PROGRAM INFORMATION

The San Francisco Urban Program is a Cal Poly off-campus program for 4th year Architecture majors featuring classes, internships, and a six month living experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. SF Urban is offered as a two-quarter program held during Winter and Spring Quarters. Students find their own housing and use public transit for getting to classes and participating in the many local office and building visits that are part of the courses. Classes expose students to a wide array of award-winning design professionals and their work through guest lectures, studio reviews, and architectural tours. The program also takes students to many vibrant neighborhoods through frequent walking tours and features dozens of cultural outings and events. Below the slide show are some key Program Highlights:

Program Information - Slideshow
Blog Post Title One
Blog Post Title Three
Blog Post Title Two

Program Highlights

  • LOCATION: Space is rented or provided by host offices in different offices in downtown San Francisco each year.

  • WINTER QUARTER CLASSES:   ARCH 452 Design Studio 5 credits,  ARCH 485 Internship 3 credits, ARCH 443 Professional Practice 4 credits

  • SPRING QUARTER CLASSES: ARCH 453 Design Studio 5 credits,  ARCH 485 Internship 3 credits, ARCH 472 Housing Concepts 4 credits

  • STUDIO PROJECT: A Multistory Mixed-Use urban complex with affordable housing plus other community benefits.

  • PAID INTERNSHIP:  Students are placed in an 8-week paid internship in an architectural office.  

  • HOUSING:   Students must find their own housing.   Most students find six to nine month long furnished rental apartments.

  • FEES: Fees are set by the University each year.   Estimated fees for 2023-24 are $5100 per quarter.

  • ACTIVITIES:   The program includes 8-10 night and weekend event experiences plus 2-3 daylong field trips. 

More detailed program and course information can be downloaded using the tabs below:

Pictorial Overview

The Overview is a primarily pictorial introduction to the components of the SF Urban Program. It features images from faculty and student photos taken during multiple years of classes, reviews, field trips, and student projects. 

Program Details

The Program Details pdf. below provides information about overall educational goals, course descriptions, and a listing of design studio clients and projects. It also contains a typical class schedule plus the syllabi

Internship Details

Students are guaranteed an eight-week full time paid Internship. Students are placed with a firm through a faculty guided matching process conducted during fall quarter.  The application system is described on the attached pdf.

Program Videos

See Informative videos about the program and student-created videos that were made during the pandemic.