Degree Requirements
Master of Architecture
Professional Degree Program
The Master of Architecture is an accredited first professional degree, with graduate professional courses designed to prepare the student for advanced work in architecture and to apply for registration with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) as an architect in the U.S. The coursework required is prescribed individually on the basis of the student’s previous college work as shown by transcripts, the portfolio, the statement of intent, and references. For students entering with degrees other than professional degrees in architecture, the professional degree program requires at least sixty semester hours of prescribed coursework. For students entering with a professional degree in architecture (B.Arch.), a minimum of forty-eight hours of prescribed coursework is required. Before progressing into the advanced architectural design sequence, all Master of Architecture professional degree candidates must demonstrate proficiency in design and communication through a qualifying portfolio review conducted by the faculty. Students entering without a background in architecture normally complete the professional degree program in approximately three and one-half years of study in residence; the academic records of students holding preprofessional bachelors degrees (i.e. in architectural studies) are individually evaluated for course credit toward the professional degree program requirements.
Students may earn a Certificate of Specialization in Historic Preservation, Latin American Architecture, Sustainable Design, or Urban Design by completing the relevant sequence of courses. Additional information is available from the graduate adviser.
Postprofessional Degree Programs
For students entering with a professional degree in architecture, the Master of Architecture is a postprofessional degree. It requires either thirty semester hours of graduate work, including the six-hour thesis; or thirty-six hours of work, including a final six hours of independent study. Based on the student’s interests and an evaluation of the statement of intent, portfolio, and transcripts, specific degree requirements are established for the postprofessional program offerings:
- Design and Theory: A postprofessional program providing an opportunity to examine and refine design philosophies and techniques. Participants may develop an individual program of study based on their specific design interests.
- Historic Preservation: A postprofessional program designed to provide knowledge and skills appropriate for architects who are engaged in preservation practice and policy, written and graphic documentation of historic structures, building pathology, materials conservation, and sensitive design for restoration or adaptive reuse.
- Sustainable Design: A postprofessional program emphasizing the integration of natural systems, building systems, and cultural systems into architectural design.
- Urban Design: Postprofessional graduate study designed to develop the student’s understanding of the urban environment and its users’ needs, and to promote the design skills he or she needs to improve the quality and efficiency of city life.
Master of Arts
The degree program consists of at least thirty semester hours of coursework, including a thesis. Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of French, Spanish, German, or another language appropriate to their area of study. A typical course sequence is described on the School of Architecture Web site at http://soa.utexas.edu/archhistory/programs/ . An individual plan of study is defined for each student by the director of the program.
Master of Science in Architectural Studies
The Master of Science in Architectural Studies degree program consists of advanced academic work with a focus on interdisciplinary studies. This degree program is tailored to applicants who wish to pursue research and advanced academic study. It is available to students with or without a professional degree in architecture.
The program requires at least thirty semester hours of work and includes a thesis. An individual plan of study is defined for each student by the director of the concentration.
This degree does not fulfill the professional degree requirements for registration as an architect. More information about the program is available online at http://soa.utexas.edu/architecture/interdisc/ .
Master of Science in Historic Preservation
The degree program consists of at least forty-eight semester hours of coursework, including a thesis, professional report, or coursework-only option. A typical course sequence is described on the School of Architecture Web site at http://soa.utexas.edu/hp/programs/ . An individual plan of study is defined for each student by the director of the program.
Master of Science in Sustainable Design
The degree program consists of at least forty-two semester hours of work, including a thesis or professional report. Up to twenty-four semester hours of coursework may be chosen in the student’s area of concentration. An individual plan of study is defined by each student in conjunction with the program director. A typical course sequence is described on the School of Architecture Web site.
Master of Science in Urban Design
The degree program requires at least thirty-six semester hours of work, including either a master’s design study or a thesis. Additional hours may be required for students without a prior degree in either architecture or landscape architecture. An individual plan of study is defined for each student by the program director.
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctoral subcommittee of the Architecture Graduate Studies Committee determines course requirements, prescribes qualifying examinations, and approves dissertation topics. The degree plan requires a minimum of twenty-one semester hours of seminars and reading courses leading to the qualifying examination. Nine of these hours must satisfy the program’s core requirements, as specified by the doctoral subcommittee (credit may be awarded for core courses taken as part of a School of Architecture master’s program). Nine of the remaining hours are to be taken outside the School of Architecture. All tracks require experience in design, which may be gained through design studio coursework or professional practice, reading proficiency in two foreign languages, and/or proficiency in qualitative or quantitative analysis as determined by the doctoral subcommittee. After passing the qualifying examination, the student registers in the dissertation colloquium to develop a dissertation topic. The writing, oral defense, and revision of the dissertation follow.
Dual Degree Programs
The following dual degree programs are offered within the School of Architecture. More information is available from the graduate adviser in each program.
| Field(s) of Study | Degree(s) |
|---|---|
| Community and regional planning | Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning |
| Sustainable design | Master of Science in Sustainable Design |
| Community and regional planning | Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning |
| Urban design | Master of Science in Urban Design |