Which New Jersey Universities Offer Architecture Programs?

New Jersey Architect Licensure Requirements

You'll need to obtain a license with the state of New Jersey if you want to work as an architect. First, you have to acquire a professional architecture bachelor's or master's degree from a school accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and you must complete at least 3 years of experience. The experience is completed through the Intern Development Program. Upon completion of these requirements, you are qualified to take the Architect Registration Examination and become licensed through New Jersey.

Job Outlook and Salary Information for Architects in New Jersey

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) stated 1,920 architects (excluding naval and landscape) were employed in New Jersey with average annual earnings of about $83,000. Nationally, there is an estimated 24% growth in employment for architects from 2010-2020. Specifically, there is projected to be a demand for architects that have experience in sustainable design due to concern over the environment and the increase of energy costs.

Architecture Bachelor's Degrees in New Jersey

New Jersey Institute of Technology

• Program Name: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Architecture or Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch)
• Program Length: 4 years, full-time (B.S.) or 5 years, full-time (B.Arch)
• Tuition: $5,878 for residents and $11,558 for non-residents (full-time tuition per semester, 2011-2012)
• School Type: 4-year, public; roughly 6,000 undergraduate students and about 3,000 graduate students
• Address: College of Architecture and Design, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102
• Phone: (973) 596-5574

The 135-credit-hour Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a non-professional degree program designed to lead to a career in the building industry or graduate master's degree program. If you're looking to be a licensed architect, then you'll want to enroll in the Bachelor of Architecture. The 164-credit-hour, NAAB-accredited B.Arch program explores concepts in design communication, physics, building systems, cultural history and calculus.

Princeton University

• Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
• Program Length: 4 years, full-time
• Tuition: $38,650 per academic year (2012-2013 attendance estimates)
• Requirements: Two teacher evaluations, two essays
• School Type: University, private not-for-profit; around 5,000 undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students
• Address: 1 Nassau Hall, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
• Phone: (609) 258-3641

The pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture program at Princeton University has a liberal arts foundation. The political and social aspects of architecture, along with how urban settings affect the natural environment are studied. The School of Architecture's design studios are open 24 hours a day and are used by students to create building and urban area designs for faculty members to critique. Some of the undergraduate classes you might take include French architecture, medieval architecture, traditional Chinese architecture, materials in civil engineering and structural design. At the undergraduate-level, you can also complete an urban designs or engineering and architecture certificate.

Architecture Master's Degrees in New Jersey

New Jersey Institute of Technology

• Program Name: Master of Architecture (M.Arch), Master of Science (M.S.) in Architecture or Master of Infrastructure Planning (M.I.P.)
• Specialization Options: Digital design, history and theory of architecture, sustainable architecture, advanced structural design, urban systems (M.S.)
• Program Length: 1-3 years, full-time (depending on your course of study)
• Tuition: $7,980 for residents and $11,366 for non-residents (full-time tuition per semester, 2011-2012, graduate)
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree
• Requirements: 2.8 GPA or better, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, design portfolio
• School Type: 4-year, public; roughly 6,000 undergraduate students and about 3,000 graduate students
• Address: College of Architecture and Design, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102
• Phone: (973) 596-5574

If you want to be a licensed architect, then you want to pursue the Master of Architecture program. In this 97-credit-hour graduate program, you can expect coursework in architectural graphics, history of architecture and architectural design. Each semester, you're given access to a design studio to use for your classes.

Typically, you'll enroll in the Master of Science in Architecture program if you already hold a professional degree; however, in some circumstances, you may pursue this degree if you are interested in academic pursuits. The degree requirements vary depending if you're going down the post-professional track or the academic track. In the academic track, you can choose a variety of concentrations, such as sustainable architecture.

The Master of Infrastructure Planning provides architect students a chance to learn about urban transportation planning, geographic information systems and environmental policies. There are dual degree options at the graduate level that'll allow you to acquire an M.Arch and your choice of a M.I.P, Master of Science in Civil Engineering or Master of Science in Management.

Princeton University

• Program Name: Master of Architecture
• Program Length: 2-3 years, full-time
• Tuition: $60,879 (regular tuition for a 10-month single student budget, 2011-2012 costs)
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree; prerequisite coursework
• Requirements: GRE test scores, three letters of recommendation, resume, academic purpose statement, transcripts, design portfolio
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; around 5,000 undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students
• Address: 1 Nassau Hall, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
• Phone: (609) 258-3641

The M.Arch at Princeton is available as a professional and post-professional degree. The professional M.Arch is designed to meet the educational requirements to become a licensed architect. There is an advancing standing option, which will allow you to complete the program in two years instead of three if you qualify for advanced standing. In your final term, you'll need to complete an independent design thesis. However, for each term, you're required to take a studio course. Environmental engineering of buildings, structural design and professional practice of architecture are just a few of the classes you'll take in this program.

The post-professional M.Arch is designed for students holding a B.Arch degree and provides advanced education on theory, technology, history and analysis in architecture. Unlike the professional degree, the post-professional M.Arch is not accredited through NAAB. In addition to the M.Arch programs, the school offers a graduate certificate in media and modernity.

Architecture Doctoral Degrees in New Jersey

New Jersey Institute of Technology

• Program Name: Ph.D. in Urban Systems
• Specialization Options: Urban environment studies, urban health systems, urban educational policy
• Program Length: 5 years, full-time
• Tuition: $7,980 for residents and $11,366 for non-residents (full-time tuition per semester, 2011-2012)
• Prerequisites: Master's degree (exception recent bachelor's students with a GPA of 3.75 or higher)
• Requirements: GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, statement of intent, 3.5 GPA or better
• School Type: 4-year, public; roughly 6,000 undergraduate students and about 3,000 graduate students
• Address: College of Architecture and Design, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102
• Phone: (973) 596-5574

Obtaining a Ph.D. in Urban Systems at the New Jersey Institute of Technology is one way to broaden your architectural knowledge for career or academic purposes. Your choice of specialization guides your coursework beyond the core curriculum and research core. Your core curriculum examines urban systems, environmental design, urban educational policy and consequences of urban health.

Princeton University

• Program Name: Ph.D. in Architecture
• Fields of Study: Architecture, landscape, urbanism and building technology (others may be possible)
• Program Length: 5 years, full-time
• Tuition: $60,879 (regular tuition for a 10-month single student budget, 2011-2012 costs)
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree
• Requirements: GRE test scores, three letters of recommendation, resume, academic purpose statement, transcripts, sample of written work
• School Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit; around 5,000 undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students
• Address: 1 Nassau Hall, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
• Phone: (609) 258-3641

Coursework and independent study make up the bulk of your first two years in the Ph.D. in Architecture program at Princeton University. You'll typically spend at least a year on archival research for your dissertation. As you work on your final dissertation, you'll receive comments and advice from faculty members to help you with the process. Guest seminars are offered and form a basis for ongoing discussions on architectural topics, such as building technology and landscape design.