Architecture (MS)

The post-professional architecture master of science (MS) degree allows students to complete advanced research and design work that builds on an existing professional degree in architecture, architectural engineering, structural engineering, construction management, or a related field.

Eligible applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited four-year U.S. college or university OR hold an equivalent credential from a qualifying international institution. This degree does not provide a path to licensure.

The Master of Science in Architecture is a STEM-designated degree.

The Master of Science in Architecture degree program provides an opportunity for advanced study and contribution to knowledge in the field through a thesis or terminal project. The post-professional Master of Science in Architecture (MS) degree allows students to complete advanced research and/or design inquiry that builds on an existing professional degree in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, architectural engineering, structural engineering, construction management, or another related field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Integrate design and advanced research to address the pressing and complex issues of the built environment.
• Develop research techniques appropriate for investigating advanced systems.
• Advance the knowledge and practice of architecture through critical thinking and experimentation in a research project (thesis) or design research project (terminal project).

MS Architecture: Post-professional Master of Science in Architecture Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Architecture degree program provides an opportunity for advanced study and contribution to knowledge in the field through a thesis or terminal project. The post-professional Master of Science in Architecture (MS) degree allows students to complete advanced research and/or design inquiry that builds on an existing professional degree in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, architectural engineering, structural engineering, construction management, or another related field. Students enrolled in the Master of Science degree program must take a minimum of 45 graduate credits, of which 30 must be in architecture and 9 must be at the 600 level. Students complete a minimum of three terms in residence and are required to complete 9 credits in ARCH 503 Thesis or Terminal Project (ARCH 619). Students in this program are expected to develop an individual research topic leading to a thesis or terminal project in one or more of the following areas of faculty research and design excellence:

• Sustainable Buildings: Green Technologies, High-Performance Envelopes, Net-Zero Buildings, and Eco-Districts.
• Sustainable Construction: Mass Timber Design, Green Building Materials, Fabrication, Construction Methods, and Life Cycle Analysis.
• Lighting Design: Daylighting, Electric Lighting, Luminaires and Photometrics, and Visual Comfort.
• Health and Indoor Environments: Indoor Environmental Quality, Human-Centric Design, Occupant Performance and Health.
• Sustainable Urbanism and Housing: Urban Architecture and Urban Design, Housing Design, Community Design, Livable Communities, New Mobility, and Climate Action.
• Design for Social Sustainability: Environment-Behavior Studies, Human-Context of Design, Spatial Justice, Accessibility and Universal Design, Cultural, Social and Economic Sustainability.
• Design Computing: Modeling, Simulations, and Design Communication.
• Architectural History and Theory: Preservation, Adaptive-reuse, Architectural Theory and Criticism.

The post-professional MS curriculum focuses on individual research and/or design inquiry that draws from professional and general university courses and consultation with the student’s advisor and thesis or terminal project committee. For more information about the thesis, see the Division of Graduate Studies section of this catalog.