Student Resources & FAQ

Students who have been admitted to the professional program, starting in the 2nd year, will receive a specification for a laptop purchase in July before the start of the school year. Students will want to have their computer ready for use at the start of the fall semester. The specification information includes recommendations for laptops at various price points, as well as software that students are required to buy or download. We ask that students defer this laptop purchase until they know that they have been admitted to the professional program, as the specification is for a higher-performance laptop than what would be required for general use or other majors.

Students have the option of taking graduate seminars in their fourth year in the program, or of deferring all graduate classes until their fifth year. Here is a suggested timetable for graduate school application, based on when a student wants to start taking graduate classes (students will receive reminders from the department Advisor on when application should be made). Depending on when a student starts taking graduate classes, there may be a tuition-impact.

When to register for graduate school:

Students will be encouraged to think about this Thesis topic, site and research question during the 4th year, so that the summer might be used to make a site visit (students are required to make an in-person visit to their Thesis site). Thesis research documentation and final decision-making occurs during the fall of the 5th year.

Art classes such as Painting 1, Intro to Ceramics and Photography, World Religions, Intro to Marketing, Welding, music classes such as Choir or Band, activity classes such as Yoga, Ballroom Dancing or Billiards.

It’s not too early to think about internships after the 2nd year in the program, but typically most students start to seek internships during the summer after the 3rd year. Internships are recommended but not required – what’s most important is that future employers see that you have a work history of some type.

Students should always have an up-to-date resume – you never know when an employment opportunity might present itself. Additionally, you will want to prepare a cover letter, referencing why you are interested in the particular firm/position for which you are applying. You should also prepare a “mini-portfolio” of 1-2 pages of images of your best work, and most of our students at some point also prepare an online portfolio, linked in their resume. You will want to link these pieces graphically, so that they are a seamless application package.

NDSU, the Department of Architecture, the Advisory Board and student organizations within the department organize many events that connect students with professional architects:

Fall Semester

• Firm Crawl
• Career Fair
• Pizza Summit
• ND AIA Convention
• Green Build
• AIAS Grassroots Student Convention
• USGBC Student Convention
• NOMAS Student Convention
• Spring Semester:
• Beaux Arts
• Career Fair

Spring Semester

• Beaux Arts
• Career Fai