The Arch / Info for Students
- RPI School of Architecture Co-Director of the Arch Program at the SoA: Prof. Carla Leitao,
- RPI School of Architecture Co-Director of the Arch Program at the SoA: Prof. Marcus Carter,
- RPI School of Architecture Student Services Senior Administrator: Jamie Obst,
- RPI School of Architecture Student Services Senior Administrator: Anna Ford,
Forms
Before the experience:
For Away ILE Self-Design, ILE Study at Another Institution or ILE Research:
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- Peruse the AWAY ILE OUE Registration Check-list
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For Away ILE Self-Design – Architecture students need SoA pre-approval:
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- Peruse the AWAY ILE OUE Registration Check-list
- Fill the SoA Self-Design Proposal Form and submit to Jamie Obst for Approval by the School of Architecture
- After SoA Approval, Register your Away Self-Design ILE
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For Away ILE Internships, Co-Ops or Civic Engagement:
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- Peruse the CCPD AWAY ILE Checklist
- Note: This type of Away ILE does NOT need SoA pre-approval
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After the experience:
- Complete all Requirements with CCPD or Arch Offfice/OUE
- Report the AWAY ILE to the School of Architecture
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- Use this InDesign TEMPLATE for an AWAY ILE Report
- Use this InDesign TEMPLATE for a Study Abroad Report
- Contact Jamie Obst for an upload link
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Frequently Asked questions – Cohorts 2021, 2022, 2023
Students from any other Cohort should contact Prof. Carla Leitao, for more information.
Is the ‘Arch’ of the “RPI Arch” program, related to “Architecture” or the “School of Architecture”?
No.
RPI’s ‘Arch’ stands for an ‘arch between 2 points’. Specifically it points to a vision that transforms the academic calendar towards a richer educational experience, based on bridging across a focused experience on campus and an experience in the real world. Each department has a slightly different implementation of the required RPI-wide Arch program. You can read more about RPI’s Arch program here: https://the-arch.rpi.edu/about-arch
The School of Architecture has a unique structure of the Arch – architecture students do not have a Summer academic semester. Instead, architecture students fulfill the Arch Away ILE requirement (world experience) during a Summer (when architecture students have no classes).
How do I determine my cohort?
Your cohort is the year you entered RPI as a freshman.
Example: if you entered RPI in the Fall of 2024, you are Cohort 2024.
If you transferred into a 2nd year, your Cohort is 1 year before you entered RPI. For example: if you transferred into a 2nd year in 2022, you are in Cohort 2021.
When is the AWAY term?
If you are Cohort 2024: the Arch Requirement is that you complete two Away Experiences. One of the experiences must be an Away ILE during a summer of your choice after 2nd year. The 2nd experience can be an SoA Study Abroad, CASE semester, or a second Away ILE during a different Summer.
If you are Cohort 2021, 2022 or 2023, the Arch requirement is that you complete one Away ILE, during a Summer. This can be the Summer after 2nd year OR after 3rd year OR after 4th year. You must complete 1 AWAY ILE in order to graduate. Note that securing a summer internship is the responsibility of the student.
For all other Cohorts, please email your questions to one of the contacts at the top of this page.
How do I determine my semester AWAY?
Students can choose 1-2 Summer(s) for completing their Summer AWAY ILE(s). The Summers must be after their 2nd year and before their 5th year, to graduate on time.
Architecture students Cohort 2021 and above do not have an academic, on-campus, Summer ARCH.
When will I learn more about the RPI’s Arch and AWAY ILE structure in the School of Architecture?
During orientation, you will receive general information on the Arch structure in the School of Architecture. Every semester we hold an info-session about the Arch Away as it applies to the Architecture school and to your Cohort.
Additionally, at any moment, you can reach out to any of the contacts on this page, for clarification or questions.
What information do I need to prepare for my AWAY experience?
Depending on the type of AWAY ILE, processes will vary. Please check the types of Arch AWAY ILE, their respective “Planning and Registration” info/links and respective contacts for further info: https://the-arch.rpi.edu/semester-away-opportunities
Do I have to do an Internship for my AWAY ILE?
The School of Architecture highly recommends you use your AWAY ILE requirement towards the realization of an Internship/Co-Op with an Architecture office or a related field – Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction management, etc. Internships are an incredibly valuable experience for Architecture students, for their academic and future professional careers.
RPI Handshake is a great resource to find job openings with 120+ architecture, engineering and other related field offices currently registered with RPI. The SoA Career Fair is another opportunity to make connections in the field and finding opportunities.
Even though we highly recommend that students look for an Internship for their AWAY ILE, this is not mandatory. Your Summer AWAY ILE can be ANY TYPE of the ones described here: https://the-arch.rpi.edu/semester-away-opportunities
Can I earn AXP credits during my AWAY term?
Yes. It is possible if you are enrolled in the AXP program with NCARB and are working for a licensed professional who is willing to serve as your mentor.
For more information on using your AWAY ILE to gain AXP credits, please contact:
Guidelines can be found here: https://www.ncarb.org/gain-axp-experience
Will I be able to graduate on time if I skip the AWAY ILE?
No.
For Cohort 2024, you will be required to complete 2 Away experiences, in the manner described above, to graduate on time.
For Cohort 2021, 2022, 2023, you will be required to complete 1 away ILE term in a Summer after your 2nd, 3rd or 4th year, to graduate on time.
How do I find internship opportunities, are there resources at the SoA?
There are many resources available to you:
- RPI Handshake Database/Career Management
- SoA Career Fair every Spring (February 29, 2024)
- RPI CCPD
- Internships.com
- WayUp
- Your local AIA chapter
- Direct inquiry to offices of interest
- Direct announcements from employers by the SoA
- Competitive internship applications (online) (SOM, Gensler, etc)
- Speak with your advisor
From Cohort 2021 and subsequent Cohorts, any ILE Self-Design must receive School of Architecture approval. For more information, please contact Prof. Leitao or Prof. Carter.
What type of organizations apply for an AWAY ILE / Civic Engagement option?
This option offers opportunities to work on service projects for community organizations. Please see HERE for a recommended list of Civic Engagement options.
Do I have to work internationally to fulfill my ARCH AWAY ?
No.
Are the SoA Study abroad programs (Italy, Lat. Amer, India, China, CASE ) part of RPI’s ARCH?
For Cohorts 2024 and Above, a semester in a School of Architecture Study Abroad can count as one (only one) of the Away experiences, towards fulfilling the Arch requirements.
For Cohorts 2021, 2022, and 2023, the School of Architecture Study Abroad Programs (Italy, Latin America, CASE, etc.) are NOT related and DO NOT fulfill an Arch requirement.