PhD in Architecture

Established in 1996 as a place for applied research and scholarship, this doctoral program brings graduate students from many countries to the landmark campus designed by Mies van der Rohe. It is the only doctorate in architecture offered in Chicago. Candidates examine historical and current links between architecture, culture, and technology within two specializations: one on technologies of the built environment, the other on history, theory, and criticism. Topics follow faculty expertise and student interests and may include energy use in buildings and cities, environmental effects of construction, tall building design, high-performance building skins, advanced structural systems, and urban water systems. Chicago offers an energetic building culture, research institutions that lend support, and well-known firms. The program is on campus and meets F-1 visa requirements, giving international researchers a route to study here.