Master of Architecture (M. Arch) in Architecture

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Design

• Demonstrate development of design exploration and understanding throughout the program

Visual Communication

• Visually communicate ideas through hand sketching/ drawing, including hand-drawn concept sketches, design process sketches, and diagrams
• Visually communicate ideas through architectural drawings (digital or otherwise): site plan, plan, section, elevation, and 3D representation
• Produce accurate physical models of design ideas

Written Communication

• Effectively summarize the project and process in a well-crafted proposal and thesis book

Presentation Skills

• Professionally present the thesis proposal and final project

Building Systems, Materials, and Methods

• Demonstrate understanding of material systems and construction details
• Demonstrate understanding of building systems (including structural systems, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems)
• Demonstrate understanding of environmental control systems
• Demonstrate understanding of building codes and accessibility
• Apply sustainability concepts in their project

Thesis Proposal Development

• Clearly define the mission of their project
• Present research that defines the need and desirability of the project
• Provide a profile of the user group
• Comprehensively define and analyze the proposed site area and its context
• Present and analyze relevant precedents for the project
• Develop a general project concept related to the site analysis and program
• Effectively present the suitability of the proposed program on the proposed site
• Produce a spatial/ functional program outline

Thesis Project

• Produce a comprehensive architectural and building solution to the mission statement

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

• Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
• Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
• Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
• Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
• Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
• Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
• Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

Our students enter the profession well prepared, as we educate them to become critical thinkers and visionary designers with skills and experiences to carry them into their architecture careers. We provide them with the knowledge and abilities necessary to investigate their ideas and transform their architectural visions into built reality. We strongly believe in our students’ potential to shape the future of our environment as critical leaders in their fields.

City and Urban Planner

Master planning environmental design decisions at the scale of a neighborhood, district, city, or region, architects can be part of an urban or design team improving urban environments.

Construction Manager

As construction managers, architects contribute their knowledge of building design and coordinate the design delivery of a project from conception to final closeout.

Design Consultant

Graduates from an architectural school are qualified outside of architectural practice to consult across disciplines, from building envelope design, historic preservation, industrial design, furniture design, color, branding, business, and product consulting, among many other possibilities.

Project Architect

Collaborating on large or complex architectural projects, project designers are crucial members of a design team.

Self-Employed Architect

Operating as sole practitioners, firm principals run small to mid-sized offices, sometimes in partnership with other principals. Firm principals are responsible for signing and stamping construction documentation sets and must be licensed in the state in which a project is being built.

Sustainable Design Consultant

Specializing in sustainability-driven design projects, sustainability consultants may be architects or other design professionals.

Unit Requirements

Degree Requirements

M.Arch Track 1 Degree Requirements

• Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
• A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• A minimum grade of C in all required 63 units

M.Arch Track 2 Degree Requirements

• Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
• A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• A minimum grade of C in all required 87 units

For information on the Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) and Intern Development Program (IDP) requirements, please contact us.

The NAAB accredited Master of Architecture is a holistic professional program offered in two tracks. Dedicated to the relationship of theory, up-to-date technical developments, advanced architectural design, and the practice of making and building, the program has an exceptional profile. Through knowledgeable and practicing faculty, we enable our students to become responsible leaders in their field, who have the skills to envision, design, and construct a desirable and viable future and, therefore, actively contribute to the evolution of society.

• Applicants who graduate from a NAAB-accredited 5 year B.ARCH program or equivalent are eligible for MA-ARH I (36 units). Final placement will be determined after portfolio review.
• Applicants who graduate from a 4 or 5-year non-NAAB-accredited Bachelor’s program in Architecture, Environmental Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Engineering are eligible for MA-ARH I (36 units). Final placement will be determined after transcripts and portfolio review.
• Applicants who graduate with an unrelated undergraduate degree will be placed into the MA-ARH II (60 units).
• Applicants interested in Architectural licensure in the United States should consider the NAAB-Accredited M.Arch program. This might also apply to international students when their country of origin requires a professionally accredited degree (NAAB or equivalent) in order to obtain an architecture license in this country.

Track 1 and Track 2 Placement

Both the 63-unit and 87-unit degree program tracks are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole authority for accredited professional degree programs for architecture in the United States. We have an open enrollment policy and operate on a rolling admissions basis. A portfolio is required for applications to the School of Architecture. The Graduate School of Architecture at the Academy of Art University is unique in that there are many advanced standing options for applicants with a background in architecture or a related field. The advanced standing is determined on an individual basis through a portfolio review and transcript evaluation.

Note for English as a Second Language Students: We have an open enrollment policy and operate on a rolling admissions basis. We do not require a TOEFL test, but all placement into architecture classes is pending ESL evaluation; ESL 604 placement is necessary to start architecture classes.

Track 1 Curriculum

Track 2 Curriculum