USC School of Architecture

Since our establishment, the USC School of Architecture has excelled in offering a solid foundation for success for all of our graduates. Our program gives students numerous degree options to best pursue their individual interests and goals. All undergraduate students may choose between two distinct bachelor degrees, and a minor from more than 150 options. Our graduate students may choose from our PhD program, five master’s degrees, two dual degrees and four certificate programs. Through the ongoing success of so many of our alumni, trained within these programs, the School of Architecture has built a well-earned reputation of preparing leaders in our field. Our degree-curriculum — whether in architecture, landscape architecture, building science or heritage conservation — has always been intensive, in-depth and topical, with each program fusing history, theory, technology and design into a variety of degree programs that well-prepare our students for the rigors of the professional design practices. Our graduates from these programs are truly world renowned as the foremost designers, practitioners and faculty in architecture of yesterday and today. We hold two Pritzker Prize laureates Frank Gehry and Thom Mayne as our alumni, as well as Case Study House Program participants, Pierre Koenig, Conrad Buff, Don Hensman and Cal Straub. Countless more of our alumni continue to established themselves as leaders in local and international practices. For instance, to name a few, Emmet Wemple, William Pereira, Albert Martin, Jon Jerde, Mark Rios, Ronald Altoon and Gerard Furbershaw all established their own local offices after graduating from USC, which then quickly grew into practices with world wide reputations for creative, groundbreaking architecture, landscape architecture and design. Embracing the future, our students are encouraged to participate each year in one of our many global studies opportunities. We offer programs throughout the world introducing students to new cultural frameworks that contribute to the shaping of the global perspective.