Master of Architecture

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The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree is the title denoting a collection of three different levels of a Master's degree in Architecture. Many schools offer all three tracks and they range from 1 to 5 years, usually called M.Arch I, M.Arch II, and M.Arch III (M. Arch III being less common).

  • M.Arch I is a first professional degree for students that have earned a four year unaccredited undergraduate degree in architecture or related discipline, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
  • M.Arch II is a post-professional degree involving between a year and two years (depending on which school) of intensive focused work for students that already have a 5-year Bachelor's of Architecture degree.
  • M.Arch III is a professional Master's degree that takes 3 to 5 years to complete and it requires no previous teachings in Architecture (some schools do not have an M.Arch III program).

These degrees are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) as professional degrees, allowing the recipient to qualify for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), after three years of experience working in an architect's office. First time students matriculating with a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree can also qualify for registration. Some programs offer a concurrent learning model, allowing students the opportuinity to work in the profession while they are earning their degree, so that they can test for licensure immediately upon graduation.

Graduate-level architecture programs consist of course work in design, building science, structural engineering, architectural history, theory, professional practice, and elective courses. For those without any prior knowledge of the field, coursework in calculus, physics, computers, statics and strengths of materials, architectural history, studio, and building science is usually required. Some architecture programs allow students to specialize in a specific aspect of architecture, such as architectural technologies or digital media. A thesis or final project is usually required to graduate.

An architectural thesis is the culmination of a student’s research. Submission of the thesis represents the completion of the final requirement for the degree and may be presented as graphic representations, a written work, or physical forms. According to Groat and Wang, Architectural Research Methods, the scope of the research inquiry must not be too broad or too narrow. A good topic will clearly and simply identify a body of literature to which the topical question can be referred. Additionally, a thesis question must have significance to not only the student, but his or her peers, and to the field of architecture.

As of March 2006, there were eighty-four accredited Master of Architecture programs in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Note: Schools where a Bachelor of Architecture can also be earned are marked with *

Contents

[edit] Master's Degree programs

Colleges and universities in the United States with accredited Master of Architecture degree programs are listed below.

Colleges and universities in Canada with accredited Master of Architecture degree programs are listed below:

[edit] Candidates

Four United States schools are candidates for accreditation, meaning that their newly-created programs may be accreditated to offer the M.Arch. degree upon proof of meeting NAAB standards. They are:

[edit] Schools and Universities in Europe

[edit] See also


Academic degrees
v  d  e
Associate's degrees (U.S.) AA, AAS, ABA, ABS, AOS, AS, AMusA (Australia), ASN
Foundation degrees (U.K.) FdA, FdEd, FdEng, FdMus, FdBus, FdSc, FdTech
Bachelor's degrees AB or BA, BAcy, BAdm, BAgrEc, BArch, BBA, BBus, BCom or BComm, BCS, BCL, STB, BD, BDent, BDS, B.Ed., BEc, BEng or BE, BSBME, BFA, BHSc, BGS,BHE, BHK, BID, BJ, BTh, BLibStud, BLIS, BMath, BMedSc or BMedSci, BMus, BSN, BPE, BPharm, BS or BSc or SB, BSc(Agr) or BSA, BSocSci, BSW, BTech, LLA, LLB, MB ChB or MB BS or BM BS or MB BChir or MB BCh BAO, MA (Cantab.), MA (Dubl.), MA (Hons), MA (Oxon.)
Master's degrees MArch, MA, MAT, MALS or MLS, MS or MSc, MSt, DEA, MAcy, MALD, MApol, MPhil, MRes, MFA, MTech, MBA, MBI, MBT, MComm, MDes, MTh, MTS, MDiv, MEd, MMT, MPA, MPD, MPS, MSN, MProfStuds, MJ, MST, MSW, MPAff, MLIS, MLitt, MPH, MPM, MPP, MPT, MRE, MTheol/ThM/MTh, STM, LLM, MEng, MSci, MBio, MChem, MPhys, MMath, MMedSc or MMedSci, MMus, MESci, MGeol, MTCM, MSSc, BCL (Oxon), BPhil (Oxon), ThM
Licentiate degrees: Lic Arts, LDS, JCL, STL, SSL, LSS, PhL
Specialist degrees EdS, SSP, CAS
Engineer's degrees AE, BE, BME, CE, CE, ChE, EE, CpE, ECS, EnvE, MSE, ME, NavE, NuclE, Ocean E, SysE, Eng
First-professional degrees AuD, DC, DCM, DDS, DMD, JD, MD (US), DPT, ND, OD, DO (US only), PharmD, DP, PodD, DPM, MDiv, MHL, DVM, PD, STB
Doctoral degrees PhD, DPS, EdD, DEng, EngD, DEnv, DBA, DD, JCD, SSD, JUD, DSc, DLitt, DA, MD (out of US and Canada), DMA, DMus, DCL, ThD, DrPH, DPT, DPhil, PsyD, DSW, JD, LLD, LHD, JSD, SJD, JuDr, STD, DMin
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