The Tyler School of Art and Architecture believes no single ideal student exists. Instead, everyone arrives ideal in their own way. That’s why majors interested in architectural design, historic preservation or facilities management complete the same two-year architecture foundations program at the start of the 4-year degree.
Thanks to one-on-one instruction from your architecture faculty-mentors, your academic and career exploration remains unique to you — from day one through graduation. The foundations program prepares you well no matter what major you ultimately choose, including community development or landscape architecture or another related field.
Like a playground for your creativity, Tyler’s Architecture Foundations Program gives you two years to try all kinds of things. The goal? Seeing your architecture school experience as a creative quest, based on both imagination and precedents:
Learn more about everything Tyler offers by requesting more information, seeing everything in person and meeting our incredible team. And, when you’re ready, we are happy to consider your admission application.
Put this next part in the plus column! You get to study architecture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You! In this legendary city. Seeing what’s what. Imagining your place in communities of your choosing.
Visit renowned buildings and locations to soak up methods and thoughts of the times.
See the inner workings of a thriving city grappling with needs and changes.
Connect with the people, places, and spaces that embody this time in your life.
Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s two-year Architecture Foundations Program challenges you to think about designs, spaces and functionality in change-making ways. It prepares you to complete your remaining coursework to earn your 4-year bachelor’s degree. Yes, we’re an architecture school, but we’re also so much more.
In addition to the designing and making processes, doing hands-on creative work also builds your abilities to analyze projects and problems.
While architecture always solves problems, studying architecture foundations gives you time to explore what’s possible and ways to make functionality creative and beautiful.
Visual communication requires both skill and strategy so that others see and support your solutions and designs.
Tyler makes learning a team sport by requiring you and your peers to observe and critique each other’s designs and reflect on how your experiences shape how you (and others) see the world.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture offers a close-knit community of interdisciplinary thinkers and creators dedicated to driving change.
Meet the working architects / faculty who teach Tyler’s first-year foundation courses for architecture majors.
Curriculum Coordinator and Assistant Professor
“Tyler’s education is unique since students are part of an art and architecture school. Students can explore art classes, participate in exhibitions, various organizations, and have access to an arboretum with our Ambler campus. We encourage cross-disciplinary work, and I’m always cognizant of the ways to introduce students to our varied programs and faculty.”
Browse the work of your future architecture classmates.
Alumni
Painter
Alumni
Alumni
With your future opportunities so wide open, questions always come up. Just ask!
Yes, Tyler’s academic programs in architecture give you multiple pathways to become a licensed professional in architecture.
The two-year foundations program exposes you to other career paths and job options — some not obvious — until you immerse yourself in the academic and professional field.
To recap, you choose from these architecture majors or environmental design majors:
Architecture (bachelor’s degree)
Facilities Management (bachelor’s degree)
Historic Preservation (bachelor’s degree)
Community Development (bachelor’s degree)
Landscape Architecture (bachelor’s degree)
Horticulture (bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree)
Yes! Temple University features campuses in both Italy and Japan that allow you to experience different cultures, languages and built environments.
While not required, we encourage you to pursue internships and prepare you with the skills and professionalism needed to do a great job. Tyler’s staff and faculty support your internship goals with ideas on opportunities and even internship funding. Your professors also provide mentoring and guidance for building your portfolio.
