SCAD’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure 2023 Graduates

Savannah College of Art & Design’s innovative curriculum and exceptional career resources propel students into the workforce. Through the IPAL program, launched at SCAD this year, students complete the architecture program alongside the internships and preparation required to pass licensing exams. This integration shaves up to a year off the typical licensure timeline – 7 years instead of 8+.

2023 ushered three architect graduates through this program directly into their respective post-graduation roles.  Below is a press release from SCAD following their graduation and an awards ceremony recognizing this accomplishment.

See SCAD’s listing in Georgia Trend’s Higher Education Directory in our Sept. 2023 issue.

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, June 2023 — The Savannah College of Art and Design is pleased to announce the inaugural graduating class of the university’s Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) program, a progressive academic track that merges all three components of licensure into SCAD’s highly lauded B.F.A. and professional M.Arch. degrees. Graduates Jeffrey Rose (M.Arch., 2023), Ellen Filiatreau (M.Arch., 2023), and Nicolas Barrera Castaneda (M.Arch., 2023) were honored at an award ceremony held June 2, recognizing their successful completion of the IPAL program and distinguished achievement in SCAD’s renowned architecture program.

Left to right: Nicholas Barrera Castaneda, Ellen Filiatreau, Jeffery Rose, and SCAD Coordinator of IPAL and Field Internships Cristina Gutierrez.

“SCAD is proud to celebrate the first graduating class of our prestigious Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure program,” said Aaron Wilner, AIA, chair of architecture at SCAD. “These trailblazing students are leaving our program as fully licensed architects and taking their place alongside elite industry professionals, poised for incredible careers. It is an extraordinary milestone, as these exceptional graduates have etched their names into SCAD’s history. They embody the rigor, excellence, and vision of SCAD’s next generation of architectural change-makers.”

The 2023 IPAL graduates will continue their vibrant careers at architecture firms in Savannah, Georgia; Brooklyn, New York; and Charlotte, North Carolina, in roles that leverage their creativity and expertise in design, functionality, and community-centered architecture.

Through the IPAL program, students attain licensure faster — in as little as seven years — by combining SCAD courses, professional internships, and advanced preparation for the Architect Registration Examination with unparalleled academic support and dedicated resources. Students immediately enter the field as fully equipped professionals.

“It has been exciting for NCARB to partner with SCAD and watch the innovative Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure program flourish,” said Harry M. Falconer Jr., vice president of experience and education at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). “These graduates and those that will follow in their footsteps will leave an immediate and lasting impact on the architectural community.”

At the award ceremony hosted by the SCAD School of Building Arts, SCAD faculty, students, and the graduates’ families gathered to celebrate their accomplishments with NCARB leadership, as Harry Falconer bestowed Rose, Filiatreau, and Barrera Castaneda with their architectural awards and esteemed graduation cords.

IPAL GRADUATES

Jeffrey Rose, M.Arch., IPAL Architecture
Hometown: Pooler, Georgia
Rose began his SCAD journey after learning about the opportunities offered by the IPAL program in high school. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies at SCAD, he began an internship with the Court Atkins Group, where he plans to continue his career.

Ellen Filiatreau, M.Arch., IPAL Architecture
Hometown: Bardstown, KY
Filiatreau was drawn to SCAD specifically for the IPAL program and participated in a SCADpro collaboration with local architects. During her final year of study, Filiatreau focused on improving rural American economies by reimagining the use of General Aviation Airports. She begins her career as a licensed architect at the Neighboring Concepts architectural firm.

Nicolas Barrera Castaneda, M.Arch., IPAL Architecture
Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia
Barrera Castaneda is a proud SCAD alum and valedictorian. He is committed to making a positive impact on the world, keenly exploring different avenues and mediums. Most recently, Barrera completed his first independent design project in Colombia. He joins the design team at Brandon Haw Architecture.

SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering more than 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 120 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD is No.
1 in the U.S., according to Art & Object’s 2023 Best Art Schools ranking, with additional top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. For the past five years, 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation.

SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more. Visit scad.edu.