I am going back to school for architecture and wanted to transfer to Italy to complete part of my undergrad degree. Does that work for a specialized degree? I didn't really want to do the "study abroad" program through the local University because it would cost me WAY more.

I planned to graduate in the US (you need to have graduated from an accredited school to work as an architect here.)

If anyone has had any experience trying to split up a specialized education like that, I'd love any tips or advice I can get. I can't find anyone around here who knows anything about it.

The only thing I know about that is that Syracuse students (undergrad) had some kind of 5 year program that included a year in Italy. They were in Florence, I don't know if other cities were available, and in 5 years got some kind of special architecture degree at the master's level. I lived with some in Italy while they were there and they loved it.

Without doing it as part of a recognized study abroad program I think it would be really difficult to get the credits recognized towards your degree at the US university. The problem I think is that credit transfers don't really work cross-border; even getting a degree "recognized" is a huge hassle.

At many schools the cost of "study abroad" is basically the same as a normal year at the University, although that may not be the case universally. I would look into programs like that. Usually you aren't limited just to programs at your own University, although they may only promote their own programs (meaning it would be up to you to find and research a program on your own). Of course, if you are comparing a year at a US University to a year directly enrolled at an Italian one, there is no contest, the US will ALWAYS be more expensive.

My (italian) roommate today was complaining about the possible cost of doing a two-year "specialistica" degree in teaching here in Italy. She said, "I don't want to have to do a degree that's going to cost me €5000, cavoli! It's not worth it!" She was talking, of course, about the ENTIRE two-year degree. That would be a bargain for one SEMESTER of tuition at many US schools. If she only had any idea...

Really though, before you do anything, ask the admissions officer, your future academic advisors, and the study abroad office at the University you plan to get your degree from. They should be able to tell you if it's even possible to transfer credits from a foreign university.

Good luck...

I would agree with Michael, but: I think that once you are enrolled in the US and have completed part of your degree you could probably make some arrangement with your US university to do say a year of design studies in Italy. You would probably have to submit your work in Italy for review in the US. However, I think it would be difficult to get credit for any other classes you might take with maybe the exception of a language study.

Another option would be to do your entire degree program in Italy. I'm not sure about the licensing part which requires a degree from an accredited architecture school, check with NCARB, but the US will recognize your Italian degree. You just have to submit it to an agency that will certify it as equal to the US one.

Also there are US schools like Cal Poly in California that have relatively inexpensive programs in Italy, check around.

How do I know this stuff, my wife and I are both architects, she from Italy I from California. At one point we had her Italian degree certified in the US. At the time it was to get her a working visa to enter the US.

Thanks so much for the information. I was really hoping not to have to pay US costs for schooling in Italy. And the study abroad program at the local university was really limited in architecture.

But, you all have really given my some things to think about - If I'm willing to drag my family abroad, maybe I could consider dragging them to another state that I might take advantage of a better study abroad program. Or, completing my entire undergrad in Italy (which would be ideal, if I could get enough in student loans.)

And, it didn't occur to me that I could propose a study abroad program of my own to the university here. I know they allow you to design your own major and minor if you have the ambition to do so. They might allow this as well.

I was hoping the licensing wouldn't be a sticking point. Or, that it might be remedied by a few extra courses at an accredited school and the licensing exam.

Grazie Mille!!

Another question, regarding architecture schooling in Italy:

Are there similar requirements to *work* in Italy as an architect - accredited school, licensing, and such?

MK

Jhelm, I have another question, if you would be so kind as to help:

As I consider whether to complete my arch. degree either in the US or in Italy, I wonder if you could advise if having a US degree versus an Italian degree is favorable for finding work in Italy? I assume dealing with the beurocracy in the US with an Italian degree would be easier for me than working it the other way around. I wondered if a degree in either country holds more weight in the job market. Then, there's the question of having on or both undergrad and Master's degrees... another can of worms, perhaps.

If you have thoughts or advice on this, I'd really love to hear it; you seem to have a position of very specific knowledge here.

MK

Mk,
Architecture in Italy is a 5 years degree, so you cannot do only a master. You will have your credits converted and some might be "lost" in the conversion. I would be very carefully about this point, since architecture is still "in the old way", so it has semestral exams and even annual exams, compulsory attendance, and so on.

YOu'd better try to come here with a US partnership, although this might cost more.
(unless you are willing to consider to lose a year and obtain the degree in architecture in more than the 2 years you are expecting)

quote:

Originally posted by MK:
Another question, regarding architecture schooling in Italy:

Are there similar requirements to *work* in Italy as an architect - accredited school, licensing, and such?

