The Arch was developed to be intentionally transformative by providing the following:
- An acceleration of immersion in both the academic and professional worlds;
- Structured academic advising, career counseling, and leadership development;
- Unique academic and co-curricular summer experiences;
- Re-clustering of the junior-year cohort across disciplines;
- More focused and meaningful engagement with the faculty; and
- An opportunity for students to engage in self-discovery, leading to increased intellectual agility, multicultural sophistication, and a global perspective.
To make our undergraduate educational experience even more robust and transformative, we have freed it from the traditional academic calendar.
Summer Here
During The Arch, students remain on campus for the summer after their sophomore year, taking junior-level classes, and receive focused attention from professors at this pivotal point in their academic progression.
The World Away
Then, students leave the Troy campus for a semester during the traditional junior year—either fall or spring—to pursue their passions in the form of co-ops, internships, civic engagement, research, or international experiences. Students who pursue these opportunities during their academic career are better prepared for future professional careers and graduate school.
Graduate in Four Years
With the exception of students in the five-year bachelor of architecture program, matriculation to degree completion is not intended to take more than eight terms. To accelerate your academic progress, and graduate in fewer than eight semesters, you may take classes elsewhere prior to enrollment at Rensselaer, obtain AP/IB credit from high school, enroll in your Arch summer term one semester early (Early Arch), take summer courses in subsequent summers, study abroad during the away semester, or a combination of these options.
Academic Semester Experience
YEAR | FALL | SPRING | SUMMER |
---|---|---|---|
Freshman | On Campus* | On Campus* | You Choose |
Sophomore | On Campus* | On Campus* | Arch Semester * |
Junior | Semester Away** | Semester Away** | You Choose |
Senior | You Choose | On Campus |
*On Campus Housing requirement
**Juniors must participate in a fall or spring semester away experience following The Arch summer semester.
Note: You Choose option refers to student capability to determine how they will spend that particular semester. This is a general academic overview and may vary based on academic curriculum.
Architecture Students
YEAR | FALL | SPRING | SUMMER |
---|---|---|---|
Freshman | On Campus* | On Campus* | You Choose |
Sophomore | On Campus* | On Campus* | You Choose |
Junior | On Campus | On Campus | Arch Semester* |
Senior | Semester Away** | Semester Away** | You Choose |
Fifth Year | On Campus | On Campus | Graduate |
*Housing requirement
**Fourth year Architecture students must participate in a fall or spring semester away experience following The Arch summer semester
Note: This is a general academic overview and may vary based on academic curriculum
Arch Family Weekend Webinars
At the beginning of each Fall Term, The Arch at Rensselaer hosts the Annual Family Weekend Presentation for the parents of Arch designated students. This information is helpful for students as they plan their summer term and semester away experience. Parents/Guardians are also welcome to email thearch@rpi.edu or provide feedback on The Arch website about the Family Weekend Presentation, communications, and resources.
Class of 2021
Class of 2022
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
Arch Discovery Day
Arch Discovery Day is an annual event that is attended by all Rensselaer sophomores as the onset to the school year, preparation for The Arch summer term, and the semester away experience. During this time, students have the opportunity to engage with key areas such as their Academic Departments, the Career and Professional Development Center, and Undergraduate Education to begin exploration and planning. Arch Discovery Opening Session begins Monday, August 23rd at 4pm. Please see the Arch Academic section for a list of academic session for Arch Discovery information listed below.
Planning Guide Download The Arch Calendar Brochure - Important Dates
Arch Discovery Day 2022 Power Point Presentation
Livestreams Replays
Arch Discovery Day 2021 - Opening Session Livestream
Arch Discovery Day 2022 - Opening Session Livestream
Arch Academic Sessions 2022
All students are required to attend their Arch Academic session between Aug 22, 2022 and September 2, 2022 (or unless indicated otherwise by specific departments).
School | Department | Academic Sessions 2022 | |
Architecture | Architecture | Contact Department for More Information. | |
Engineering | Biomedical Engineering |
September 9th, 9am
WebEx Info: https://rensselaer.webex.com/meet/hahnm |
|
Engineering | Chemical & Biological Engineering |
August 25th, 11am-12pm
https://rensselaer.webex.com/meet/hirsaa3 https://rensselaer.webex.com/meet/hirsaa3 |
|
Engineering | Civil and Environmental Engineering |
Sept 14th, 2 -3 pm.
MDL (Multidisciplinary Design Lab), 2nd Floor – JEC. |
|
Engineering | Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering |
August 31st, 4pm
Location: DCC 318 |
|
Engineering | Industrial and Systems Engineering |
August 25th, 11am-12pm
Web Ex Info: https://rensselaer.webex.com/meet/hirsaa3 |
|
Engineering | Materials Science and Engineering |
September 1st, 1pm in the Polymer Conference Room (for MSE) |
|
Engineering | Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering (MANE) |
August 30th, 4pm
Web Ex Info:
|
|
HASS | All Departments |
Tuesday, Aug 30, 2022 4:00 pm | 1 hour | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Web Ex Info: https://rensselaer.webex.com/rensselaer/j.php?MTID=ma9ab00744f077cf9ba990ce63b998c57 Meeting number: 2621 997 5934 Password: HASS Agenda: The Academic Session for all rising Sophomores with a HASS Major to learn about The Arch Summer and Away experiences. Join by video system You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number. Join by phone +1-415-655-0001 US Toll Access code: 262 199 75934 |
|
Lally School of Management | All Departments |
August 31, 12-1pm
CBIS (BIOTK1-Isemann Auditorium & Hernstadt Gallery)
|
|
Science | Biological Sciences |
August 31st, 4pm
Location: CBIS |
|
Science | Chemistry and Chemical Biology | TBA | |
Science | Computer Science |
August 22nd, 1pm
Web Ex Info: https://rensselaer.webex.com/rensselaer/j.php?MTID=m0c6be39e9a0b7d25f73e83218b4438a5 |
|
Science | Earth and Environmental Sciences | TBA | |
Science | Information Technology and Web Science |
August 31, 2022, 10am
Location: TBA |
|
Science | Mathematical Sciences |
August 25th, 4pm
Web Ex Info: https://rensselaer.webex.com/meet/schwed |
|
Science | Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy |
August 26th, 4pm
Web Ex Info: https://rensselaer.webex.com/rensselaer/j.php?MTID=m9c5747a78eb51455a0c51c7b4780ca91
|