Marywood University in Scranton will open the region’s first School of Architecture in fall 2009, with an emphasis on environmental stewardship and “green building” principles of design.

"Marywood University is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council,” said Sister Anne Munley, president of Marywood University, “and our School of Architecture program and facility will be focused on advanced knowledge and skills in ‘green building’ practices. Our goal is to produce a new generation of architects—environmental stewards—who will assume major responsibility for creating, building, and re-building sustainable structural environments for the region, the nation, and the world.”

The Marywood University Board of Trustees has approved plans to welcome the first class of students to the School of Architecture for the 2009-10 Academic Year beginning in August 2009.

Marywood University Architecture students will pursue coursework preparing them for the LEED Professional Accreditation exam. LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council designed to encourage the global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices by architects. (See separate story on LEED 2009)

“LEED certification is the distinctive aspect of our program,” said Dr. Peter Cimbolic, Marywood University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “After passing the LEED exam, students will earn a professional credential distinguishing them as graduates with extensive expertise in environmental stewardship. Students receiving both the professional degree and LEED Professional Accreditation will be uniquely equipped to make substantive contributions to contemporary architectural practice.”

The Marywood University School of Architecture will apply for National Architectural Accrediting Board candidacy status in the fall of 2009. NAAB grants candidacy status to new programs that have developed viable plans for achieving initial accreditation. Candidacy status indicates that a program should be accredited within six years of achieving candidacy.

Marywood University is a private, coeducational, Catholic university of 3,400 full-time, and part-time students, offering more than 90 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Established in 1915 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the university is consistently ranked in the top tier of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges.

NewsClip: International Conference On Environmentalism, Extremism and Religion

12/5/2008