IE University has reinvented university education with its new degree in architecture, one of the international universityâ??s flagship programmes for the academic year 2008-2009. The new degree is run in English and Spanish and will combine online and onsite training with internships whereby students can gain work experience in other countries and learn languages. The new degree programme comprise forward looking course content and comply with the requirements of the Bologna process, which is set to align the European university map by 2010. IE University will be competing with leading international universities, with a student body set to comprise 80% international students in two yearsâ?? time.

The new degree in architecture is poised to make its mark on the international arena of architectural design, providing a new platform for creativity in the field of architecture where design and innovation meet management.
The IE School of Architecture has a markedly international focus, and has partnered with leading institutions that include the prestigious Architecture Association in London (UK), Evtek Institute of Art and Design in Finland, Politécnico de Milán and Bauhaus Universität de Dessau in Germany, to further enrich the studentsâ?? learning experience. We are interviewing the Dean, Javier Quintana:

What are the key differentiating features of the BA and MA in Architecture?
The BA and MA in Architecture combine excellence and design, innovation in terms of method and content, and a management toolkit for creative teams in the field of architecture. From an international and applied perspective, the programme brings the opportunity to address leading edge issues with a professional mindset and latest generation management tools. We want to train architects who will run architecture studios, not work for someone else.

The programme is highly flexible in that it is designed to serve as a continuation of programmes in similar leading international education centres. It combines the basic professional accreditation requirements not only for Spain but also for the rest of Europe and the U.S. Apart from learning about business organization and management (the IE module), we include specific workshops where we integrate knowledge across architectonic disciplines (projects, structures, installations, etc.) and also those related to the world of architecture (photography, software, etc.).

Finally, and through an ambitious internship programme and online methodology, students will have access to a relevant professional experience that will enable them to be extremely competitive from the moment they finish their degree.

What is the profile of an IE School of Architecture student?
We seek designers and players in the changing field of architecture, enthusiasts that live and breathe creation, and who have entrepreneurial spirit and a capacity to lead the change needed in this profession. They are young people who have a vocation for architecture and want to use it as a tool to bring about change. We are also looking for citizens of the world who want an academic experience that requires a global mentality. People who see their training as an international experience that they can use to acquire perspective. And, of course, we are looking for those with an acute awareness of the richness of architecture, and who see it as a place where technique meets culture. These humanists of the future will use their education to assume responsibility.

How long will it last? And will you offer postgraduate learning?
The degree in architecture will be a five year course which can be reduced to four years for students who opt to do an internship in international firms. With regard to postgraduate possibilities, IE School of Architecture offers titles that include the MDWS (Master in Design of Work Space), the MBA (Master in Business and Architecture) or the MNA (Master in Architectural Narrative).

If you wish to learn more about the BA & MA in Architecture, please visit the IE School of Architecture.

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