Four Programs Once Again Rank Among Nation Top

K-State’s master of landscape architecture program ranks second, its bachelor of landscape architecture program ranks third, its bachelor of interior architecture/design programs rank fourth, and its bachelor of architecture program ranks twelfth in the 2007 nation-wide survey of leading firms across the United States.

The K-State interior architecture/design programs have been in the top six during all eight years in which the study has been conducted. This is the sixth time K-State’s architecture program has been ranked in the top 12. Both K-State’s bachelor’s and master’s programs in landscape architecture have been ranked in the top eight in the three years the survey has covered those programs.

Five schools in the Big 12 have ranked programs in the eight areas that were surveyed, but only K-State has four ranked programs.

Each year, DesignIntelligence and the Design Futures Council conduct the study, in conjunction with the Almanac of Architecture and Design, to determine the top 15 colleges and universities for architecture and design in the U.S. A cross-section of U.S. firms with a disbursed geographic profile as well as public sector practitioners were asked to indicate which accredited programs in the past five years produced graduates most prepared for real-world practice.

The survey was targeted to those individuals-directors of design, managing principals and human resource directors-in each firm who have direct experience with the hiring and performance of graduates. Approximately 102,047 employees were represented by organizations participating in the 2007 survey.

There are approximately 114 accredited interior architecture/interior design programs, 111 accredited architecture programs, and 45 accredited undergraduate and 30 accredited graduate landscape architecture programs in the U.S.

Although K-State offers separate programs in interior architecture, through the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, and in interior design, through the College of Human Ecology, both programs are combined for survey purposes. Entering students in both K-State programs share design fundamental content in their first-year courses.

Dennis Law, FASLA, dean of the Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning and Design, believes there are a number of factors contributing to the consistently high rankings the college’s programs have achieved.

“Our college is one of the most unique design schools in the nation,” Law says, “because the disciplines of architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and planning are ‘under one roof.’ This serves design professionals very well, as it is the type of setting in which our alumni practice.”

Law goes on to say, “We also actively recruit the best and brightest students, and the education we offer is a greater value than many other top-ranked schools. We have a highly talented faculty with an outstanding reputation and strong commitment to teaching. Finally, our students possess a strong work ethic, something we feel they have an obligation to continue as they graduate and enter the work place.”

According to its sponsors, this survey is the only such study of its kind for the design disciplines and can be used, along with other considerations, to help current and future students plan their educational paths.

For more information, contact:
Dennis L. Law, Dean, 785.532.5950
Susan Haug, Director of Student Recruitment, 785.532.5047
Diane Potts, Assistant to the Dean, 785.532.1090