school offers graduate degrees in the fields of urban planning, real estate development, architecture, historic preservation and architecture.
Columbia University 1172 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027 212-854-3414 arch.columbia.edu
Related Articles
References
- Architect Magazine: The Top U.S. Architecture Schools
- Harvard University Graduate School of Design: Academic Programs
- Cornell University: AAP Department of Architecture
- Cornell University Department of Human Ecology: M.A. in Design
- Columbia University: Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Writer Bio
Jared Lewis is a professor of history, philosophy and the humanities. He has taught various courses in these fields since 2001. A former licensed financial adviser, he now works as a writer and has published numerous articles on education and business. He holds a bachelor's degree in history, a master's degree in theology and has completed doctoral work in American history.