3+Year Accredited Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture candidates holding a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a field other than architecture are eligible for admission to the 3+year professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree program. Applicants to this program should have some experience with the visual or design arts, math through college algebra, and computer literacy. Summer courses are available to strengthen the candidate's background before matriculation and may be recommended or required by the Admissions Committee. Candidates with extraordinary qualifications or experience can request that appropriate preparatory courses be waived.
The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) is a professional degree program that educates students already grounded in the liberal arts to become registered, licensed architects who assume responsible and imaginative roles in society. The curriculum emphasizes integrated architectural design and its relationship to urban issues and tectonics, as well as the technical knowledge necessary for the professional practice of architecture. Courses in architectural history and theory, building science, graphics, materials and assemblies, design/build, and international studies provide further professional training and opportunities to develop areas of specialization.
The 2+ and 3+year M.Arch. programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Most state registration boards in the United States require that any applicant for licensure hold a degree from a NAAB-accredited program, obtaining such a degree is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture in the United States. (The one-year M.Arch. is not an accredited degree.)
For application requirements and materials, see M Arch Admissions.
curriculum
| PREP YEAR | |||||
| Autumn | Winter | Spring | |||
| 303 Intro to Design Studio I | 6 | 304 Intro to Design Studio II | 6 | 305 Intro to Design Studio | 6 |
| 310 Arch Design Drawing I | 3 | 311 Arch Design Drawing II | 3 | 312 Arch Design Drawing III | 3 |
| 332 Const Matls & Assemblies I | 3 | 323 Structures I | 3 | 324 Structures II | 3 |
| 350 Arch of the Ancient World | 3 | 351 Rom,Goth & Ren Arch | 3 | 352 History of Modern Arch | 3 |
| 360 Intro to Arch Theory | 3 | 331 Energy & Env Systems | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | 18 | |||
| YEAR ONE | |||||
| Autumn | Winter | Spring | |||
|
500 Arch Design Studio I (urban context) |
6 |
501 Arch Design Studio II (tectonics) |
6 |
502 Arch Design Studio III (sustainability) |
6 |
| 590 Urb & Pres Issues in Design | 3 | 570 Design Development | 3 | 591 Arch and Landscape | 3 |
| 532 Const Matls & Assemblies II (3) | 3 | 531 Active Control Systems (3) | 3 | 533 Advanced Env Systems | 3 |
| 521 Struct. Planning and Design | 3 | Graduate Seminar Selective | 3 | Graduate Seminar Selective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| YEAR TWO | |||||
| Autumn | Winter | Spring | |||
|
503 Arch Design Studio IV (comprehensive) |
6 |
504 Arch Design Studio V (options)* |
6 | 595/599 Thesis Research Prep | 4 |
| 571 Professional Practice | 4 | Professional Practice Selective | 3 | Elective** | 3 |
| Design Technology Selective | 3 | Elective | 3 | Elective** | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 12 | 13 | |||
| YEAR TWO + | |||||
| Autumn | |||||
| 700 Master's Thesis | 9 | ||||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 12 |
Courses in plain text are taught only in the quarter indicated; courses in italics are offered in more than one quarter per year. Check annual course listings for the specific quarters in which these courses are offered.
*Arch 504, Design Studio Options is offered Autumn and Winter. It covers: Advanced Building 2: Housing, Transportation, Institution. Craft: Furniture, Fabrication. Global/Local: Rome (fall, these students must take Arch 503 in winter), India (winter), Mexico (winter). Interdisciplinary: Urbanism, Ecology, BE studios, Gehl Studio, New Orleans. Arch 505 (Spring) and Arch 506 (Summer) can also fulfill the Arch 504 requirement.
** In Spring quarter of Year 2, students can take the Arch 505 design studio in place of two 3-credit electives. Elective studios (Arch 506) are also offered most summers; these can replace Arch 503 or Arch 504, or two 3-credit electives.
Download a pdf of the Master of Architecture curriculum.