Human environments exist all over the world and the only way to really understand them is to see them in person. Architecture schools offer many types of programs that bring students to cities, landscapes, and buildings to experience and learn about them firsthand. This tradition dates back at least to the Age of Enlightenment, when young British elites in the 17th and 18th centuries were known for long excursions called The Grande Tour; upon completion of their studies, they visited important cities and landmarks throughout Europe and returned with broader knowledge of art and culture.
Today, study abroad can be a week or a year or anything in between. In some cases, students work on community projects, develop their own speculative designs, or simply explore and study the history of cultures and environments. Some schools have long-term programs in specific locations where they own or lease space, house faculty, and establish a local presence. In other cases, study-abroad programs are smaller and more flexible, responding to current events, design issues, or a specific professor's interest or knowledge. Students are rarely expected to know the local language fluently, but are certainly encouraged to learn cultural norms, basic language skills, and architectural history before arrival. Some favorite destinations of architecture programs are Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, China, and Brazil. But these are simply a few of the many places faculty and students go.
Explore these examples of programs and experiences...