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Your Future. Made in Charlotte.
Welcome to the David R. Ravin School of Architecture
The David R. Ravin School of Architecture embraces the mission of an urban research university that bridges academic access and excellence. Founded in 1971, the School is a community of energetic faculty and students who advance ideas freely in an open and collaborative environment.
About the David R. Ravin School of Architecture
As one of just two accredited architecture programs in North Carolina, the David R. Ravin School of Architecture (SoA) capitalizes on our location in the state’s largest and fastest-growing city.
The SoA offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees to meet different interests and career goals, including the only Master of Urban Design degree in the state. Our award-winning faculty educate students to become licensed architects, practitioners in related fields, researchers in emerging technologies and advocates for the built environment.
The SoA has nearly 3,500 alumni who make contributions to architecture and related disciplines in nearly 700 cities worldwide. More than 500 UNC Charlotte architecture alumni live and work in Charlotte, with the SoA represented in nearly every local design office.
The SoA celebrates our home in the College of Arts + Architecture – a creative constellation of visual arts, performance and design disciplines that is unique in the Carolinas and rare in the nation. On November 18, 2022, the UNC Charlotte School of Architecture was named for alumnus David R. Ravin ’94, president and CEO of Northwood Ravin LLC, a leading full-service development, construction and property management firm and one of the Charlotte area’s largest commercial real estate developers.
Our Mission
The mission of the David R. Ravin School of Architecture is to promote excellence in architecture and urban design education, scholarship and practice in an inclusive and collaborative environment.
Our Vision
The vision of the David R. Ravin School of Architecture is to be a nationally recognized program known for linking academic excellence and access, preparing students to be entrepreneurial designers and thinkers, and expanding the disciplinary capacities and contributions of architecture in addressing social, technological and environmental challenges.
Our Commitment
Faculty and students at the David R. Ravin School of Architecture are committed to creating an open-minded and creative atmosphere to pursue research, explore new forms of building and discover collaborative practices that nurture human potential. Our graduates understand where knowledge comes from and how to integrate their voice with others to influence the art and science of architecture. The School of Architecture opens opportunities to students through interdisciplinary programs, close alliances with the profession and active programs in the community.
Our Research
The faculty and students in the David R. Ravin School of Architecture participate in a wide range of research projects, scholarship, and creative and professional activities. Most of it is collaborative and interdisciplinary. Faculty engage researchers within the School as well as in the fine and performing arts within the College of Arts + Architecture and in disciplines across campus, including engineering, geography and computer science. They also engage industry partners and civic and cultural institutions.
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Licensure & Accreditation
The David R. Ravin School of Architecture is one of only two programs in North Carolina that maintains accredited status through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). That accreditation body reviews the curriculum, facility, faculty and program resources annually, and it conducts an intensive site visit every eight years. The SoA maintains full accreditation standards as prescribed by this board, and part of our responsibility is to provide detailed reports and updates to the public.
NAAB-accredited degree programs
The David R. Ravin School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
Master of Architecture (M.Arch I), Undergraduate degree + NAAB-accredited 96 credit hoursMaster of Architecture (MArch Advanced Standing) Pre-professional architecture degree from UNC Charlotte + 40 graduate credit hours
Master of Architecture (M.Arch II), Pre-professional architecture degree from a NAAB-accredite school + NAAB-accredited 60 graduate credit hours
B.A. to accredited M.Arch tracks
The SoA also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree, with three concentrations, each of which leads into one of the three accredited tracks of the M.Arch. program.
Although the B.A. in Architecture is not accredited, some of its coursework is applied toward requirements of the accredited degree.
IPAL
In 2015, National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB) launched the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL), allowing NAAB accredited architecture schools to integrate licensure requirements into their own curricula. UNC Charlotte’s David R. Ravin School of Architecture was one of the first programs to adopt IPAL, which provides students an opportunity to complete the experience and examination requirements for licensure concurrently with the education requirement.
Study Abroad with the SoA
Intercultural competency is critical in our increasingly globalized world. The SoA’s Rome + Istanbul program offers an exciting opportunity to spend an entire semester abroad with your cohort, actively engaging with students and faculty from institutions in Rome and Istanbul. Other intercultural destinations that engage questions about the future of architecture and urbanism include Japan, Taiwan, Colombia and Tanzania.
Rome + Istanbul Semester Program
Taiwan Summer Program
Colombia Fall Break Program
Japan Summer Program
Mariam Zaghari
B.A. in Architecture
“My favorite thing about the School of Architecture is the strong sense of community it creates. I’ve found my favorite people here in an environment where everyone is welcoming and genuinely willing to support one another. Being in a major with long nights and a heavy workload can feel overwhelming at times, but having professors and classmates there to support you along the way makes the hard work feel more manageable and meaningful.”
Kim Truong
B.A. in Architecture
“After I started the program, I did not expect to learn as much about the city beyond what I already knew. As I’ve grown each year, my perspective has shifted. I’ve started to see the built environment more like a form of art we interact with every day. My instructors and peers have added to this view by connecting their own thinking and showing how different communities influence the manner in which people view architecture. The UNC Charlotte School of Architecture encourages creative thinking, and with all the tools and media available, it offers a platform for several design perspectives.”
Joel Fudge
Master of Architecture
“My favorite thing about the School of Architecture is the sense of community. With that, there is an environment of inspiration and not competitiveness that drives the school. Everyone from the students to the faculty are willing to help in whatever you may need. I know that if I am struggling with a concept or design technique I can reach out to my peers or I can go to a professor to get the assistance I need, and that is very comforting to know.”