ºÚÁÏÉçÇø

The Department believes that at both graduate and undergraduate levels, the program needs to balance the issues of inclusiveness and breadth with the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø's often more focused goal of professional training. This is accomplished by rigorous study of design, history, communication, technology and practice-related issues, but, more importantly, by the Department's effort to make bridges and crossovers among these areas.

Professional preparation and linkages have become increasingly important concerns in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at Miami. In addition to the studio and curricular structure already mentioned above, the department has taken other steps to ensure professional preparation for its ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs. [See Advising, Section 5.8.] Specific courses and ad hoc sessions help ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs learn about organizing their resumes, how to conduct themselves in an interview, how to use their portfolios and application materials most effectively, and how to relate to the professional world when they begin to seek employment. In the fall semester, a meeting is organized to advise undergraduates about applying to graduate schools. Each spring semester, the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø organizations sponsor a professional “career fair.” Area and regional firms send representatives to the Department to provide information and to recruit ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs.

Another effort of the department to incorporate professional preparation is the Internship program. Voluntary summer internships with alumni and other participating firms place ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs in a professional environment, usually the summer after the junior year (although qualified ºÚÁÏÉçÇøs may begin earlier). The department recommends that each architectural intern either initiate or maintain an Intern Development Program (IDP) record with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) during the internship. Interior Design internships can also be completed for credit through the Interior Design Experience Program (IDEP); this experience similarly requires formal assessment of the ºÚÁÏÉçÇø intern.

The internship program is linked to courses in professional practice in both Architecture and Interior Design. These courses continue to emphasize ethics and professional responsibility in addition to information and experiences that relate to entering the job market. Professional practitioners are brought into the classroom to serve as resources. Where possible, such professionals are from regional firms that offer the department internships.