Urban University Dedicated to Architecture, Design, and the Arts
Pratt Institute is a specialized university devoted to architecture, the fine arts, design, fashion, and information and library science. Pratt Institute serves a small, diverse student body of over 4,150 undergraduate and graduate students on its two campuses in Brooklyn, New York, and Manhattan, New York. The School of Architecture prides itself on preparing graduate students to be future leaders in the professional fields of architecture, urban design, city and regional planning, construction and facilities management, sustainable environmental systems, real estate practice, urban placemaking, and historic preservation. The school stresses the relationship between intellectual development and creative development, and provides graduate students with an analytical base in the liberal arts and sciences, in addition to specialized knowledge for individual areas of study.
Two NYC Campuses, a Variety of Graduate Degrees
Located in New York City's atmosphere of architecture design and research, Pratt Institute's School of Architecture enrolls approximately 710 undergraduate and 285 graduate students, and offers 9 graduate degree programs on its Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. The 25-acre Brooklyn campus houses 7 of the architecture department's graduate programs: Master of Architecture (M. Arch.), Master of Science in Architecture (M.S. Arch.), Master of Science in Urban Design, Master of Science in City and Regional Planning, Master of Science in Historic Preservation, Master of Science in Urban Placemaking and Management, and Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Systems. The newly renovated, state-of-the-art studio building on the Brooklyn campus includes a 250-seat auditorium, multimedia rooms, classrooms, offices, studios, and extensive production and computer labs. The M.S. in Facilities Management and the M.S. in Real Estate Practice degree programs are offered at Pratt's Manhattan campus, located in the distinguished 14th Street facility near the corner of 7th Avenue. The Manhattan campus provides laboratories, classrooms, and offices for students and faculty, and also houses its own library.
Professional and Post-professional Architecture Degrees
Pratt Institute's School of Architecture offers 2 different graduate degrees in architecture. The first-professional Master of Architecture is a 3-year professional degree program for students holding a 4-year undergraduate degree in any field. The program is accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board. Students learn about contemporary issues in architecture through history and theory electives, as well as lectures by prominent visiting scholars. Students also take computer and technology classes, as well as studio courses, which combine theoretical lessons with technical training. Pratt also offers a 3-semester, post-professional M.S. in Architecture program for students who hold a 5-year bachelor's degree in architecture, or the equivalent. The curriculum is aimed at expanding students' learning to specialized areas within their chosen field, and developing professional relationships.
Programs for Sustainable Planning and the Environment
The Graduate Center for Sustainable Planning and the Environment at Pratt Institute's School of Architecture emphasizes urban sustainability in all 6 of its graduate programs. The M.S. in City and Regional Planning program requires 60 credits, half of which are in elective and studio courses. Each student can further focus on a specific concentration, such as community development and advocacy, environmental planning and policy, preservation and livable cities, or physical planning and urbanism. The M.S. in Sustainable Environmental Systems program focuses on current environmental issues, including climate change and "green" building. Graduates are trained to work in a variety of settings, including as policy analysts, consultants, and advocates. Students in the M.S. in Facilities Management program gain the skills needed to generate innovative approaches to emerging technologies, risk management, and sustainable practices. The M.S. in Historic Preservation program uses NYC as a laboratory for its urban focus. Students intern at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, at preservation organizations, and in architects' offices. Examples of core and elective courses include Concepts of Heritage, Adaptive Re-use, and Main Street Revitalization. Students in the M.S. in Urban Placemaking and Management are immersed in the core skills of analysis, conceptual design, and management of the public realm in cities. Pratt’s M.S. in Real Estate Practice supports and builds upon education in the design and planning of the built environment.
NYC Location Ideal for Architecture and Urban Design Studies
Pratt Institute's School of Architecture offers a Master of Science in Urban Design at its Brooklyn campus. The program is a post-professional degree for students with a 5-year, or equivalent, degree in architecture, and requires 33 credits over 3 semesters. Students continue to develop their professional skills through instruction with computer mapping and visualization technologies, theoretical debates, and interdisciplinary practice.
Studio Courses Enhance Students' Experiences
Studio courses are central to students' educational experiences at Pratt's School of Architecture. The unique educational model includes classes of 10 to 15 students and open-ended discussion between students and faculty. The studio professor poses problems to students, who generate design solutions based on critical thinking, discussion, and creative action. Studio courses also incorporate other disciplines into the design process, and provide opportunities for collaborative teamwork.
Graduate Faculty Includes Practicing Architects
Dr. Harriet Harriss (RIBA, PFHEA), Dean of the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute, is a qualified architect and coordinates the post-graduate research program. Dr. Harriss has won various awards for teaching excellence including a Brookes Teaching Fellowship, a Higher Education Academy Internationalisation Award, a Churchill Fellowship and two Santander awards.
Professor Catherine Ingraham is the author of over 50 articles on architectural theory and history published in academic journals, book collections, and other publications. Visiting professors and other distinguished guests also regularly present their work to graduate students in research forums, guest studios, and seminars.
Traditional and Modern Production Facilities
The School of Architecture provides students with both traditional and new facilities for production, including analogue fabrication equipment and modern Computer Numerical Control fabrication and output tools. The Laser Room contains 3 Universal Laser X-660 lasers and multiple workstations. The Rapid Prototyping, or 3D Printing, Room features a Z Corp 310 printer with an 8-by-10-by-8 build box. The 2,000-square-foot Wood Shop is well outfitted with boasting machines and other equipment. In the Metal Shop, students can practice metal fabrication, from large profile steel members to sheet metal fabrication.