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close up shot of the Cigar Factory in Charleston, SC
School of Architecture

Fluid Campus

Worldwide Opportunities

In today’s global economy nothing can replace the experience of graduates who have learned to view the world from a different perspective. Clemson University was one of the first architecture programs in the country to establish a satellite center for study in Europe. Since that program was established in 1972, our program has grown into a "Fluid Campus" that provides students with opportunities to study and gain a greater understanding of architecture in urban cultures. 

The Fluid Campus refers to the geographically-distributed learning opportunities; the integration of these opportunities within our degree-earning graduate and undergraduate curricula; and the fluidity of communication and work practices in our increasingly digital and global interconnected world. Anchored by Lee Hall and our Clemson campus, each center offers unique courses, experiences, and study opportunities. Each center is also unique in its organization:

  • Lee Hall Complex, the School of Architecture's home on Clemson's main campus, is a combination of three carefully-planned buildings. The newest, Lee III, is an LEED Gold, zero-energy-ready facility and is one of the most energy-efficient classroom buildings in the nation. With open, flexible classroom spaces and clean, functional design, Lee creates an atmosphere to inspire innovation.
  • The Clemson Architecture Center in Barcelona (CAC.B), Spain, is part of a partnership in which constant Clemson students share a studio with students from Texas A&M University and Roger Williams University and live in a nearby student housing university residence hall.
  • The Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston (CAC.C) now resides in the historic Cigar Factory building. Here, the disciplines of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation and Resilient Urban Design come together under one roof, all part of with three other related architecture programs in the overarching Clemson Design Center in Charleston.
  • The Clemson Architecture Center in Genoa (CAC.G) operates in the Charles E. Daniel Center (the "Villa") in Genoa, Italy. which This setting provides a relatively self-contained experience, in which students work and live in the Villa.
  • Placement

    Placement into Fluid Campus programs is based on factors such as space availability, student visa availability, special circumstances, and grade point ratio. Spring semester placement is generally more competitive due to a higher number of applications. Capacity varies by location and is further restricted by semester, major, and student status. Programs that do not reach full capacity may be opened to students from other U.S. universities. Maximum capacity and typical distribution are as follows:

    • Spring CAC.B - 20 student maximum
    • Spring CAC.C - 44 students maximum
    • Spring CAC.G - 20 student maximum
    • Fall CAC.B - 20 student maximum
    • Fall CAC.C - 44 students maximum
    • Fall CAC.G - 20 student maximum
  • Student Visas
    Processing of student visas is coordinated by the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Office of Global Engagement. However, students are responsible for providing all required information and materials by the announced deadline. Visa requirements and processes for international students can differ widely from those for U.S. citizens. Depending on nationality and location of study, there can be instances in which obtaining a student via my visa may prove especially difficult and/or costly or may not be possible.
  • Undergraduate Student Schedule

    For undergrad students of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, the semesters for off-campus study are spring of 3rd Year or fall of 4th Year.

    B.A. in Arch. and BLA Student Application and Placement Calendar::

    1st Year/Freshman

    Fall Semester

    • B.A. and BLA students introduced to off-campus study programs
    •      2nd Year

    2nd Year/Sophomore

     

    Spring Semester

    B.A. students apply for off-campus study placement.
    3rd Year/Junior

     

    Spring Semester

    Off-Campus Study option. 

    4th Year/Senior

     

    Fall Semester

    Off-Campus Study option.

  • Graduate Student Schedule

    For Master of Architecture (M.ARCH) and Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) students, the semesters for off-campus study are Semesters 4 and 5 of the overall six-semester Master of Architecture Plans of Study.

    Applications are taken one year ahead of the off-campus study calendar year. In other words, applications are taken in the Spring for off-campus study in the Spring and Fall of the next following calendar year. This means that if you are an M. Arch. I am a student or MLA student in Semester 2 (Spring), you will apply for off-campus study for Semesters 4 and 5 (Spring and Fall semester of the following year). If you are an incoming M. Arch. II student, you will indicate your preferences on your online graduate school application and later submit a full study-abroad application after accepting our offer of admission. New M. Arch. II students are also requesting placement for Semesters 4 and 5 (your first Spring and second Fall semesters).  

    YEAR 1

    Semester 1 Fall

    M.Arch I and MLA students begin their respective studies

    Semester 2 Spring

    M. Arch. I and MLA students apply for Spring Semester 4 and Fall Semester 5 off-campus study.

    New M. Arch. II students request off-campus study placement at the time of application and confirm off-campus study choice(s) in August.

    YEAR 2

    Semester 3 Fall

    M. Arch. II students begin studies.

    Semester 4 Spring

    Off-Campus Study Options

    A+CB Charleston semester.

    YEAR 3

    Semester 5 Fall

    Off-Campus Study Options

    A+CB Charleston semester.

    Semester 6 Spring

    All students in Clemson to complete their graduate studies.

    Please note that Fall (Semester 5) placement in Charleston may be limited for graduate students not in the A+CB program. 

  • More Information

    For more information about each of the fluid campus programs in the School of Architecture, please visit the Clemson Architecture Center Fluid Campus page. Here, you will find fuller descriptions of each of these remarkable cities, plus our unique study programs and their histories. There are additional links to program brochures, which include more detailed information about program faculty, coursework, housing, program costs, applications and key dates.

School of Architecture
School of Architecture | Lee Hall 3-130, Clemson, South Carolina 29634