ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AND THE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL SCENARIO AUTHOR: Dr. J. Jinu Louishidha Kitchley, Department of Architecture, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, jinujoshua@tce.edu. ABSTRACT Architectural education has seen a sudden boom lately in the country. There are 240 departments i imparting architectural education in the country in 2011 as opposed to around 50 departments in the 1990s. This phenomenal growth is attributed to various factors such as the increase in the economical level of the average Indian to the rapid real estate developments that is happening throughout the country. Analysing this sudden binge for architectural education in the country is out of the purview of this paper. Catering to the ever growing demand is addressed by many public and private institutions allover India but it is high time the quality of architectural education offered to these students is taken a relook. The need for quality architectural education is high given the availability of sophisticated specializations in the field of architecture and beyond. The Department of Architecture, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai, undertook a review of the B.Arch. syllabus and curriculum with an objective to form a wholesome curriculum for the undergraduate Architectural Education. This paper attempts to review this methodology qualitatively and track its efficiency. Architectural Education – need for reviewing as seen by the COA The primary aim of architectural education from its inception is to ensure a sensible, sustainable, and sensitive habitat building to certify minimal intrusion and harmonious existence with nature, and environment. This is a phenomenal mission given the multi variable input that this task demands. Further the changing trends and demands due to technological, socio cultural, economic vicissitudes add to the complexity of Architectural Education of today. The architecture graduate should not only be honed with the technical knowledge and creative aptitude but also with competent soft skills, state of the art design aids and facilitating moral values, to become a proficient architect. Architectural Education in India is at a critical juncture and needs to undertake a review to clarify the intentions, structure and the relationships between disciplines and courses. The Council of Architecture’s ‘Minimum Standards for Architectural Education 2008’ which shall supplement the Regulations of 1983, says that the B.Arch. program shall be a minimum of 5 academic years or 10 semesters. The first 3 academic years/ 6 semesters of the course is designed as a basic standard course and the subsequent 2 years / 4 semesters will expose the student to the various specialized fields in architecture. All institutions imparting architectural education in the country for awarding recognised architectural qualifications under the