MK

I think for architects works the same as for other professionals. You hold a degree in architecture, you are considered a "magistral doctor in architecture", but to be considered an architect you must take a professional exam (I think is 3 written exams and 2 orals, but i should check since i'm not in the arch. field).

To attend this professional exam you must hold a degree in architecture and I am sure your 3-years bachelor will not be sufficient to access this exam.


Please note that in Italy you must hold a professional title only if you are working alone, i.e. putting your own signature on the projects (= taking the responsibilities).
For example, if you want to have your own architecture studio you will need the title, on the contrary, if you just want to be a designer or work for a bigger company, you won't need it.

quote:

Originally posted by MK:
Jhelm, I have another question, if you would be so kind as to help:

As I consider whether to complete my arch. degree either in the US or in Italy, I wonder if you could advise if having a US degree versus an Italian degree is favorable for finding work in Italy? I assume dealing with the beurocracy in the US with an Italian degree would be easier for me than working it the other way around. I wondered if a degree in either country holds more weight in the job market. Then, there's the question of having on or both undergrad and Master's degrees... another can of worms, perhaps.

If you have thoughts or advice on this, I'd really love to hear it; you seem to have a position of very specific knowledge here.

MK

I am sorry that I don't have good knowledge about the value of a US degree in Italy. I think but don't know for sure that a US degree would allow you to take the Italian license exam. Otherwise as Pola says, the Italian program is 5 years and you would have to correspond with an Italian university see what could be transfered.

The sad part of it all is that jobs for architects in Italy are scarce. There are few jobs, and too many architects. Most young architects work for free or next to nothing for some time, after graduation only to finally get a low paying job. Also many if not most end up in some related profession, selling furniture, working in construction or for some government agency. If you really want to be an architect I'd say stay in the US and get your US degree. You can do a year in Florence with one of the study abroad programs.

If you do get a degree in Italy and move back to the US your degree would be recognized however you may not get full credit to qualify for the license exam. This would then require you to work longer as an intern before taking the exam, not always a problem. Check with NCARB, they have a web site.

quote:

To attend this professional exam you must hold a degree in architecture and I am sure your 3-years bachelor will not be sufficient to access this exam.

Just for information the standard Bach. of Architectue degree in the US is a 5 year program similar to Italy. One can get a bach of science in architecture in 4 years but it is not accredited to qualify for the license exam. The other choice is a 4 year bach. degree and then a 2 year masters degree.

quote:

The sad part of it all is that jobs for architects in Italy are scarce. There are few jobs, and too many architects. Most young architects work for free or next to nothing for some time, after graduation only to finally get a low paying job.

No wonder my daughter's apartment mate was never in a hurry to finish his degree.

Errata corrige.
I must be out of date now

I have found that there are two sections of the "albo degli architetti", similarly as for engineers, depending on the lenght of the course of study. [ link]

So there is the 3+2 also for architecture.
Section B is : Architetto iunior, Pianificatore territoriale iunior

Section A is: o Architetto
o Pianificatore territoriale
o Paesaggista
o Conservatore dei beni architettonici ed Ambientali
[ link]


For example Politecnico di Milano (in Milan ), Facoltà di Architettura e Società offers:
Corsi di laurea (I livello) <<BACHELOR

* ARCHITETTURA AMBIENTALE
* ARCHITETTURA E PRODUZIONE EDILIZIA
* SCIENZE DELL'ARCHITETTURA
* URBANISTICA

Corsi di laurea specialistica (II livello) <<MASTER

* ARCHITETTURA
* PIANIFICAZIONE URBANA E POLITICHE TERRITORIALI

And the Facoltà Architettura Civile offers:
- scienze dell'architettura
- architettura delle costruzioni
both for the bachelor and the master.

When I lived in Vicenza back in the nineties, the AIA maintained an office there. I was told it was because of Palladio and his works all around the area.(good reason..man was a genius)..including la rotunda..the Perfect Building..(and if you notice when you look at a nickle and see monticello, you can see where tom jefferson ripped off his design!!
anyway, ck with AIA, see what info they could provide you.
my .02 lire

Thanks so much for all the help!

I had forgotten about the saturated market in Italy. Or, perhaps I fancied that by the time I would actually be able to practice, things might have opened up a little.

I didn't want to do the 5 year program, I hoped to break it up as a 4 + 2. I thought it might be possible to transfer from one country and school to another after finishing my undergrad to pursue my master (akin to what I would do in the US, as you cannot really transfer in the middle of either program).

I'll check out the AIA and NCARB again (NCARB is what got me back on this train of thought, but I could dig a little deeper).

Thanks again!