Professional Residency Program

Kieran Timberlake's Office
PROFESSIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM

The Professional Residency Program [PRP] 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 honors students 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 practice of architecture that are not typically available to students,
  • Expand their knowledge of architectural practice, such as project management, construction observation, landscape design, energy modeling, and 
  • Strengthen their professional profile upon graduation.

    As an academic internship program, students are required to register for PRP course(s) while on residency. Students can choose to do PRP during the Spring/Summer Session (January - July) or the Summer/Fall Session (June - December). During residency, students are expected to work on a full-time basis (40 hours/week) for a minimum of six months and are not permitted to register for any non-PRP courses.

    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 they might like to join, and then support them in making connections with offices. 

      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

      RECENT PARTICIPATING FIRMS

      Adept ArchitectsAllied Works ArchitectureArchitecture Research Office [ARO]
      Architecture Studio Behnisch ArchitektenBercy Chen Studio
      Bjarke Ingels Group [BIG] Deborah Berke PartnersDick Clark + Associates
      Diller Scofidio + RenfroDuda Paine ArchitectsEnnead
      Forge Craft ArchitectureGenslerGuerin Glass
      Hacker ArchitectsJaJa ArchitectsKieranTimberlake
      KoKo Architecture and DesignKPFLake | Flato 
      LA-N-D [Lemmo Architecture and Design]                   Leroy Street Studio Architecture                       Mahlum Architects 
      Marmol RadzinerMaryann Thompson ArchitectsMichael Hsu Office of Architecture        
      MVRDVnArchitectsOlson Kundig Architects
      Overland PartnersPagePeterson Rich Office
      ShoP ArchitectsSkylab ArchitectureSmith Holt Architecture
      SnøhettaSpecht ArchitectsSteven Holl Architects
      STG DesignStudio ModhTsao McKown Architects
      Weiss Manfredi ArchitectsWork 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

      The PRP Administration will make the final determination based on the applicants’ portfolios and GPAs. Typically, a maximum of thirty (30) students are admitted into the program each semester.

      To be eligible for participation, students must be a student in good standing enrolled in the Bachelor of Architecture or Master of Architecture degrees at The University of Texas School of Architecture during the application semester and while on Residency, and:

      UNDERGRADUATE
      • Have successfully completed at least one Advanced Architectural Design Studio before the start of Residency (ARC 561R)
      • Need one Advanced Architectural Design Studio (ARC 561R) remaining to be completed at the School of Architecture after returning from a program session
      • Have a 3.0-grade point average in all coursework. If the student participated in a study abroad program (semester-long), there is an additional minimum of 3.5 GPA  in studio courses
      • Must be on campus during the application semester
      • Have no incomplete grades or other deficiencies at the point of application
      • Be cleared to participate by Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and the Office of the Dean of Students in consultation with the School of Architecture
      • Have a completed competitive portfolio
      • Have confirmation of acceptance after the PRP Application Review.
      GRADUATE
      • Have successfully completed at least one Advanced Architectural Design Studio before the start of Residency (ARC 696)
      • Have one Advanced Architectural Design Studio (ARC 696) remaining to be completed at the School of Architecture after returning from a program session
      • Have a 3.33-grade point average in all coursework
      • Must be on campus during the application semester
      • Have no incomplete grades or other deficiencies at the point of application
      • Be cleared to participate by Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and the Office of the Dean of Students in consultation with the School of Architecture
      • Have a completed competitive portfolio
      • Have confirmation of acceptance after the PRP Application Review

      INFORMATION FOR CURRENT STUDENTS

      Learn more about how to apply to the Professional Residency Program and about available PRP courses.

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        @utsoa

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        @utsoa

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        Join us on Wednesday for a lecture from our new Professor of Practice Dora Epstein Jones. The lecture, “The Order of the Orders,” kicks off at 12:30 p.m. in the Goldsmith Lecture Hall. Link in bio.

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        @utsoa

        Congratulations to our 2022-24 Emerging Scholar Tyler Swingle, whose Spring 2023 Advanced Studio “Time for Timber” received an Honorable Mention in the @acsanational / Softwood Lumber Board 2023 Timber Education Prize!

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        Next Monday, September 11, @craigdykers and  @elainemolinar of @snohetta kick off our Fall 2023 lecture series with their lecture “Toward a Peaceable Kingdom.” The lecture is free and open to the public and will take place at 5:00 p.m. in Jessen Auditorium. <br />
        @utsoa

        Next Monday, September 11, @craigdykers and @elainemolinar of @snohetta kick off our Fall 2023 lecture series with their lecture “Toward a Peaceable Kingdom.” The lecture is free and open to the public and will take place at 5:00 p.m. in Jessen Auditorium.