Cummings School of Architecture

The Cummings School of Architecture provides a balanced education for students seeking to design and maintain our built and cultural environments.

About the school
image of Bill Cummings speaking at podium with Joyce Cummings of Cummings Foundation

RWU Announces Historic $20M Partnership with Cummings Foundation   

In recognition of this transformative philanthropic partnership between RWU and Cummings Foundation, President Ioannis N. Miaoulis announced on April 6 that our School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation will be rededicated as the Cummings School of Architecture (Cummings School), along with the launch of the Cummings Institute for Real Estate, to honor a real estate trailblazer who will inspire RWU students pursuing similar career trajectories. This is one of the largest partnerships with Cummings Foundation outside of Massachusetts, where the Foundation is headquartered, and where Bill and Joyce Cummings have primarily focused their philanthropy. 

Learn More About the Cummings School
  • 100%
    Placement of 2022 Grads

    Our 2022 Cummings School of Architecture graduates found success in employment or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation.

  • Save 1 Year
    With Our Accelerated Master’s Degree

    Our students have the opportunity to efficiently earn an M-Arch degree in 5½ years with the highest, most prestigious accreditation.

  • 100%
    Internship Certainty

    Cummings School of Architecture students participate in the Career Investment Program, providing paid student assistantships on or off campus, with firms, organizations and government agencies.

Student working on a rendering.

Academic Programs

The Cummings School of Architecture offers an array of undergraduate, graduate and professional degree, certificate and minor programs in Architecture, Art and Architectural History, Preservation Studies, Preservation Practices, Real Estate, and Urban and Regional Planning. Advisement for those interested in pursuing dual degrees, degree(s) + minor(s), and graduate degree + graduate certificate qualifications is widely available. Our Master of Architecture program is fully NAAB-accredited.

Architecture work rendering by Sean Smith

Student Work

Student work in design studios and coursework results from individual efforts as well as many kinds of collaboration. Included here are examples from all levels of study and programs, in a variety of work-in-progress, final projects, and semester portfolios.

Students looking at work in a gallery

Events Series and News

Keep up with the latest news and events coming from the Cummings School of Architecture. Learn about our current students, alumni, programs, upcoming lectures or exhibits, and more.

Spring 2025 Events Series - Lectures + Exhibitions
Student presenting design work.

People

The Cummings School of Architecture is a community of students, faculty, industry experts and life-long learners. Learn more about the people who make up our school community.

Student creating a 3D model.

Career Investment Program

The Cummings School of Architecture Career Investment Program is a recipient of an AIA/ACSA Practice and Leadership Award, and features support for paid internships and assistantships throughout the year, and Fall resume and portfolio preparation, and Spring Job Fair engagement with firms and organizations across the country.

Learn More About The Career Investment Program
A photo of the Cummings School studio spaces

Resources

Our facilities foster creativity, learning, and teamwork. We offer design studio space, gallery space, computer and materials labs, seminar and lecture rooms, a comprehensive architecture library, and many more resources our students can utilize.

Learn More About Our Resources
Headshot of Stephen White, AIA, Dean of School and Professor of Architecture

The Cummings School offers a vision of balance—between creation and conservation, local and global issues, professional and liberal arts education, in classroom, studio and field experiences—among people from many places and backgrounds. We have established a great community here, with much interchange among students, faculty and visitors, and connections to many firms and organizations in the region and around the world.

Stephen White, AIA, Dean and Professor of Architecture
Dean White and President Miaoulis announce real estate institute

Cummings Institute for Real Estate

In a unique multidisciplinary Real Estate Program, RWU is combining architecture, preservation, construction management, engineering, business, law, public administration and leadership, humanities and science into a powerful new curriculum that prepares graduates with expansive skillsets and perspectives to meet the multi-faceted challenges of real estate.

Our Real Estate program will offer degrees, minors, and certificates, with graduate certificates coming for 2022 and undergraduate and graduate degree programs for 2023.

Learn about the Cummings Institute for Real Estate
Headshot of Brigida Capicotto

Design and Detail: A Career in Architecture

Brigida Capicotto, RWU Class of 2017, 2018M
Architecture (M.Arch)

Working as an Architectural Designer at KITE Architects, Capicotto makes her artistic visions come to life.

Read full story

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