A central part of architectural education is the design studio, in which students learn by doing through experience with the design of buildings. This kind of learning is demanding and students are expected to be committed and work independently and responsibly toward program and course objectives. In the design studio, continuous evaluation and response are the basic learning modes. The department sets high standards for student performance. Advanced students often work together in courses and as collaborators with faculty members in research investigations through independent study courses. .
Design studios offer opportunities for synthesis and testing of knowledge gained in lecture courses.
The Interior Architecture Program is part of the Department of Architecture, which allows students an interdiciplinary context for study. Course work is shared between architecture and interior architecture, particularly in the first two years of study. The program includes courses in interior construction, materials and systems, and provides opportunites for furniture design and construction in a woodshop. An internship may be arranged with a participating professional office during the fourth or fifth year of study. Recognized internationally for its achievements in urban design, public transit and regional planning, Portland serves as an exceptional architectural laboratory for design studies and research.