YU Alumni Pursue Architecture Degrees at Pratt Institute
Three Yeshiva University alumni—Isaac (Yitz) Emerson, Nathan Stern, and Dana (Adina) Lazar—are currently enrolled in the second year of the Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) professional degree program at Pratt Institute. The students utilized undergraduate shaped majors at YU to build the portfolios required for admission to the top-ranked program.
Academic Foundations for Professional Licensure
The M.Arch. degree is a professional credential, serving as a prerequisite for individuals seeking architectural licensure and registration. For Emerson, Stern, and Lazar, the path to Pratt began within the Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women art departments. Under the mentorship of Professor Paul Glassman, Instructor of Architectural History and Design, the students curated specific course sequences to align with the rigorous application standards of competitive design schools.
Students Tailor Undergraduate Studies for Architectural Readiness
Each student tailored their undergraduate studies to emphasize architectural readiness. Nathan Stern, a 2024 graduate of Yeshiva College, developed a shaped major titled The Art of Design. He focused his coursework on architectural history and design studio, integrating video presentation and three-dimensional modeling—skills he now applies directly to his studio work at Pratt. According to Stern, Professor Glassman's feedback and guidance were critical in establishing a comprehensive knowledge base of architectural precedents.
Dana (Adina) Lazar, a 2024 graduate of Stern College for Women, pursued a shaped major in studio art. Mentored by program chair Traci Tullius and professor Mary Creede, Lazar developed a multidisciplinary foundation in drawing, painting, and three-dimensional design. She credits this specific artistic training with providing the necessary technical proficiency to construct a successful portfolio for her graduate school application.
Isaac Emerson Explores Social Functions of Architecture
Isaac (Yitz) Emerson, a 2024 Yeshiva College graduate, centered his environmental design shaped major on the social and historical functions of architecture. His curriculum explored how design methodologies define purpose-built spaces and how technological developments have historically altered building principles. Emerson’s interest in the field solidified during his time at MTA, where he first encountered Professor Glassman’s coursework. He subsequently completed all six of the classes Glassman taught at Yeshiva College, a sequence that provided the academic rigor required for his acceptance into the Pratt Institute.
Broader Institutional Trajectory
Yeshiva University alumni have a history of matriculating into prominent architecture programs, including those at the Parsons School of Design, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Southern California, and The City College of New York. Professor Glassman noted that while the three students took distinct academic paths, they each exited their undergraduate programs with a consistent foundation for professional study.