Best institutions to study Architectural History and Criticism
A general program that focuses on the aesthetic, technical, and social development of the built environment and the architectural profession from earliest times to the present.
16 U.S. institutions graduated 129 Architectural History and Criticism students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 04.0801, a specialization of Architectural History (CIP 04.08), and leads most directly to the Historians occupation (BLS SOC 19-3093).
About Architectural History and Criticism programs
A general program that focuses on the aesthetic, technical, and social development of the built environment and the architectural profession from earliest times to the present. Includes instruction in the principles of architecture and related fields; art history; historiography of architecture; architectural theory and criticism; related aspects of the history of technology and social and economic history; and various period, cultural, and stylistic specializations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Architectural History and Criticism program focuses on the aesthetic, technical, and social development of the built environment throughout history. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the principles of architecture, art history, and the historiography of architecture, as well as understanding the broader context of architectural theory and criticism. Students will engage with various cultural and stylistic specializations, preparing them for a comprehensive understanding of the architectural profession from its earliest times to the present day. This program is ideal for those passionate about history, architecture, and the evolution of the built environment.
Core coursework in this program emphasizes critical skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking. Students will gain knowledge in history and archaeology, sociology, and geography, alongside practical skills in research and data organization, preparing them for a career in architectural history and criticism.
Credentials awarded
What Architectural History and Criticism graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree100 graduates / yr · 10 institutions78%
- Master's degree23 graduates / yr · 3 institutions18%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship3 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.3%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.6%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
Graduates over time
Architectural History and Criticism completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 120 |
| 2013 | 120 |
| 2014 | 131 |
| 2015 | 121 |
| 2016 | 107 |
| 2017 | 105 |
| 2018 | 119 |
| 2019 | 148 |
| 2020 | 142 |
| 2021 | 131 |
| 2022 | 101 |
| 2023 | 119 |
| 2024 | 115 |
| 2025 | 129 |
Top 16 institutions for Architectural History and Criticism, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 32 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 2 | University of San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 26 | 84% | $26,035 | — |
| 3 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 13 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 5 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 11 | 96% | — | — |
| 6 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 68% | $28,141 | $30,189 |
| 7 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 94% | $16,081 | — |
| 8 | Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 69% | $44,902 | — |
| 9 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, ILPublicMaster's | 3 | 62% | — | — |
| 10 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 11 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 69% | $34,648 | — |
| 12 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 13 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 84% | $26,589 | — |
| 14 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAssociate's | 1 | 31% | — | — |
| 15 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 84% | $28,851 | — |
| 16 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 89% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Architectural History field (CIP 04.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 11 states
Where Architectural History and Criticism graduates come from. Each state links to all Architectural History programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 3 | 53 | Boston University32 / yr |
| California | 1 | 26 | University of San Diego26 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 17 | Columbia University in the City of New York13 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 12 | DePaul University9 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 11 | University of Virginia - Main Campus11 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 3 | Savannah College of Art and Design3 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 2 | Roger Williams University2 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 2 | Vanderbilt University2 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | University of Miami1 / yr |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1 | Central New Mexico Community College1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | The University of Texas at Austin1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3093, Historians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Architectural History and Criticism program often pursue careers as historians, with a median wage of $74,050. The job outlook for this field is projected to grow at a rate of 2.2%, with approximately 300 annual job openings. A typical education for these roles is a Master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 04.0801
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Historiansprimary SOC 19-3093 | $76,750 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~300 | Master's degree |
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval SOC 17-1011 | $99,280 | +3.9% About as fast as average | ~7,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Architectural History and Criticism programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Gather historical data from sources such as archives, court records, diaries, news files, and photographs, as well as from books, pamphlets, and periodicals.
- Organize data, and analyze and interpret its authenticity and relative significance.
- Prepare publications and exhibits, or review those prepared by others, to ensure their historical accuracy.
- Organize information for publication and for other means of dissemination, such as via storage media or the Internet.
- Conduct historical research as a basis for the identification, conservation, and reconstruction of historic places and materials.
- Conserve and preserve manuscripts, records, and other artifacts.
Tools and technology used
Other Architectural History specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Architectural History (CIP 04.08).
- Architectural StudiesCIP 04.0803partial data62 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Architectural ConservationCIP 04.0802limited data7 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation04.0899
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor's degree, or a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and research.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a historian or in related fields such as architecture.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.2%.
What is the CIP code for Architectural History and Criticism?+
Architectural History and Criticism is CIP 04.0801 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Architectural History (CIP 04.08). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on the aesthetic, technical, and social development of the built environment and the architectural profession from earliest times to the present. Includes instruction in the principles of architecture and related fields; art history; historiography of architecture; architectural theory and criticism; related aspects of the history of technology and social and economic history; and various period, cultural, and stylistic specializations.
How many institutions offer Architectural History and Criticism programs?+
16 U.S. institutions reported Architectural History and Criticism graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 129 credentials in the year. That is 65.2% of all Architectural History graduates.
How much do Architectural History and Criticism graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Historians occupation, which Architectural History and Criticism most directly leads to, pays a median of $76,750 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Architectural History field report median earnings of $30,189 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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