The College of Architecture, Design & Construction is comprised of the following academic units:
School of Architecture
- Architecture
- - – Rural Studio
- - – Urban Studio
- Interior Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
- Community Planning
McWhorter School of Building Science
- Bachelors Degree
- Master of Building Construction
Department of Industrial Design
- Industrial Design
- Graphic Design‘
Master of Real Estate Development
The components of the College of Architecture, Design & Construction are ranked and regarded among the elite programs in the nation.
In the 2009 rankings conducted by DesignIntelligence magazine, the School of Architecture appeared in the top 20 architecture programs, listed at number 12. The landscape architecture program jumped to number 14, appearing in the top 15 programs for the first time. In addition, the magazine surveyed more than 100 deans and department heads in the U.S. and Canada, asking them to list the Top Six Most Admired Accredited Bachelor of Architecture Programs. Auburn University’s Bachelor of Architecture program was listed number two, just behind Cornell University. The University of Texas, Austin; California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Cooper Union and Virginia Tech rounded out the top six.
The Department of Industrial Design undergraduate program was ranked as the seventh-best program in their field nationally, and the industrial design graduate program was ranked number 6 in the nation. Professors Clark Lundell and Tin-Man Lau were listed among 25 architecture and design faculty members across the United States in the category of 2009’s Most Respected and Admired Educators.
The McWhorter School of Building Science also holds elite distinction as one of the peer six programs in the nation for the quality of education and quality of graduates it annually produces.
The Rural Studio has earned international acclaim in working towards its mission to enable each participating student to cross the threshold of misconceived opinions to create/design/build and to allow students to put their educational values to work as citizens of a community. The Rural Studio seeks solutions to the needs of the community within the community’s own context, not from outside it. Abstract ideas based upon knowledge and study are transformed into workable solutions forged by real human contact, personal realization, and a gained appreciation for the culture.
Based in Birmingham, Ala., the Urban Studio (more formally known as the Auburn University Center for Architecture and Urban Studies) was founded in 1991 by Associate Professor Franklin Setzer as a teaching and outreach venue for Auburn’s School of Architecture. Fourth year and thesis students pursue design, professional practice and engage in community projects. In particular, the design studio and professional practice offer numerous opportunities for interaction with the City of Birmingham and practicing architects, landscape architects and planners during project orientation, critiques and reviews. The community projects have included work with the Ensley community, Woodlawn, Rosedale and the Birmingham Historical Society’s Buddy-Up Program.
The Master of Design-Build program at Auburn University seeks graduate students from the design, engineering and construction disciplines who will embrace teamwork, collaboration, and empathy between the differing roles and responsibilities of their counterparts. The program will foster an integrated delivery of projects in the built environment, leveraging the most current strategies in project development, risk analysis and digital tools.
In fall 2007, the Graphic Design program moved from the College of Liberal Arts to the College of Architecture, Design & Construction. Graphic Design will be a part of the Department of Industrial Design in the CADC.
The graphic design degree from Auburn is designed to ensure that students are prepared to function as creative designers/illustrators, while obtaining the academic skills which will provide professional development and career flexibility within a changing society.
To view Auburn University Academic Rankings, click here
To learn more about each of these degree fields, please click on the link on the upper left.
