Architecture & the Built Environment Academy

At a Glance

Jefferson’s award-winning College of Architecture & the Built Environment is offering a virtual design pre-college course for high school students to explore the architectural design fields including architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, construction management and real estate development. Juniors and seniors will learn from Jefferson faculty, alumni, and industry professionals, while participating in design projects, research projects and firm visits conducted in an online environment.

Through hands-on and real-world learning, participants will have the opportunity to explore the architectural fields and look at different study options and career pathways. Working with Jefferson faculty, alumni and current college students, participants will build a deep understanding of the architecture and related design fields. Each participant will be assigned a mentor from the architecture, design and construction industry helping them build the confidence and skills to apply for college beyond this experience.

Registration for this year’s College of Architecture & the Built Environment Summer Academy will be available soon. Please check back in for updates.

Summer Academy Schedule 2025

Week 1 & 2: July 14-18 or July 21-25 (Required) — Career Discovery Week: Exploring the Architectural Disciplines
Week 2: July 21-25 (Optional) — Exploration and Design Week: Take a Deep Dive into your Chosen Discipline: Architecture, Interior Design, or Construction Management
Week 3: July 28-August 1 (Optional) — Exploration and Design Week: Take a Deep Dive into your Chosen Discipline: Architecture, Interior Design, or Landscape Architecture
Week 4: August 4-8 (Optional) — Exploration and Design Week On-Campus

Camp participants will:

Learn how to solve and communicate real world design problems exploring different disciplines
Learn 2D + 3D analog and digital representation techniques, and learn how to build models
Learn foundational design principles such as color, pattern, form and composition
Explore topics such as history and theory, professional practice and technology
Get to know our undergraduate programs in the architectural disciplines

Academy Faculty

This summer faculty from across different programs in the College of Architecture & the Built Environment will be leading the week long Career Discovery and Deep Dive sessions. Our faculty bring years of experience working in their industries, as well as connections to our alumni and industry partners.

View Our Faculty