6. Architecture The first organized curriculum in architecture was established at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1865. The University of Illinois, then the Illinois Industrial University, offered architectural instruction in 1868, Cornell University in 1871, and Syracuse University in 1873.12 Which institution had the first graduate? An architectural writer say: "In 1873 the University of Illinois conferred its graduation certificate upon Nathan Clifford Ricker, who thus made educational history by becoming the first collegiate graduate in architecture in the United States." 13 Apparently this writer was in error in the year, however, for the records of the University of Illinois show that Mr. Ricker received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1872, followed by the Master of Architecture in 1878 (the earliest year that degree was conferred), and by an honorary Doctor of Agriculture in 1900.14 Massachusetts Institute of Technology did not have its first graduates in this field until a year later, 1873, but they received only the degree of Bachelor of Science. The Bachelor of Architecture was not given by the Institute until 1932, although the Master of Architecture was given in 1921.15 The Commissioner of Education reports that in 1873 Cornell University conferred one Bachelor of Architecture.16 Below are listed the 49 degrees classified in table 10 in the field of Architecture as currently conferred by recognized colleges and universities; the number of institutions reporting the use of each of these degrees; and their abbreviation or abbreviations, with the institutional frequencies for each. Since some of the institutions did not indicate the abbreviations they use, the sum of the frequencies for abbreviations are often less than the total frequency given. Listed also (in italics) are 36 degrees not reported as currently conferred and their abbreviations as far as known, but without frequencies of use (indicated by x). Included are four honorary (Hon.) degrees (see chapter V), only one of which is in current use. The list is subdivided into four groups as follows: General, Archi Lloyd E. Blauch, ed., Education for the Professions. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1955. p. 37. 13 Turpin C. Bannister, "Pioneering in Architectural Education," Journal of the American Institute of Architects, 20: 3, July 1953. 14 Frank W. Scott, ed., The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois at Urbana. Urbana, Ill. The University, 1906. pp. 3-4. 15 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Register of Former Students, 1940. Cambridge, Mass.: The Institute, 1940. pp. 438-439. 18 Commissioner of Education, Annual Report, 1873, p. 718. |