Urbahist

I have thought about it, too. I guess that's the other option I am considering.

A friend is contemplating graduate studies at the Boston Architectural College. Is it any good? What kind of reputation does it have in the profession?

Any views on these architectural history programs: UVa, Texas-Austin, Boston U., Cornell, the Bartlett (UCL), Edinburgh, U. of York? I am interested in a program that focuses more on social-historical context and urban planning rather than primarily theoretical issues. I realize that I could do architectural history in an art history program, but I am not interested in doing all that art history methodology coursework and qualifying exams. I realize that I could do architectural history in a regular history program working with an urban historian, but I am for something more specific.

In my home discipline, history, some programs heavily emphasis theory and some barely teach/use theory. (For example, in my sub-sub-discipline, Berkeley and Michigan are very theory-driven, while Yale and Harvard are exceptionally theory-light.) The same thing must hold true for art history programs. So which leading programs are heavy on theory and which leading programs are more social-historical?