MFA in Architectural Studies

The Masters of Fine Art Programs are an integral part of Columbia College Chicago's Art + Design Department.  The department accentuates the importance of aesthetic growth and the skills, craftsmanship, and overall artistic discipline in various art applications. Not only do we want our students to enter the work force as creative thinkers and producers, but also as great leaders and entrepreneurs.  As a result, we try to impart a real-world level of expectation, emphasizing a balance between strong creativity and the realities of a highly competitive field.

The MFA Programs in Architectural Studies and Interior Architecture / Sustainable Design aspire to educate tomorrow's designers to understand the practice of sustainability, and the belief that it is paramount to the current and future practice of architecture and interiors.


Architectural Studies is a program that looks at architecture and the design of buildings as a complete system.  An MFA in Architectural Studies does not qualify a student to be an architect and does not prepare a student for licensure.  Instead, it provides a basis for working on design teams with architects, engineers, and other design specialists to facilitate design and construction of the built environment as a whole.


The Program
The learning environment is structured as a shared experience; candidates in Architectural Studies and Interior Architecture are taught as one studio class.  Differentiation is established and addressed in the studio project.  An internship allows the student to become fully immersed in their degree track, culminating with the thesis topic. 

Topic Focus
By the third semester, the graduate student chooses one of four topic areas.  Once a track is decided, the student follows specialized studies in that topic area which culminates in his or her thesis.  The four tracks for the MFA Architectural Studies and MFA Interior Architecture programs are:

Adaptive Reuse The art and science of creating new uses for buildings that are no longer suitable for the purpose for which they were originally intended.	Museum Design Design and planning of spaces used for storing and exhibiting objects of historical, scientific or cultural interest.
Sustainability Design and planning of the entire life cycle of the building and its components in regard to environmental impact, economics, and performance.	Exhibit, Furniture, and Product Design Design and execution of articles that support the individual's use of the interior environment.