Architecture and Design Research

About

Ph.D. in Architecture and Design Research

http://archdesign.vt.edu/architecture-design/phd

Degree Tracks within the Ph.D. in Architecture and Design Research

There are two major tracks within the Architecture and Design Research degree, each of which has topical areas. The requirements for the tracks vary slightly, but both provide significant flexibility for each student to develop a plan of study consistent with his or her academic goals. The two tracks are Architecture and Design Research.

Architecture Track

The Architecture track includes Architectural Representation and Education, Architectural History and Theory, Historic Preservation, and Computing and Representation.

The Architecture track will share resources on the Blacksburg Campus and the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center in the National Capital Region. At the latter location, students have the best resources to develop their topics in architectural representation, since they can make use of the many research libraries available in the Washington, DC area, including the Library of Congress, National Building Museum library, American Institute of Architects Library, CASVA, Smithsonian Institution, the Dumbarton Oaks Library and many privately owned architectural archives.

Design Research Track

The Design Research track includes advanced study on Building Science, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture.

The Landscape Architecture Track includes concentrations in: Design Learning and Professional Paradigms; Regenerative/Ecological Design, Planning and Technology; and Concepts of Community and Place.

The Design Research track is currently located in Blacksburg, VA at the Virginia Tech Main Campus. In this location students have the best resources to develop their topics in design research given that the faculty of the School of Architecture Design have established collaborative relationships with other university centers and institutions.

Admission

The faculty are seeking to admit a highly selective group of students who have master's degrees in closely allied fields, such as Architecture, Environmental Design, Building Science, Landscape Architecture, Architecture History and Theory, Interior Design, and Industrial Design. In addition to the application requirements of the Virginia Tech Graduate School and those pertaining to all graduate programs within the School of Architecture Design, applicants to the PhD degree in Architecture and Design Research must submit a portfolio and a 2,500 word statement of research focus.

Disciplines

College of Architecture Arts and Design

Requirements

Entry Requirements

At Virginia Tech, we approach admission from an inclusive, rather than exclusive, perspective. Using a holistic admissions process, we look at many aspects of each student, including such things as work experience, community involvement and service, leadership, personal and professional ethics, research and scholarship, and the barriers you have dealt with while pursuing your goals.

English Requirements

PTEMin 53
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Fee Information

Application Fee 75

How to Apply

What You'll Need

Transcripts

Include a scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

Letters of Recommendation

Check to see whether your department requires letters of recommendation from references. If so, you can include the letter writers' email addresses in your online application, or have the people you ask to write those lettes send paper copies directly to your program’s department.

Graduate School Testing Requirements

The Graduate School does not require entrance tests, but check to see whether your department requires you to submit GRE, GMAT, or subject test scores with your application. If so, have the testing agency send official scores to Virginia Tech Graduate School, code 5859.

International students may be required to submit TOEFL scores.

Application Fees

Degree-seeking students must include a $75 fee with their application, though check to see if you qualify for a waiver or reduced fee. All application fees are non-refundable.

Refund procedure

All application fees are non-refundable.