Goals and Objectives
Historically, the profession of architecture has placed the highest priority on the artful creation of place, incorporating Vitruvius's three principles: firmitas (strength), utilitas (utility) and venustatis (beauty). Consequently, the architect must be well versed in the arts and technically skilled, and possess a deep understanding of the human condition. Thus, the school seeks to impart a proper sense of ethics and a spirit of service to the community, and the emphasis on these qualities gives professional training its distinctive character at The Catholic University of America.
The School of Architecture and Planning is dedicated to the professional education of those who will design, build, and conserve the built environment, principally as architects and planners. Utilizing Washington and other metropolitan areas as design laboratories, the undergraduate program provides an enriching educational climate in which students investigate the realms of design, theory, and building in the context of the world in which we live. Its goal is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities fundamental to their training as professionals, enriched with a broad foundation in the humanities.