SCI-Arc was founded in 1972 in Santa Monica by a group of faculty and students from the Department of Architecture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, who wanted to approach the subject from a more experimental perspective than traditional schools offered. Originally called the New School, SCI-Arc was based on the concept of a “college without walls,” and it remains one of the few independent architecture schools in the world.
Offering undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programs
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Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsThere is no on-campus housing provided at SCI-Arc. Students live in the Arts District itself or the nearby communities of Little Tokyo, Echo Park, Chinatown, Silver Lake, and Koreatown. Each community has a distinctive flavor that can best be understood by visiting. Some have easily accessible public transportation, others may require a vehicle.
The undergraduate and graduate professional degrees awarded by SCI-Arc are accredited by both the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
