MISSION AS PEDAGOGICAL ROADMAP ONE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM’S USE OF “MISSION” TO HELP DIRECT AND FOCUS LEARNING

The mission of any architectural program needs to be well defined and articulated for several reasons. If the program is in the process of attaining accreditation from NAAB or another international agency, the mission can serve as a guide to the accreditation body as to the value system of the program and where resources and efforts are focused. The mission can also help integrate the architecture program into the goals of the larger institution. Additionally, the mission can serve as a roadmap for pedagogy within the program—at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The mission can help direct and focus studio projects, the development of elective course offerings, the structure of foreign studies programs, and suggest ways of teaching architecture that are aligned with the program’s values.