University Catalog

College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs

College Overview


Vision

CAPPA engages the creative and scholarly disciplines through its commitment to providing an outstanding research-driven education. 

Mission and Philosophy

Together, our dynamic group of faculty and dedicated staff inspires, motivates, and educates students to pursue excellence in academic scholarship, design practice, creative thinking, and critical reflection. CAPPA provides a comprehensive, collaborative, relevant, and forward-thinking learning experience grounded in the rich traditions of the professional disciplines situated in the college. Located in the heart of DFW, CAPPA is a testing ground for the design and development of healthy, inclusive, environmentally and ecologically responsive communities.

A New Era Begins

In 2015, the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Architecture and School of Urban and Public Affairs combined to form the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs (CAPPA). The integration of the two schools strengthened the academic, research, and outreach opportunities available for students and faculty at UTA. 

CAPPA offers degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, sustainable urban design, urban planning, public administration, and public policy. The college also hosts the David Dillon Center for Texas Architecture, the Center for Metropolitan Density, the Center for Transportation Equity Decisions, and Dollars (CTEDD), and the Institute of Urban Studies, and partners with the City of Arlington on the Arlington Urban Design Center located at City Hall. 

Accreditations

CAPPA offers the Master of Architecture and the Master of Landscape Architecture as first professional degrees in the respective programs. The former is accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the latter by the Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board (LAAB). The Bachelor of Science in Interior Design is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Master of Public Administration degree is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), and the Master of City and Regional Planning is accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).

CAPPA Graduate Policies

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at The University of Texas at Arlington maintains specific academic standards for all graduate students to support academic excellence and timely degree completion. Students must meet the following requirements in addition to university-wide graduate school policies.

ACADEMIC STANDING (All Programs)

  • Minimum GPA: A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for good academic standing and graduation.
  • Probation & Dismissal: Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Continued probation may lead to dismissal as per Graduate School policy.
  • Time Limits: Master's students must complete all degree requirements within 6 years; doctoral students within 10 years.
  • Incomplete Grades: Must be resolved within one academic year or they will convert to an 'F'.

COLLEGE POLICIES

  • Capstone or Thesis Requirement: All master's students must complete either a capstone project or a thesis, depending on the program.
  • Research Tools Requirement: PhD students must meet the research skills requirement as outlined in their program’s handbook.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

Advisors are responsible for evaluating the students in their programs to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress toward the degree. If the Advisor finds that a student is not making satisfactory progress, it may be recommended to the CAPPA Director of Student Success and Advising that the student be dismissed from the program. To be qualified as making “satisfactory progress” toward their degree, students must maintain continuous enrollment in courses applicable to the degree through graduation. Exceptions require the approval of the student’s advisor and the CAPPA Director of Student Success and Advising. Students who are deemed not to be making satisfactory progress toward degree completion are subject to dismissal by the department.

Student Projects

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs reserves the right to retain, copyright, use, exhibit, reproduce, and publish any work submitted for course credit. The student is encouraged to develop a portfolio of all work accomplished in advanced courses for future professional and academic uses.

Policy for Classroom + Studio Non-registered Attendees

The following policy applies to scheduled courses and academic activities in the Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture graduate programs, as well as the undergraduate programs in Architecture, Interior Design,  Sustainable Urban Design. The policy is effective January 1, 2024 and complies with University of Texas at Arlington EI-PO-11, the  Texas  Education Code Section 51.982, and  Title  IX  of  the Education Amendments of 1972.

Only assigned instructors, enrolled students, invited guests and other individuals who have received the instructors’ permission in advance are permitted in scheduled classes within CAPPA buildings.  Unenrolled students, dependent minors of enrolled students or guests without instructors’ permission are not permitted within the assigned classroom during any scheduled class.  Other faculty engaged in peer review or other sanctioned academic responsibilities may attend as warranted and with consent of the instructor for the course or program director.

On occasion, due to extenuating circumstances, it is understood that an enrolled student who is a parent may have no other childcare choice than to have their child brought to the learning environment.  In these circumstances, suspension of the above policy may be permitted by the instructor on a limited basis, to be designated by the instructor. Prohibited Minors: Persons under the age of ten (10) are not permitted in any laboratory (studio).

Independent Study Policy (5191, 5391, 5395, 5591, 5691)

For students interested in completing Independent Study, independent studies are limited to no more than six (6) total hours during their graduate degree pursuit with the program. No more than one independent study is allowed in one semester. All Independent Studies must adhere to the following process:

  1. The student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA both overall at UTA and within the major.
  2. The Independent Study subject/purpose must not be covered in the regular curriculum.
  3. The student will develop and write an independent study proposal and find a sponsoring faculty member to supervise the independent study.
  4. The faculty member, if agreeable to supervise the independent study, must complete a submit a CAPPA Independent Study form with a detailed outline on what the independent study will cover, why it is needed, and how many credits are requested.
  5. The faculty member will submit the completed/signed form to the CAPPA undergraduate advising office at arch.advising@uta.edu.
  6. The Independent Study request is subject to administrative approval.

