Master of Architecture
Throughout the graduate program, students choose from a variety of architectural studios, architectural electives and non-architectural electives intended to emphasize the development of a critical position with regard to the environment and architecture. A comprehensive studio is required to demonstrate, through the development of an architectural project, the student’s moral, ethical and aesthetic responsibility to society and the natural world.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the technical, historical, social/cultural, theoretical, and environmental knowledge to be successful in their field.
- Be able to create architectural projects that integrate multiple factors in different settings and scales of development and that respond to diverse stakeholders and users.
- Be able to create architectural design solutions that demonstrate design synthesis and building integration of multiple theoretical, technical, programmatic, contextural and environmental issues.
- Be able to communicate effectively in graphic, written and verbal form and engage in constructive peer-to-peer discussions, reviews and critiques.
- Demonstrate and apply theoretical thinking, professional ethics, regulations and fundamental business processes in their design decisions.
- Engage in an independent architectural research project.
The Master of Architecture professional degree is a three semester, 1 1/2 year program that requires forty-two (42) credits of graduate coursework. The School of Architecture offers either a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (professional paper + coursework) pathway for students to complete the Master of Architecture program. A student’s program of study includes graduate design studios, advanced theory, building systems courses and a minimum of 14 credits of approved graduate electives. The M. Arch Program requires a student to successfully complete a Comprehensive Design Studio ARCH 558 with a grade of B or better. The Comprehensive Design Studio ARCH 558 serves as the comprehensive exam requirement for the MSU Graduate School.
The first semester of the three semester M Arch program, is comprised of required coursework that serves as the foundation for the M. Arch program and the qualifying graduate comprehensive exam requirements. Required courses include; ARCH 558 Comprehensive Design Studio, ARCH 535 Advanced Building Systems Integration and ARCH 526 Advanced Architectural Theory. During this semester, the student also selects a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (professional paper + coursework ) for the remaining two semesters of program completion.
Plan A is defined as a traditional thesis track with a focus on independent research and design of a project over the course of two semesters. Plan A is predominately self-directed. A student will apply to the School’s Plan A selection committee and, if accepted, will be assigned a Thesis Committee for research and design. Students must meet all MSU Graduate School requirements of a thesis. In addition to the thesis, students enrolling in Plan A will also complete an ARCH 551 Advanced Architecture Studio which is based on faculty area of research. Plan A students must also complete a minimum of 14 credits of approved graduate electives.
Plan B is defined as coursework only focused on semi-directed research and design done in one or two semesters. Students enrolling in the Plan B option will enroll in Arch 575 Professional Paper, a semi-independent course focused on research under the direction of a faculty member and in Arch 560 Masters Studio Project, a semi-independent studio focused on design. Arch 575 and Arch 560 are independent of each other and may be taken concurrently or sequentially in either order. In addition to these two courses, students enrolling in Plan B will also complete an ARCH 551 Advanced Architecture Studio which is based on faculty area of research. Plan B students must also complete a minimum of 15 credits of approved graduate electives.
The final component of the M.ARCH program is Graduate Electives. M.Arch students are required to complete a minimum of 14 credits of graduate elective course work to fulfill degree requirements. The School of Architecture allows for up to 9 of these credits to be from outside of the department as long as those courses are shown to have a clear connection to architecture. These credits may be at the 400 or 500 level. A list of approved non-Architecture graduate electives will be provided to students each semester at the time of registration. Electives vary from semester to semester. Five to six electives will be offered each semester. Electives can be courses such as ARCH 525 Special Design Topic ARCH 533 Adv Environmental Controls, ARCH 564 Adv Arch Graphics,etc.
Initial admission to the M.Arch program occurs only during the Fall term.
Graduate Design Studios
ARCH 551 Advanced Arch Studio (6 credits) are studios that are classified as experimental or theoretical design studios. These studios may be design/build in nature, place specific or theoretical and are intended to give a student an experience that is outside the traditional realm of Architecture. A field trip is associated with this studio.
ARCH 558 Comprehensive Design Studio (6 credits)is a studio that fulfills the NAAB requirements for comprehensive design and is also inclusive of all components of the field. This studio serves to cover the Comprehensive Exam for the Master of Architecture degree program. This includes but is not limited to: structural systems, environmental controls, life safety, technical documentation, etc. This studio is designed to evaluate a student’s competency in areas of Architecture. The Comprehensive Design Studio is best described as a programmatically complex problem with an underlying agenda or theoretical component and should be considered the most challenging structured studio experience that a student will undertake within the School of Architecture. Requirements will be rigorous and demanding beyond the expectations of those studios in the undergraduate program. The design problem is developed by a faculty member and implemented and solved by the students.
ARCH 560 Masters Studio Project (6 credits) is a student-directed design studio project that provides students with the opportunity for advanced exploration of a wide-range of architectural issues and solutions. The student works with faculty of their selection to determine project.
ARCH 590 Masters Thesis (10 credits)
Advanced Theory, System Integration and Research Methods
All graduate students are required to take Advanced Architectural Theory (ARCH 526)and Adv Bldg Sys Integration (ARCH 535) in conjunction with Comprehensive Design Studio (ARCH 558). These courses are designed to provide advanced studies in the areas of theory, system integration and research.
Graduate Electives
The final component of the M.ARCH program is Graduate Electives. Depending on Plan A or Plan B options, M.Arch students are required to complete a minimum of 12-15 credits of graduate elective course work to fulfill degree requirements. The School of Architecture allows for up to 9 of these credits to be from outside of the department as long as those courses are shown to have a clear connection to architecture. These credits may be at the 400 or 500 level. A list of approved non-Architecture graduate electives will be provided to students each semester at the time of registration. Electives vary from semester to semester. Five to six electives will be offered each semester. Electives can be courses such as ARCH 525 Special Design Topic ARCH 533 Adv Environmental Controls, ARCH 564 Adv Arch Graphics,etc.
Plan A
| Year 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 558 - Comprehensive Design Studio | 6 | |
| ARCH 526 - Advanced Architectural Theory | 3 | |
| ARCH 535 - Adv Bldg Sys Integration | 3 | |
| Grad Electives | 3 | |
| ARCH 590 - Master's Thesis | 4 | |
| ARCH 551 - Advanced Arch Studio | 6 | |
| Grad Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 16 |
| Year 2 | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 590 - Master's Thesis | 6 | |
| Grad Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 12 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 43 | |
Plan B
| Year 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 558 - Comprehensive Design Studio | 6 | |
| ARCH 526 - Advanced Architectural Theory | 3 | |
| ARCH 535 - Adv Bldg Sys Integration | 3 | |
| Grad Elective | 3 | |
| ARCH 551 - Advanced Arch Studio or ARCH 560 - Masters Studio Project | 6 | |
| ARCH 575 - Professional Paper (Can be taken in Spring or Fall of year 2) | 3 | |
| Grad Electives | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Year 2 | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ARCH 551 - Advanced Arch Studio or ARCH 560 - Masters Studio Project | 6 | |
| ARCH 575 - Professional Paper (Can be taken in Spring or Fall of year 2) | 3 | |
| Grad Electives | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 12 | |
| Total Program Credits: | 42 | |