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 | JUDY BIRDSONG | |
| PRP Director | PRP Administrator | |
| STEFAN BRITS | CHARLES DI PIAZZA | |
| PRP Administrator | PRP Administrator | |
| MARLA SMITH | AMY DAVIS | |
| 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
| Adept Architects | Allied Works Architecture | Architecture Research Office [ARO] |
| Architecture Studio | Behnisch Architekten | Bercy Chen Studio |
| Bjarke Ingels Group [BIG] | Deborah Berke Partners | Dick Clark + Associates |
| Diller Scofidio + Renfro | Duda Paine Architects | Ennead |
| Forge Craft Architecture | Gensler | Guerin Glass |
| Hacker Architects | JaJa Architects | KieranTimberlake |
| KoKo Architecture and Design | KPF | Lake | Flato |
| LA-N-D [Lemmo Architecture and Design] | Leroy Street Studio Architecture | Mahlum Architects |
| Marmol Radziner | Maryann Thompson Architects | Michael Hsu Office of Architecture |
| MVRDV | nArchitects | Olson Kundig Architects |
| Overland Partners | Page | Peterson Rich Office |
| ShoP Architects | Skylab Architecture | Smith Holt Architecture |
| Snøhetta | Specht Architects | Steven Holl Architects |
| STG Design | Studio Modh | Tsao McKown Architects |
| Weiss Manfredi Architects | Work AC |
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.
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@utsoaThis summer, insect habitats designed by first-year interior design students will be on display @brooklynbotanic in New York City.
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@utsoaSummer looks good on you ☀️
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@utsoaThis summer, two Community & Regional Planning students @vickierbelcher and @arfar.razi (second from left and right) competed in the final round of the Nature-based Future Challenge competition.
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@utsoaIn the most recent issue of @txarchitects Magazine, SOA alumnus and contributing writer Cole Von Feldt @cole_v profiled several of SOA’s design-build studios which “serve as a bridge between academia and practice, better preparing students for architecture beyond the academic setting.”
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@utsoaCongratulations to Master of Interior Design student Winnie Lin @winnlin (MID ’25) who was recognized by @asid_hq as one of only three 2024 Student Portfolio Competition award winners selected from submissions across the US and Canada!