BACKGROUND
The Boston Architectural College (BAC) is an independent, professional college located in Boston’s Back Bay offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and design studies.
Founded in the early 1880s as a club for architects in the Boston area, BAC has maintained close ties to the professional design community throughout its history. These ties still exist today with the BAC’s faculty of practicing professionals, many of whom volunteer their time to the college.
One of the most unique characteristics of the Boston Architectural College is experiential practice in the field, and intellectual academic learning in the classroom. Students can earn credits interning at over 300 design firms during the day, while attending classes in the evening, typically two to three nights per week. This educational experience connects the theoretical with the practical, which gives students the ability to test for licensure upon graduation.
PRO
– Central location in Boston, in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay
– Boston Architectural College offers an extensive array of continuing education courses
– Student/Faculty Ratio: 8:1 in lecture classes, 6:1 in design studios
Accredited by:
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
– Council for Interior Design Education Accreditation (CIDA) – formerly FIDER
– Architecture American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
CON
– No Campus Housing
– Tuition may be cost prohibitive for some
DEGREE PROGRAMS
Bachelors and Masters degrees:
– Bachelor of Architecture
– Bachelor of Interior Design
– Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
– Master of Architecture
– Master of Interior Design
Certificate programs:
– Advanced Architectural Rendering
– Computer-aided Design
– Decorative Arts
– Historic Preservation
– Sustainable Design
STUDENT LIFE
Boston Architectural College has more than 1000 degree-seeking students and 300 continuing education students. During the day, the BAC “campus” consists of the more than 300 firms in Boston where students practice their curriculum. In the workplace, students contribute to projects that are literally changing the face of the city, and recieve valuable on the job education from practicing design professionals.
In the late afternoon and evening, students gather in the BAC’s more conventional campus on Newbury Street in Boston’s historic Back Bay. The Back Bay is one of the most exciting and vibrant neighborhoods of Boston. Aside from the many restaurants and shops along Newbury Street and the surrounding area, the Back Bay has a fascinating history of architecture, evidenced by its development and many unique buildings and landscapes.
CONCLUSION
The BAC has also remained true to its founding principles of affordability and accessibility, making an education in design available to all those who express an interest. The college’s central location and its strong links with the Greater Boston area design community make it a center for the discussion of design-related issues in the city. A vibrant exhibit and lecture program invites metro-Boston residents to learn more about topics related to architecture, interior design, landscape design, real estate, development, and city planning, among others – making the Boston Architectural College a true center for life-long learning.
Common Misspellings
Boston Arcitectural, Boston Architecture College, Boston Architect College, Boston Architctural College, BAC