Letter from the Director

The Architectural Studies program exposes students to the latest thinking in some of the most progressive, culturally significant fields within architecture today. Working closely with an academic advisor, each Architectural Studies student chooses from an array of challenging options to shape an exciting and rewarding career. At the beginning of the second year, every student selects a “track” in a related discipline as the focus of intensive study. These tracks include Real Estate Development, Historic Preservation, or XR Game Environments, or students can explore various architecture-related disciplines from a broad array of available minors.

We offer an innovative, rigorous curriculum in each of these disciplines that immerses every student in their subject area and promotes the acquisition of essential discipline-specific skills. Courses in each track are taught by faculty who not only hold specialized degrees in their respective fields, but also are working professionals, current with the cutting-edge approaches to “real world” problems. As a result of our small classes, our dedicated faculty is able to supply one-on-one attention to their students within a stimulating atmosphere that fosters thought-provoking interchange and active learning. Through “hands-on” experiences specific to each track, students develop proficiency appropriate to the undergraduate level and lay the groundwork for graduate studies.

Moreover, our campus is within easy access to Center City Philadelphia with its rich collection of major historical and contemporary buildings, as well as its dynamic arts scene. The urban landscape also provides an ongoing laboratory for many of our courses and opportunities for internships.

In a very competitive job market, employers are looking for applicants with well-rounded and comprehensive educations. At Jefferson students get just that. I would be happy to provide additional information or answer any questions you might have.

Please feel free to give me a call at 215-291-0113. We look forward to hearing from you.

David Kratzer, AIA, NCARB
Interim Director, Architecture & Architecture Studies