BLINN’S ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM SETS STUDENTS ON CAREER PATH

Mark Whitehead August 4, 2015

239

For a structure to reach proud heights, it needs a strong foundation. And no place offers a better foundation in the architectural field than Blinn College.

Incepted just five years ago, the College’s Architecture Program has already transferred approximately 40 percent of its students to four-year universities, including Texas A&M, Houston and Texas Tech.

Architecture story — Bryan Smith, a second-year student from Annapolis, Md., works on a model depicting plan, section and elevation during an architecture course at Blinn College.

Designed to give students a foundation in architecture and design, the program includes rigorous introductory courses in AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Adobe Photoshop, hand drafting and perspective drawing. With small class sizes, students receive personalized instruction from program faculty and are challenged with projects and presentations compatible with curriculum at four-year institutions.

“Many of our students enter the program and aren’t sure if architecture is the path they want to follow,” said Craig Jeffrey, instructor. “We teach them as much as possible and give them a solid foundation. Students often decide that they’re interested and are up for the challenge.”

Students learn how to blend both creativity and practicality for increased proficiency in design, engineering and project management. Courses are designed for a two-year Associate of Arts in architecture or for transfer to a university.

Architecture courses are currently offered on Blinn’s Bryan campus and are expected to be introduced to the Brenham campus in the spring.

Architecture is expected to have 18,600 new job openings in the United States by 2022 and is ranked the third best creative job by U.S. News and World Report. Students can expect to earn around $73,090 annually after earning an advanced degree.

Jason Teal, a Blinn alumnus from Austin, completed several courses in the program before transferring to Texas A&M’s College of Architecture. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in May.

“The architecture program at Blinn is excellent,” Teal said. “It was a huge benefit to me—it definitely prepared me for my bachelor’s degree.”

Blinn’s Architecture Program is part of the Division of Visual & Performing Arts, which offers 51 courses, including architectural design, drawing, painting, ceramics, digital art, photography, watercolor, music theory, music appreciation, voice study, the Select Choral Ensemble, acting, argumentation, professional speaking and introductory speech. For more information, visit: www.blinn.edu/vpa. Story and photo courtesy of Blinn College.

What’s your Reaction?