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.

The Master of Architecture professional degree is a Plan B program (professional paper or project plan) that requires forty-two (42) credits of graduate coursework. A student’s program of study includes three graduate design studios courses Advanced Arch Studio (ARCH 551) Comprehensive Design Studio (ARCH 558)and Master Studio Project ARCH 560 plus Master Studio Project Critique ARCH 561, required advanced theory and systems courses Advanced Architectural Theory (ARCH 526) and Adv Bldg Sys Integration (ARCH 535) a required Professional Paper (ARCH 575)and Professional Paper Critique ARCH 577and graduate electives. The Plan B Program requires that students successfully complete a Masters Studio Project and Masters Studio Critique as their comprehensive examination. 

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 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 (4 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. This studio serves to cover the Comprehensive Exam for the Master of Architecture degree program. The student works with faculty of their selection to determine project.

ARCH 561 Masters Studio Project Critique (2 credits)s a student-directed design studio project that provides students with the opportunity for advanced exploration of a wide-range of architectural issues and solutions. This studio serves to cover the Comprehensive Exam for the Master of Architecture degree program. A faculty member is assigned to the student project to serve as a professional critic of the project.

Advanced Theory, System Integration and Research Methods

All graduate students are required to take Advanced Architectural Theory (ARCH 526) ARCH 526) ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)ARCH 526)and Adv Bldg Sys Integration (ARCH 535) ARCH 535) ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)ARCH 535)in conjunction with Comprehensive Design Studio (ARCH 558) ARCH 558) ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558)ARCH 558) and a  ARCH 575 Professional Paper and ARCH 577 Professional Paper Critique are to be taken prior to a Master's Studio Project. 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.  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 6 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.  Nine of the credits can be credits that a student “petitioned” to use while an undergraduate. Electives vary from semester to semester. Six to ten electives will be offered each semester. Electives can be courses such as ARCH 533 Adv Environmental Controls, ARCH 564 Adv Arch Graphics, ARCH 525 Special Design Topic, etc.

Three semester graduate program.

Year I -Fall Semester

ARCH 558Comprehensive Design Studio6
ARCH 535Adv Bldg Sys Integration3
ARCH 526Advanced Architectural Theory3
Graduate Electives3
Total Credits15

Year I - Spring Semester

ARCH 551Advanced Arch Studio6
ARCH 575Professional Paper3
ARCH 577Reader Critique for Professional Paper 1
Graduate Electives5
Total Credits15

Year 2 -Fall Semester

ARCH 560Masters Studio Project4
ARCH 561Design Critique for Master’s Studio Project 2
Graduate Electives6
Total Credits12