Summer Career Academy in Architecture & Interior Design

The Summer Career Academy introduces participants to the careers of professional architects and interior designers and clarifies the academic study necessary to achieve that career goal. The program offers a broad yet intensive hands-on career discovery experience and individual introduction to many basic and important aspects of the practices leading to the design of the built environment. Taught by School of Architecture + Planning faculty, the program is geared to those with little or no prior experience with studio practices. Participation in Summer Academy enables you to test whether architecture or interior design is the right career decision and help you prepare and qualify for successful application into university level professional design degree programs.

Camp Schedule

In-person session: Students are dropped off and picked up at the downtown campus each day.

• Monday- Friday: 11:30am - 4pm

The camp will take place at the UTSA Downtown Campus, 9th Floor One Riverwalk Place.
Snacks will be provided daily.

What We Will Do

Students will explore career options in architecture and interior design as well as develop some basic skills in design, sketching, and model construction, through daily tutorials, discussions, lectures, films, and field trips guided by UTSA Architecture faculty. While this program engages student at a college level, it does not offer college level course credit. Students finishing the course will receive invaluable experience and a Certificate of Completion for submission within a college application and as proof of attendance.

• FIELD TRIPS: Participants will visit practicing architect and interior design offices and active construction sites.

• PORTFOLIO: Discussions will address the preparation of a statement and portfolio for future use in applying to a university’s design or architecture program. (Summer Academy is not a formal part of the application process.)

• ELIGIBILITY: High school, college students, and others interested in architecture and interior design careers.

Participants must be graduates or high school students in good standing and be 15 years old as of June 1, 2026

Additional Information

• Fee includes individual studio work space, field trips, and all tools/supplies necessary for daily exercises.
• FREE SKETCHBOOK, PENCILS, SHARPENER, ERASER, & RULER
• Enrollment is limited to 40 students. Summer Academy is classes only – NOT an overnight camp, Out-of-town participants have stayed in Doubletree Hotel [call (210) 388-0322] adjacent to campus
• After posted deadlines, applications accepted on a space-available basis. Email contact information below for approval to apply past the deadline.

Questions?

For more information call the camp director, Carlos Velez, at 210-458-6987 or email at carlos.velez@utsa.edu