Professional Residency Program

Kieran Timberlake's Office
PROFESSIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM

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

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.

  • Instagram Post
    Lecturer @paurgermaine’s advanced studio “Deep Plates: Layered Representations of the Alhambra” brought students to Granada, Spain, to explore how decorative systems, such as muqarnas and planar tiling, can evolve into hybrid structural elements. <br>
    @utsoa

    Lecturer @paurgermaine’s advanced studio “Deep Plates: Layered Representations of the Alhambra” brought students to Granada, Spain, to explore how decorative systems, such as muqarnas and planar tiling, can evolve into hybrid structural elements.

  • Instagram Post
    Presenting the next generation of designers and planners 🎓<br /><br />Congratulations again, Class of 2025! See more photos from Commencement in our link in bio<br /><br />@texas.landscape <br />@utaustin_urbandesign <br />@texasarch
    @utsoa

    Presenting the next generation of designers and planners 🎓

    Congratulations again, Class of 2025! See more photos from Commencement in our link in bio

    @texas.landscape
    @utaustin_urbandesign
    @texasarch

  • Instagram Post
    Show up and show out.<br>&nbsp;<br>UTSOA’s end-of-year show, Overexposed, celebrated the courageous act of revelation and vulnerability when surrendering one’s work to the public eye. What a way to wrap up the year!<br>&nbsp;
    @utsoa

    Show up and show out.
     
    UTSOA’s end-of-year show, Overexposed, celebrated the courageous act of revelation and vulnerability when surrendering one’s work to the public eye. What a way to wrap up the year!
     

  • Instagram Post
    Let’s make tomorrow unforgettable #UTGrad25<br /><br />📅 Saturday, May 10<br />🕑 2:00 p.m. (CDT)<br />📺 Livestream link in our bio<br /><br />We can't wait for tomorrow's celebration! Graduates, make sure to check-in at Goldsmith Hall no later than 1 p.m.
    @utsoa

    Let’s make tomorrow unforgettable #UTGrad25

    📅 Saturday, May 10
    🕑 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
    📺 Livestream link in our bio

    We can't wait for tomorrow's celebration! Graduates, make sure to check-in at Goldsmith Hall no later than 1 p.m.

  • Instagram Post
    40 Hours for the Forty Acres is happening now! Show your support for the School of Architecture this year by giving to travel scholarships.
    @utsoa

    40 Hours for the Forty Acres is happening now! Show your support for the School of Architecture this year by giving to travel scholarships.

  • Instagram Post
    Graduation looks good on you 📸
    @utsoa

    Graduation looks good on you 📸

  • Instagram Post
    The countdown is on! This Saturday, we celebrate YOU, our incredible planning and design graduates. We are so proud of everything you’ve achieved and can’t wait to cheer you on at Commencement. 🎉 <br>
    @utsoa

    The countdown is on! This Saturday, we celebrate YOU, our incredible planning and design graduates. We are so proud of everything you’ve achieved and can’t wait to cheer you on at Commencement. 🎉

  • Instagram Post
    Save the date for 40 Hours for the Forty Acres! This year, on May 7-8, we’re focusing on raising support for travel scholarships to provide students with opportunities to experience architecture, planning, and design in real-world contexts. <br>
    @utsoa

    Save the date for 40 Hours for the Forty Acres! This year, on May 7-8, we’re focusing on raising support for travel scholarships to provide students with opportunities to experience architecture, planning, and design in real-world contexts.

  • Instagram Post
    Assistant Professor Ria Bravo’s (@riabravodesign) Interiors Fabrications course introduces students to a range of fabrication techniques and materials, including sewing, 3D printing, CNC routing, and hands-on construction methods.
    @utsoa

    Assistant Professor Ria Bravo’s (@riabravodesign) Interiors Fabrications course introduces students to a range of fabrication techniques and materials, including sewing, 3D printing, CNC routing, and hands-on construction methods.