Temple Japan offers a specialized spring semester architecture program for students majoring in architecture, architectural studies, landscape architecture, and urban design/studies. The program is designed to open up the world of Japanese architecture – its history, traditions and influences as well as its highly unique contemporary forms, challenges, practices and innovations – to the student.
Japan possesses one of the most exciting architectural landscapes in the world, encompassing exquisite wooden temples, minuscule micro-houses and futuristic skyscrapers on seismic fault lines. Yet Japan is also facing unprecedented architectural challenges; such as the rebuilding of Tohoku, rapidly changing demographics, global economic uncertainty and ever increasing issues related to the environment and sustainability. What Japan does next in terms of the built environment and urban planning will be watched by architects worldwide.
- Participants will gain an understanding of the history and sources of Japanese architecture and urbanism and become conversant in contemporary thought and practice in Japanese architecture and urban planning.
- Tokyo itself will be used as a classroom with frequent class trips with professors and guest lecturers.
- Students enroll in a studio course and a seminar, and choose additional courses from Temple Japan’s other course offerings in various disciplines for a typical load of 12-18 credit hours. Japanese and Asian Studies are strongly recommended
- Architecture 3233/8233 | Architecture Design Studio in Tokyo (6 credits)
- Architecture 3242/8242 | Urban Seminar in Japan (3 credits)
- See eligibility and application requirements, as well as application deadlines, for the Architecture program.
- Temple architecture applicants should note that they may be considered for a different term and/or a different campus. You will be asked to indicate if you would like to be considered for either term and campus in the application.
- Important Updates
- Spring 2024: Temple students should apply by June 15, 2023. These applications will be reviewed after that deadline, not on a rolling admissions basis.
- Temple students should apply using the Architecture Programs application, information available here.
- Non-Temple students apply using the Japan Semester/Year application, due October 1, 2023.
- Spring 2024: Temple students should apply by June 15, 2023. These applications will be reviewed after that deadline, not on a rolling admissions basis.
To get an inside look at the Architecture program at Temple Japan, view the Spring Semester Architecture Program website, made by recent alumni of the program. (Disclaimer: Any recommendations for housing are the opinions of the students and are not endorsed by Temple Education Abroad)
Student perspectives
“I have been trying to do something new every day and the past four months was full of experiences I have never had anywhere else.”
- Spring architecture student Giang Phung completed architecture coursework and an internship in Japan. Read her blog post, where she reflects on her experience at Temple Japan.
“For the first month and 1/2, we analyzed the city of Tokyo. We were given areas, stations, structures, buildings, and much more to explore and analyze. This was a great aspect of the program because we got to explore the city, get familiarized with it, and become comfortable traveling. We also become more aware of Japanese architectural design and culture, and we learned so much more than we expected. We presented our observations and analysis through an architectural presentation of maps and diagrams.”
- Najah Yasin, Spring architecture students and Education Abroad blogger, describes her experience in the architecture program. Read Najah's blog post and others on her experience at Temple Japan.