i. institutional support and commitment to continuous improvement

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects
Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture with emphasis in Interior Architecture
II. EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND CURRICULUM
II.1. STUDENT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Student Performance
In response to feedback from earlier site visits regarding how the SPCs were delivered, the AIADO
faculty adjusted their curriculum. Those adjustments can be seen in the matrixes on the two preceding
pages. Regional accreditation verification, which is described below, can be found in Section IV.
II. EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND CURRICULUM
2. Curricular Framework
II.2.1. Regional Accreditation
Approximately every ten years, SAIC undergoes a joint accreditation meeting from the School’s two
institution-wide accrediting bodies: the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools, the regional accrediting body; and, the National Association of Schools of Art
and Design, the subject-area accrediting body. SAIC’s next accreditation visit will take place in 2012–13
academic year. Copies of the letters conferring continued accredited status on SAIC follow the SPC
matrixes, which are described above.
II. EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND CURRICULUM
II.2. CURRICULAR FRAMEWORK
II.2.2. Professional Degrees and Curriculum
Begun in 2006-07, the MArch degree program housed within the AIADO department of SAIC was
granted candidacy by NAAB, effective as of January 1, 2007. The MArch degree program has four
tracks in which qualified students may enroll to achieve the degree: the Master of Architecture track
and Master of Architecture with Emphasis in Interior Architecture track—that each span 3½ years and
requires 102 credits—and the “Option II” variants on the two tracks, both of which usually take two
years to complete. The Option II tracks both require 60 credit hours and take into account particular
work done at a previous pre-professional degree program. This previous work must substantially take
the place of work that would normally be required in the first full academic year of the 3½-year tracks.
Each track is described below:
1) Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture program begins with a foundation of required skills and grounding in the
histories and theories specific to architecture. In toto, it is 102 credits earned from 30 courses (18
Architecture studios, 5 art history courses, and 7 electives) and typically takes three-and-one-half
years. The program begins with an introductory summer “boot camp” followed by three years of
full-time study (15 credits) during the Fall and Spring semesters, and one summer study trip taken
after the first year. The MArch’s thematic cluster of courses is integrated around a common intellec-
tual theme, while each component class approaches the theme from a particular vantage point that
reinforces the development of comprehensive understanding. The track begins with a foundation
of required skills. Collaborative studios in the second year offer a chance to develop the transdis-
ciplinary approach demanded by so many of today’s situations. The third year studies culminate in
the year-end Design Thesis Exhibition. To deepen the thesis research and experience, students are
encouraged to enroll in elective courses from throughout the institution, including one that is “in the
service of the thesis,” to advance and inform the thesis project.
Each semester includes a conceptual cluster of classes with a 4.5-credit design studio—
ARCH 5110 Architecture Studio 1: Sites
ARCH 5110 Architecture Studio 2: Skins
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