The Rural Studio consists of three programs.
Second-year program: typically fifteen to twenty second-year Auburn University architecture students move to Hale County for one semester and design/build a charity home.
Thesis program: typically twelve Auburn University thesis architecture students move to Hale County for their fifth year. They form teams to plan, design and build community projects.
Outreach Program: non-Auburn University graduates from around the world come to the Rural Studio to work on a joint project alongside the Thesis students.

In Newbern, under the direction of School of Architecture Wiatt Professor Andrew Freear, the Rural Studio benefits from a strong infrastructure and dedicated Faculty. This year, 2007-2008, Andrew Freear is on sabbatical and his role has been filled by David Buege. Andrew Freear takes charge of the Thesis and Outreach programs, for 2007-2008 David Buege has taken this role. Mark Wise assists David teaching the Thesis and Outreach students. Jason Coomes, Visiting Instructor for the second-year, and Natalie Butts instruct the second year program. Richard Hudgens is the History Instructor and Daniel Splaingard has the role of the Clerk of Works. In Auburn, Rusty Smith, Rural Studio Associate Director, makes sure that communication links between the School and the Rural Studio remain open as well as dealing with any University and student issues that arise during the year.

In addition to the Faculty, the Rural Studio, Newbern, has three other staff members that make up the infrastructure which enables the Rural Studio to provide quality education and secure the operation of the projects. Michelle Coomes is the Office Manager for the Rural Studio in Newbern. Johnny Parker makes sure that student site operations are all in order and Brenda Wilkerson is the accounts manager for the Rural Studio. Back in Auburn, Melissa Foster Denney, is doing a most important job, securing the financial future of the Rural Studio through grants, donations and endowments.

To most, the measure of success of the Rural Studio is in its built projects; in reality, its success is measured by its effect upon the lives of the faculty, students, families, and communities it touches. It is not only the buildings that make the Rural Studio what it is, but also the education the students receive about architecture and about society.