About NewSchool of Architecture and Design

At NSAD, we challenge our students with rigorous advancement standards, and our hands-on instructional program nurtures artistic passion while demanding professional excellence.  We believe that a wide range of individuals can find reward and fulfillment in the study of architecture and design.

Our faculty includes experienced architects, designers, and practicing professionals who develop creative mentorships with students. NSAD subscribes to the “learn by doing” thesis of American philosopher John Dewey, and we encourage our students to intern as soon as their abilities and circumstances allow.

Undergraduate Programs
Whether you’re honing in on a career as an architect or designer, pursuing a profession in digital media, or seeking academic background and credentials for construction management, your NewSchool of Architecture and Design undergraduate degree will help you fulfill your aspirations.

Bachelor of Architecture
This program gives future architects the opportunity to earn a first professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). You’ll leave the program equipped with what may be one of the important prerequisites for obtaining licensure in your state (completion of a five-year program) and well prepared for a position with an architecture or design firm.

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
If you’ve always wanted to understand the foundation of design from a technical and aesthetic perspective, NewSchool of Architecture and Design’s Bachelor of Arts in Architecture is ideal for you.  When you complete this rigorous hands-on program that nurtures artistic passion and demands excellence, you’ll be prepared to enter a Master of Architecture program or pursue other professional degrees.

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
Construction Management brings architectural visions to life and to the community. At NewSchool of Architecture and Design, our Construction Management program prepares you for an exciting career, whether you’re new to the field or you’re aiming to expand your knowledge and credentials. You’ll receive an interdisciplinary foundation of science, architecture, and engineering, reinforced by hands-on lessons in the construction-rich location of urban San Diego.

Graduate Programs
Whether you’re seeking a first professional degree in architecture or enhancing knowledge in a related field, just completing undergraduate studies or building upon years of practice, a graduate degree from NewSchool of Architecture and Design can move you closer to your goals.

Management Master of Architecture I
NewSchool of Architecture and Design’s Master of Architecture I program gives students with a bachelor’s degree in architecture or in a related field the opportunity to earn a professional degree in architecture. The Master of Architecture can serve as a student’s first professional degree, and is recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) as part of the requirements for eventual architectural licensure. The program offers 2 entry points, one for students with a baccalaureate degree in any field, and the other for students who have already obtained a pre-professional architectural undergraduate degree, such as a B.A. or B.S. in architecture, or a bachelor’s in environmental design, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, or civil engineering.

Master of Architecture II
Designed for students already possessing a first professional degree in architecture, the Master of Architecture II builds on foundational knowledge in art and design with a program that integrates thesis-based learning and coursework to explore architecture in the context of history and theory, tectonics, urban studies and professional practice. The program typically requires one year of full-time study to complete 45 required units: 37 professional requirements and 8 professional electives.

Master of Science in Architecture
From urban planning to interior design, many professions today benefit from in-depth study of architecture. If you want to enrich your knowledge of the field but don’t plan to pursue architectural licensing, consider a Master of Science in Architecture. Students with a bachelor’s degree in any field may apply.

Master of Construction Management
NSAD's Master of Construction Management was designed to help you to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly changing field--and is offered completely online, so you can continue to work even as you learn. Through coursework taught by longtime construction management professionals, you will gain an understanding of how to such daily construction management issues as meeting industry standards for building and construction materials, keeping employees safe on the site, using "green" solutions when working with energy and the environment, and minimizing risk factors.

Master of Landscape Architecture
U.S. News & World Report cited landscape architecture as a high-potential career in the United States. Learn about the field at the only MLA program offered south of Los Angeles County and north of Mexico City. You’ll develop a deep understanding of the environmental, social, and emotional aspects of landscape architectural design, gain the tools you need to make a vision reality, and leave ready to make an impact in landscape architecture, urban redevelopment, park design, community planning, ecological redevelopment, and many other areas.

Executive Master of Architecture
This program is designed for licensed architects with a minimum of five years demonstrated work experience who desire a First Professional Degree to teach or to pursue a reciprocal architecture license in a qualifying state. A convenient, nine-month, NAAB-accredited, weekend-only program for working architects, with all studies taking place in the heart of San Diego, one of the world’s foremost urban laboratories for design.

Complete the form to learn more…

Experiential Philosophy
NewSchool of Architecture and Design reinforces classroom theory with real-world application. We challenge our students with rigorous advancement standards, and our hands-on instructional program nurtures artistic passion while demanding professional excellence.

Faculty Practitioners 
At NSAD, most of our faculty members are highly experienced active practitioners. They will prepare you for your career by bringing the present and future of architecture and design into the classroom.  

Professional Accreditation
NSAD’s professional programs in architecture are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). In fact, we are one of a handful of fully accredited architecture programs in the western United States.

Social Consciousness
We develop professionals for responsible citizenship and careers in architecture. Our programs are built on a solid ethical foundation and have long promoted accessible, socially beneficial, and sustainable design solutions.

Personal Attention
Our small yet dynamic classes provide individual attention while encouraging collaboration among students and faculty. Because we maintain relationships with many area architecture firms, there are ample opportunities to engage personally with local professionals.  

Prime Location
NSAD is located on the edge of San Diego’s East Village, in the heart of the Urban Art Trail—where architectural history and innovative design converge. Minutes from the Mexican border, the city boasts a diverse artistic community and mild Mediterranean-like weather, which provides us with a bustling urban classroom all year round.