Any independent study from programs outside of the student's current major is still subject to the Independent Study Policy above for consideration of application to the degree plan.

CAPPA Undergraduate Policies

Programs Cohort

The undergraduate programs in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington are organized in a structured cohort format.

What Is a Cohort?

A cohort is a group of students that follows the same set schedule and progresses through a program together.  The sequential scheduling of the courses promotes an interactive learning environment and facilitates networking opportunities and career-strengthening relationships.

How Does It Work?

The program consists of a sequence of courses that takes a minimum of eight semesters to complete. The courses are offered in specific semesters (Fall and Spring) that require the students to complete the prior level before proceeding to the next level. If a student gets off-track in the cohort, she/he must wait until the missing course(s) are offered again.

GRADES

Upon admission to a major, all declared majors must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 both within the major and in the cumulative GPA to continue in the upper level program to satisfy requirements for graduation. Grades of P are not acceptable for classes in which a grade of C or higher is required. Courses in which a grade of "C" or better was earned cannot be repeated for credit.

Repetition of Courses

Two attempts to achieve a satisfactory grade are permitted for each required UDES course. Beyond that number of attempts, the student is denied access to the course in question, or to the sequence of courses for which it is requisite. Enrollment in the course for the time sufficient to receive a grade, including the grade W, is considered an attempt.

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

Advisors are responsible for evaluating the students in their programs to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress toward the degree. If the Advisor finds that a student is not making satisfactory progress, it may recommended to the CAPPA Director of Student Success  and Advising that the student be dismissed from the program. To be qualified as making “satisfactory progress” toward their degree, students must maintain continuous enrollment in courses applicable to the degree through graduation. Exceptions require the approval of the student’s advisor and the CAPPA Director of Student Success and Advising. Students who are deemed as not making satisfactory progress toward degree completion are subject to dismissal by the department.

FACILITATED ADMISSION FOR UTA UNDERGRADUATES

  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Architecture at UTA may be eligible for Facilitated Admission into the Master of Architecture program.
  • Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Urban Design at UTA may be eligible for Facilitated Admission into the Master of Landscape Architecture program.

Transfer of Credit

The extent of credit toward degree requirements for academic work done elsewhere will be determined by the representatives of the appropriate program. Students applying to transfer credits from studio courses taken elsewhere must present examples of that work for evaluation.

FRESHMAN STUDENTS

Students entering directly from high school or with fewer than 24 hours of transferable credit are advised initially by the Division of Student Success (DSS). To transition to departmental advising within the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, students must meet the following benchmarks by the end of their first two long semesters (fall and spring) at UTA:

  1. Earn a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
  2. Earn a minimum 2.0 major GPA
  3. Complete at least 30 credit hours
  4. Complete a CAPPA transition request form during the CAPPA transition window 

Students who do not meet transition criteria after two semesters are strongly encouraged to consult with an advisor and Major Exploration to explore alternative majors that may better align with their academic progress. Students who do not meet transition requirements after three semesters must choose a major outside the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs. 

Student Projects

The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs reserves the right to retain, copyright, use, exhibit, reproduce, and publish any work submitted for course credit. The student is encouraged to develop a portfolio of all work accomplished in advanced courses for future professional and academic uses.

Policy for Classroom + Studio Non-registered Attendees

The following policy applies to scheduled courses and academic activities in the Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture graduate programs, as well as the undergraduate programs in Architecture, Interior Design,  Sustainable Urban Design. The policy is effective January 1, 2024 and complies with University of Texas at  Arlington EI-PO-11, the  Texas  Education Code Section 51.982, and  Title  IX  of  the Education Amendments of 1972.

Only assigned instructors, enrolled students, invited guests and other individuals who have received the instructors’ permission in advance are permitted in scheduled classes within CAPPA buildings.  Unenrolled students, dependent minors of enrolled students or guests without instructors’ permission are not permitted within the assigned classroom during any scheduled class.  Other faculty engaged in peer review or other sanctioned academic responsibilities may attend as warranted and with consent of the instructor for the course or program director.

On occasion, due to extenuating circumstances, it is understood that an enrolled student who is a parent may have no other childcare choice than to have their child brought to the learning environment.  In these circumstances, suspension of the above policy may be permitted by the instructor on a limited basis, to be designated by the instructor. Prohibited Minors: Persons under the age of ten (10) are not permitted in any laboratory (studio).

Independent Study Policy (4191, 4391, 4591)

For students interested in completing Independent Study, independent studies are limited to no more than six (6) total hours during their undergraduate degree pursuit with the program. No more than three (3) credit hours of independent study is allowed in one semester. All Independent Studies must adhere to the following process:

  1. The student must have minimum 3.0 GPAs both overall at UTA and within the major.
  2. The Independent Study subject/purpose must not be covered in the regular curriculum.
  3. The student will develop and write an independent study proposal and find a sponsoring faculty member to supervise the independent study.
  4. The faculty member, if agreeable to supervise the independent study, must complete a submit a CAPPA Independent Study form with a detailed outline on what the independent study will cover, why it is needed, and how many credits are requested.
  5. The faculty member will submit the completed/signed form to the CAPPA undergraduate advising office at arch.advising@uta.edu.
  6. The Independent Study request is subject to administrative approval.

