Temple Rome offers a specialized semester architecture program for students majoring in architecture, architectural studies, and urban design/studies. The incredibly rich architectural heritage of Rome — ancient, Renaissance, baroque and contemporary — provides the focus for courses in architecture and landscape architecture.
About the Temple Rome Architecture program
Expand the menu items below for more details about the Temple Rome Architecture program. For program dates and costs, as well as information about housing, health and safety and faculty and staff support, please visit the main Temple Rome campus page.
Academic Program
Key Features
- You will register for the following architecture classes:
- A six-credit design studio course (ARCH 3234 LARCH 4147) provides the academic cornerstone for architecture and landscape architecture students, which includes site visits throughout Rome and guest critiques by visiting Italian architects.
- An additional three-credit architecture seminar (ARCH 3241: Seminar Analysis of Urban Structure in Rome) is required for all architecture students.
Historic preservation students are invited to apply; these students may take the studio course, ARCH 3241, and may also enjoy ARTH 2005: Cultural Heritage Preservation
You will complement your study with rotating offerings of related non-studio architectural course offerings in various disciplines.
ITAL 1001 Italian Language I: required if you have not completed a college-level Italian course prior to the start of the program.
For-credit internships are available.
A modern architecture studio offers individual workspaces and inspiring views. Workspaces must be cleared at the end of each class session as the architecture studio is used for other classes throughout the day.
View course descriptions for Temple Rome, including architecture/landscape architecture offerings.
Best term to study at Temple Rome
With a structured curriculum, architecture students often ask when they should attend Temple Rome. Below is a guide, but please contact Education Abroad if you have questions about the appropriate term for you.
| Student Background | Term to Study Abroad at Temple Rome |
|---|---|
| Temple architecture majors | Typically junior or senior year; master of architecture students may also participate. |
| Temple landscape architecture majors | Fall semester of senior year |
| Temple historic preservation and facilities management majors | You may take the six-credit design studio course and the three-credit architecture seminar during your semester in Rome and should discuss the best timing with your academic advisor. |
| Non-Temple architecture/landscape architecture majors | Consult with your home university to determine the appropriate semester to study abroad. |
Location and Facilities
You will study at the beautiful new campus location in Piazza di Spagna, right in the heart of Rome. The Eternal City provides an unparalleled location for the study of architecture, where millennia of architectural examples are juxtaposed and often intertwined.
Faculty
Temple Rome architecture faculty are experts in their field.
Cinzia Abbate, an Italian architect, has taught and lectured nationally and internationally on architecture and sustainable projects since 1986, and has been a faculty member at Temple University Rome since 2012. Learn more about Professor Abbate.
Andrew Kranis is a Rome Prize Fellow in Historic Preservation and Conservation and LEED-accredited specialist in sustainable architecture and urbanism. Kranis designs and teaches with a passion for resource conservation and for smarter cities. Learn more about Professor Kranis.
Dr. Carla (Carolina) Vaccaro is a practicing architect in Rome and teaches at several universities in Rome. Dr. Vaccaro has won prizes in a number of competitions, and her work has been shown in prominent exhibitions, such as the Biennale of Venice and the Triennale of Milan. Learn more about Dr. Vaccaro.
Learn more about Temple Rome faculty.
Eligibility Requirements
Temple programs are open to qualified students matriculated at any U.S. or Canadian college or university.
You are eligible to apply if you meet the following requirements.
Are enrolled fulltime and will have completed 2 semesters before studying abroad
- You are enrolled as a full-time matriculated student at the time of application as well as during the semester prior to studying abroad.
- You will have completed at least two (2) semesters of college-level study by the program start.
Are in good academic standing and meet minimum GPA requirement for the program
You meet minimum cumulative GPA requirement, on a 4.0 scale from all colleges/universities attended. The requirement varies by program:
- Temple Semester Programs: 2.75 (Internships: 3.0)
- Temple Summer Programs: 2.5
- Exchange Programs: 2.75
- External Programs: 2.5
You remain in good academic standing from the time of application until the start of your term abroad; students on academic warning are not eligible to participate.
Have a valid passport
You will need a passport, valid well beyond the length of your program, by the application deadline.
View deadlines and validity requirements for your host country.
Are in good disciplinary standing
You are in good disciplinary standing at the time of application and remain so through the start of your term abroad. Students who have been found responsible for a code of conduct violation and will not be in good disciplinary standing (including disciplinary probation) may submit a petition for review.
Meet the minimum age requirement
You are at least 18 years old at the time of application.
For Temple Rome Architecture, there are no additional eligibility requirements.
Application Requirements
The standard application requirements pertain to all students applying to Temple programs.
In addition, students who wish to enroll in the six-credit design course must submit a portfolio. Your portfolio should include ten to fifteen digital examples of studio work, combined in a single document portfolio. Your portfolio should include samples of work done from several semesters, including your most recent work. Within a separate document, you will also be asked to submit a list with a short, written description to identify each image or project. The list should include the nature of the design challenge, length of time in the studio, year and semester in which it was created, name of the critic, etc.
Admissions Timeline
Temple and non-Temple students may apply up to the standard application deadlines. Application review will begin after the priority deadline, not on a rolling admissions basis. After the application deadline, you should expect a decision within two (2) weeks.
Additional application notes
- Temple architecture applicants should note that they may be considered for a different term (for example, Fall 2025 instead of Spring 2025) or a different campus (if the program in Rome fills, you may be considered for the program at Temple Japan). You will be asked to indicate if you would like to be considered for either term and campus in the application.
- U.S. citizens studying in Italy for one semester or more will be required to apply for an Italian student visa. Education Abroad will assist students who are accepted to the program with the visa application process. The visa process typically requires you to submit your actual passport along with supporting documents to the consulate for several weeks or more. We strongly discourage you from traveling outside of the U.S. between the program application deadline and the program start date. If you must travel before your program, please contact Education Abroad to discuss the feasibility of your plans.