The Professional Residency Program [PRP] is an honors program that offers upper-level architecture students a unique opportunity to expand their education through work experience in the architectural profession. PRP has provided internship opportunities to those in the Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture programs since 1974 and, over the past 25 years, our students have been linked with 300 firms in 30 countries.
The educational and professional objectives of the Residency Program are to:
- Provide students the opportunity to further develop their professional skills,
- Enrich and expand their advanced design vocabulary through practical applications,
- Explore the many aspects of the profession that are not usually available in academia and,
- Strengthen their professional profile upon graduation.
Students can choose the Spring/Summer session (January-July) or the Summer/Fall Session (June-December) for their Residency. Students are expected to work on a full-time basis for a minimum of six months and are required to register only for PRP course(s).
During the application process, the PRP Director, Administrators, and Coordinator work closely with the students to develop their portfolios and additional application materials, provide guidance on selecting firms, and support them in making connections with firms.
ADMINISTRATION
| NICHOLE WIEDEMANN | ||
| PRP Director | ||
| JUDY BIRDSONG | MARI MICHAEL GLASSELL | |
| PRP Administrator | PRP Administrator | |
| MARLA SMITH | KAREN FRAIRE | |
| PRP Administrator | PRP Program Coordinator |
LOCATION + CONTACT
Sutton 3.128
The University of Texas at Austin
512-471-2558
utprp@utexas.edu
RECENT PARTICIPATING FIRMS
| 3XN | Adept Architects | Allied Works | ||
| Anderson Mason Dale | Architecture Research Office [ARO] | Architecturestudio | ||
| Behnisch Architekten | Bjarke Ingels Group [BIG] | Diller Scofidio + Renfro | ||
| Duda Paine Architects | ennead | Forge Craft | ||
| Gensler | Guerin Glass | Hacker Architects | ||
| Herzog & de Meuron | JaJa Architects | KieranTimberlake | ||
| KOKO Architecture + Design | KPF | Lake Flato | ||
| Leroy Street Studio | Mahlum Architects | Marmol Radziner | ||
| MARVEL | Maryann Thompson Architects | Michael Hsu Office of Architecture | ||
| Miró Rivera Architects | Murray Legge Architecture | MVRDV | ||
| nARCHITECTS | Olson Kundig | Overland Partners | ||
| PAGE | PAU | Peterson Rich Office | ||
| Renzo Piano Building Workshop | RIOS | Rogers Partners | ||
| sauerbruch hutton | Shigeru Ban Architects | SHoP Architects | ||
| Skylab Architecture | Snøhetta | SOM | ||
| STEVEN HOLL ARCHITECTS | Studio Modh | Tatiana Bilbao Estudio | ||
| TEN Arquitectos | TenBerke | TsAO & McKOWN | ||
| Weiss/Manfredi | WORKac | Worrell Yeung |
PRP NOW!
PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current Professional Residency Program student every few weeks. Follow us on Instagram @utsoaprp.
STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for participation, students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing as well as enrolled in either the Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture degrees at The University of Texas School of Architecture and:
UNDERGRADUATE
- Have an overall 3.0 GPA in all coursework. If the student participated in a study abroad program (fall or spring term), an overall 3.5 GPA in studio courses is required;
- Have a competitive portfolio, to be evaluated by the PRP Administration, that demonstrates a strong preparation for a successful placement and a fulfilling experience in a firm;
- Must be on campus during the application semester due to the one-on-one placement process;
- Have successfully completed required coursework consistent with an advanced-level student – no incompletes or non-passing grades at the point of application;
- Have passed the portfolio review and have already, or will, successfully complete at least one Advanced Design Studio prior to the start of the Residency;
- Need at least one remaining Advanced Design Studio to be completed following Residency and;
- Must not be on disciplinary probation, suspension or deferred suspension at the time of application, prior to or during their time on Residency.
GRADUATE
- Have an overall 3.3 GPA in all coursework.
- Have a competitive portfolio, to be evaluated by the PRP Administration, that demonstrates a strong preparation for a successful placement and a fulfilling experience in a firm;
- Must be on campus during the application semester due to the one-on-one placement process;
- Have successfully completed , or waived, required coursework consistent with an advanced-level student– no incompletes or non-passing grades at the point of application;
- Have passed the portfolio review and have already, or will, successfully complete at least one Advanced Design Studio prior to the start of the Residency;
- Need at least one remaining Advanced Design Studio to be completed following Residency and;
- Must not be on disciplinary probation, suspension or deferred suspension at the time of application, prior to or during their time on Residency.
NOTE: As the Professional Residency Program is an honors program, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance. An applicant's total educational and disciplinary record, professional attitude, level of preparedness, and interpersonal maturity may be considerations in the acceptance process.
INFORMATION FOR CURRENT STUDENTS
Learn more about how to apply to the Professional Residency Program and about available PRP courses.
FOLLOW US
- Instagram Post
@utsoaLed by Senior Lecturer Robert Stepnoski (@robertstepnoski), the 2025 Summer course “Robots for Architecture” explored robotic automation in architectural design and fabrication using KUKA robots.
Instagram Post
@utsoaOur faculty are known for their expansive professional practices that extend beyond the university, so we’re kicking off a new series to feature the research and design work of our wonderful professors.
Instagram Post
@utsoaA little quiet before the next creative storm. Two months down, two to go—see you in August. 🗓️
Instagram Post
@utsoaEven in an increasingly digital profession, hands-on fabrication remains a cornerstone of design education.
Instagram Post
@utsoaSummer stillness at UTSOA ☁️
Instagram Post
@utsoaHave you seen Goldsmith Hall's Living Wall lately? It’s thriving. 🌿
Designed to attract native fauna and test the boundaries of green wall systems, the Living Wall is a research project years in the making—part art, part architecture, part ecology.
Instagram Post
@utsoaWhat happens when local decision-makers and academic subject-matter experts come together to tackle some of Texas’ most urgent planning and design challenges?
Instagram Post
@utsoaKicked off the first of three orientation sessions this summer with an incredible group of new students. Welcome to UTSOA!
Instagram Post
@utsoaAn outstanding leader, architect, teacher, and a radiant positive force in our field, it’s no surprise that Professor Elizabeth Danze has been named one of the 2025 #Texas10 by @texasexes.