AA/AS in Architecture and Related Services, Other

Mercer's Architecture degree is a transfer program that mirrors what most architecture schools teach during the first two years. It balances general academic study with studio-based design work. The academic side gives students a wide base of knowledge for weighing issues and making informed choices. The studio side develops the ability to think through a design problem and decide among options, using hand drafting and physical models as well as computer tools for studying forms in three dimensions. Field trips and clubs related to architecture add to the experience. Since senior colleges differ and competition for places is stiff, faculty advise students as they build design portfolios and research transfer options; the instructors are themselves licensed architects. Students learn to break down the key elements of a design, move through the creative process, and apply sustainable design principles.