Leave Your Mark on the World
How will you change the world?
Rensselaer's School of Architecture will help you unleash your potential.
Apply Now
See Your Ideas Become a Reality
You will create lasting change in the world as a future architect. The School of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will help you in this journey by offering you a broad set of skills, as well as the creative and technological expertise to reach your potential in the years ahead. Benefit from faculty mentors with valuable industry experience, a life-changing study abroad adventure, and a uniquely collaborative approach to architectural education which will propel you forward as a future leader in the profession. Join us!
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
Combining both the artistic and scientific aspects of the discipline, this top-tier NAAB-accredited, five-year program offers comprehensive coursework in the areas of history, theory, digital design, and building technology. Critical lessons in creativity, sustainability, leadership, and social responsibility are woven throughout the curriculum.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Building Science
This one-of-a-kind, four-year program provides a unique opportunity to analyze, explore, and manage the physical phenomena that emerges throughout a built environment. Additionally, you will acquire important data visualization skills enabling you to capture the invisible flows of temperature, moisture, and energy that are so essential in the design of high-performance buildings today. The program will prepare you for leadership positions in one of the building industry’s many sectors, such as real estate development, construction management, or building energy systems consultancy.
![]()
Make Connections Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Innovation is rooted in collaboration. Rensselaer creates unique opportunities for you to connect with your classmates across the five schools, helping you gain well-rounded, complementary knowledge in support of your architectural education.
Expand Your Worldview Through Study Abroad
Given the breadth of impact architecture has around the world today as an interconnected profession, Rensselaer’s School of Architecture offers a diverse set of culturally immersive study abroad opportunities that will broaden your appreciation of other cultures, as well as contemporary and historical architecture around the world. Participate in joint studio courses, seminars, and other activities with students and faculty from renowned institutions around the world in locations like Italy, China, India, and Latin America.
#14
Nationally Ranked School of Architecture by DesignIntelligence
72%
School of Architecture Students Study Abroad
65%
Female Students in School of Architecture
13:1
Ratio of Students to Faculty
Endless Career Possibilities
Actively engaged in some of the most exciting work in the field today, School of Architecture graduates leave their mark on the world — quite literally.
![]()
![]()
Local Engagement
You will acquire a firsthand understanding of the transformative power of architecture while working to revitalize communities throughout the Capital Region. Through partnerships with civic and cultural institutions such as the Shaker Museum, Hyde Collection, MiSci, and City of Cohoes, you’ll help community leaders reimagine their buildings and public spaces in new and exciting ways.
![]()
Faculty and Resources
Working in groundbreaking fields ranging from architectural acoustics and lighting to next-generation biological habitats, faculty are accomplished practitioners who excel at teaching and scholarly research. Having access to Rensselaer’s state-of-the-art design studios, research centers, and immersive environments enable students to acquire a broad educational experience with an emphasis on hands-on learning and discovery.
Here’s What You Need to Apply
B.Arch. candidates are required to submit an online portfolio that emphasizes creativity and imagination.
Your portfolio should include 10–20 images and consist of a range of two– and three-dimensional work. Media may include (but is not limited to) pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic or oil paint, ceramics photographs, and musical scores. Keep in mind your portfolio should demonstrate creative vision rather than technical proficiency. Each image must include a title, date, medium, dimensions, and a brief description. Submit your portfolio at rpi.slideroom.com.