Any independent study from programs outside of the student's current major are still subject to the Independent Study Policy above for consideration of application to the degree plan.

Contact Information

Phone: (817) 272-2801
Text: (855) 202-6815
General Email: cappa@uta.edu

Address:
College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs
601 W. Nedderman Drive
Suite 203
Arlington, TX 76019-0108

Faculty

Ming-Han Li
Dean / Professor

Diane Jones Allen
Professor / Landscape Architecture Program Director

Karabi Bezboruah
Associate Dean / Director of PhD Programs / Professor

Jennifer Cowley
President of UTArlington / Professor

Jianling Li
Professor

Shadi Nazarian
Professor / Endowed Ralph E Hawkins, Chair

Qisheng Pan
Professor / CTEDD Director

Deden Rukmana
Professor/ MCRP Director

Bradley Bell
Associate Professor

Dennis Chiessa
Graduate Architecture Program Director /Associate Professor

David Coursey
Associate Professor / Chair, Public Affairs and Planning / Director, Master of Public Administration

David Hopman
Associate Professor

Joowon Im
Associate Professor

Oswald Jenewein
Associate Professor

Charles MacBride
Assistant Dean of Student Success and Operations / Associate Professor

Atefe Makhmalbaf
Associate Professor

Barbara Marini
Associate Professor / Interior Design Program Director

John Maruszczak
Associate Professor

Jiwon Suh
Associate Professor

Taner Özdil
Associate Professor

Steven Quevedo
Associate Professor

Alejandro Rodriguez
Associate Professor

Bijan Youssefzadeh
Associate Professor

Letora Anderson
Assistant Professor

Mahmoud Bayat
Assistant Professor

Jiseul Kim
Assistant Professor

Julia Lindgren
Undergraduate Architecture Program Director /Assistant Professor

Evan Mistur
Assistant Professor

Emily Nwakpuda
Assistant Professor

Julene Paul
Assistant Professor

Ariadna Reyes-Sánchez
Assistant Professor

Austin Allen
Assistant Dean for Community Engagement / ssociate Professor of Practice

Heath MacDonald
Associate Professor of Practice

Joseph Porugal
Associate Professor of Practice

Tongbin "Teresa" Qu
Associate Professor of Research / CTEDD Program Manager

Bang Dang
Assistant Professor of Practice

Arden Stephenson
Asst. Professor of Practice

Amanda Aman
Lecturer

Sandra Espinoza
Lecturer

Donna Firouzbakht
Lecturer

Marisa Gomez-Nordyke
Lecturer

Thomas Rusher
Senior Lecturer

Dustin Wheat
Lecturer

Bill Boswell
Professor Emeritus

Don Gatzke
Professor Emeritus

Todd Hamilton
Professor Emeritus

Martin Price
Professor Emeritus

Lee Carroll Wright
Professor Emeritus

Michel Borg
Adjunct Professor

Femi Kareem
Adjunct Professor

Donovan Lord
Adjunct Professor

Carlos Alba
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Michel Borg
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Jay Cantrell
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Eduardo Castaneda
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Anastasiya Chybireva-Fender
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Patrick Craine
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Cheryl Donaldson
Adjunct Asst. Professor / Director, Student Success & Advising

Justin Dowhower
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Sarah Esfandyari
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Rizwan Faruqui
Adjunct Faculty

Lisa Fitzpatrick
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Ian Gillis
Adjunct Asst. Professor

David Goodson
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Sarah Gorden
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Greg Ibañez
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Ozge Inal
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Olivia Jeffries
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Femi Kareem
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Stephen Knowles
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Kate Kosut
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Tania Madah
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Tariq Mahadin
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Michael Malone
Adjunct Asst. Professor

James Marstiller
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Megan Martinez
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Heath May
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Brad McCorkle
Adjunct Asst. Professor / Materials Workshop Manager / Academic Lab Coordinator

Monty McMahen
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Mitali Mendelkar
Adjunct Asst. Professor

David Messersmith
Adjunct Senior Professor

Krishnan Mistry
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Marjan Moradi
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Nizar Muamar
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Ricardo Munoz
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Ed Nelson
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Nick Nepveux
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Matt Nicolette
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Juan Carlos Olivar Gomez
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Sharon Odum
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Ann Podeszwa
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Audrey Poole
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Chad Porter
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Crystal Portillo
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Joseph Portugal
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Cord Read
Adjunct Asst. Professor / Digital Fabrication Specialist

Marie Oehlerking Read
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Courtney Schoedel
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Tyler Shafer
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Yasaman Shahbazi
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Sakshi Sharma
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Bart Shaw
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Corrie Thompson
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Lorena Toffer
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Victor Vielma
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Jason Wheeler
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Ronald Wommack
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Carrie Zaboroski
Adjunct Asst. Professor

Mehdi Farahbakhsh
Visiting Assistant Professor

Somang "Summer" Yang
Visiting Assistant Professor

Henry Holmes
Specialist

Rod Hissong
Associate Professor Emeritus