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Educators

What is the Emerging Professional's Companion?

The EPC is an online internship resource for emerging professionals. Primarily intended as a means for interns to supplement and bolster their knowledge as soon-to-be-licensed architects and to earn IDP credit, this resource can also be used by educators to spur classroom discussion or reflective thinking in their professional practice and studio courses.

How do I use the EPC with my students?

EPC activities can be integrated into existing curriculum or introduced independently to underscore particular topics of interest. The EPC is an excellent tool for professional practice instructors to use with students. Students can be directed to www.epcompanion.org to download and complete activities either as individual or collaborative assignments without instructor direction/guidance. The EPC activities are a terrific vehicle for presenting practice-based situations or comparing more theoretical classroom instruction with situations typically found in design office settings. Topics such as ethics, design, and construction liability provide real-world scenarios for students to debate and learn from. Please remember, IDP credit cannot be earned for EPC work required in the classroom. However, raising awareness and encouraging students to complete EPC activities independently is acceptable and allows EPC activity completion to apply towards IDP credit.

I am interested in using the EPC with my students, how can I get more information?

Classroom educators are often the first people to formally introduce an emerging professional to issues of practice. Whether leading a studio, a professional practice lecture, or other design education course, it is critical that educators provide relevant, current information on practice-based issues to their students. In many ways, the use of real-world scenarios is critical for students to understand and emulate the architect's place in the design and construction industry. The EPC provides a number of resources for educators to pass along to their students in the form of presentations, handouts, and practical exercises.

Where can I find additional information at my own school?

Each school of architecture with a NAAB-accredited degree program has an IDP Educator Coordinator who can provide additional information for faculty and students alike. View a current roster of IDP Educator Coordinators.