In addition to the many special programs offered in the department, there are other opportunities made available to our students and graduates.

Emerging Leaders in Architecture

ELA is a program administered by the the American Institute of Architects Virginia. It brings together young professionals from across the state, along with representatives from each of the state’s four architecture programs, in a year-long series of learning seminars and the development of a design project addressing an immediate need.

UDream

Run by the Remaking Cities Institute a Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, UDream is a program designed to increase the numbers of successful minority practitioners of architecture and urban design. A significant portion of their participants are alumni of the Department of Architecture. A fully paid program combining and academic component and paid internships with public agencies and private practices in Pittsburgh, many of its alumni are still to be found in practice in Pittsburgh. On a fund-raising hiatus for 2017 season, it is hoped the program will re-launch for 2018.

Competitions

Many entities organize student competitions every year. While our curriculum is a full one, we encourage students to compete and try to help make the process manageable by setting up special electives. Found a competition that you want to enter? Talk to your advisor about logistics!

Lecture Series

The department brings guests into the department for lectures on a regular basis. Speakers are generally practitioners from around the country and bring insight and information about their practices and their work in architecture. From time to time heads of public agencies, like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Institutes of Health bring an overview of their agencies’ work and opportunities for employment. Lectures offer insight, but also opportunity to develop professional networks.

Speaking Engagements

Students, too, become lecturers through the work of the program. In recent years students have been asked to present work at local, state, and national conferences and to city officials and community groups. The skills of public speaking are crucial to successful practice and we are proud of our students who hone these skills.

Leadership in Student Organizations

Because our program is relatively small, any student who wishes to develop leaderships skills can find a role within student organizations.

University of Miami Master of Urban Design

For the last few years the school of architecture at the University of Miami has offered a recent HU graduate scholarship to pursue a Master of Urban Design.