The School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation offers the Master of Architecture professional degree program for entering graduate students who hold a pre-professional B.A. or B.S. in Architecture degree. Our goals include preparing students to enter the profession of architecture, to prepare for licensure, to provide for a sufficient depth of understanding of the components of architectural practice and to understand the diverse nature and variety of roles for architects in relation to other fields. The program encourages the mastery and skillful integration of environmental, social, historical, artistic, technical, and philosophical concerns into carefully scaled designs that enhance their context.
Students develop design, visual and digital communication skills; knowledge of building techniques; and an understanding of human problems in a variety of local, regional and international contexts. In a world of continuous technological change, these timeless values and skills exist as relevant tools for contemporary life and practice, and as a means toward advancing the cause of a humane and civilized environment for all.
Applying to the Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Program
Applicants must hold a B.A. or B.S. (*) in Architecture degree program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from a school of architecture that offers this degree as part of the accredited professional degree program sequence(**). Applicants from other undergraduate programs may be considered for admission, but would be expected if admitted to complete coursework inclusive of coverage of all Student Performance Criteria outlined in the NAAB Conditions of Accreditation. To apply, submit the following:
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Letter of intent (two double-spaced pages maximum) explaining your interest in obtaining the Master of Architecture degree
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
- Portfolio containing examples of your work (see below)
- If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results
- Completed application form accompanied by the $50 application fee
The portfolio may include exemplary work from Architecture as well as other creative and research work, and in total should convince the review committee that you are capable of producing independently conceived studio work at a high level of achievement. The portfolio should be in a compact format, no larger than 8.5” x 11”, either in a notebook, portfolio binder or a bound document. Portfolios should contain at least four to six representative Architecture studio projects that should demonstrate:
- developed degree of competence in architectural design
- ability to organize programmatic content
- commitment to professionalism in the studio
Placement decisions will be communicated to accepted students as part of the Graduate Admissions Review process, along with a projected outline of studies toward graduation.
