Mixed messages: assessing communication in architectural education and practice

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of communication in both the academic and professional architecture communities. The author addressed (a) whether profession-specific communication skills are part of any National Architectural Accrediting Board-accredited U.S. undergraduate architecture program; (b) how architectural educators feel about communication studies; and (c) how registered architects feel about communication skills in their practice. Research findings pointed to a dichotomy in academic and professional perceptions of the importance of communication training in undergraduate architecture education. While only 13.8 percent of academic programs require communication coursework directly related to architectural practice, 94 percent of architects surveyed indicated communication skills are very important to their practice and 73 percent of architects indicated their undergraduate architecture education did not adequately prepare them for professional practice. Implications for educating future architects are discussed