Master of Architecture


The Master of Architecture is a graduate professional degree in architecture qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.

Overview

The degree is earned through several possible paths of study, depending on both a particular program's construction, and the candidate's previous academic experience and degrees. M.Arch degrees vary in kind, so they are frequently given names such as "M.Arch I" and "M.Arch II" to distinguish them. All M.Arch degrees are professional degrees in architecture. There are, however, other master's degrees offered by architecture schools that are not accredited in any way.
Many schools offer several possible tracks of architectural education. Including study at the bachelor's and master's level, these tracks range up to 7.5 years in duration.
  • One possible route is what is commonly referred to as the "4+2" course. This path entails completing a four-year, accredited, pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in architecture or a Bachelor of Science in architecture. This degree is not 3-year, depending on the nature and quality of one's undergraduate study performance, and the evaluation of the master's degree program school of one's undergraduate study Master of Architecture program. This route offers several advantages: the first four years are a bit more loose, allowing the inclusion of some liberal arts study; one can attend two different institutions for their undergraduate and graduate study, which allows one to have a more varied architectural education, and one can pick the best place for completing thesis ; and one will finish the 4+2 course of study with a master's degree that will provide the career option of teaching architecture at the collegiate level.
  • The second route to obtaining an accredited master's degree begins in graduate school, with a 3 or 3.5-year master's degree. The advantage to this route is that the student can study something else they are interested in their undergraduate study. Because students come from different undergraduate backgrounds, the breadth of knowledge and experience in the student body of an M.Arch I program is often considered an advantage. One possible disadvantage is that the total time in school is longer. Another disadvantage is that the student has a very short time to cover the extremely broad scope of subject areas of which architects are expected to have a working knowledge. Nevertheless, major schools of architecture including MIT and Harvard often offer a 3.5-year program to students already with strong architectural background, fostering a competitive and productive academic environment.
  • A third possible route is what schools are calling a "post-professional" master's degree. It is research-based and often a stepping-stone to a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture. Schools include Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and RISD.
Some institutions offer a 5-year professional degree program. Depending on the school and course of study, this could be either a Bachelor of Architecture or an M.Arch. In the U.S., it is typically a 5-year B.Arch Either degree qualifies those who complete it to sit for the ARE, which leads to an architect's license in the U.S.. One disadvantage of the B.Arch degree is that it is rarely considered as sufficient qualification for teaching architecture at the university/college level in the U.S.. Many architects who wish to teach and have only received a B.Arch choose to pursue a 3-semester master's degree to obtain further academic qualification.
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.
In the United Kingdom, the Master of Architecture typically covers the "Part 2" stage of the professional qualification process. The Architects Registration Board sets the criteria for these qualifications to ensure graduates meet professional standards.
In the United States, The National Architectural Accrediting Board is the sole accrediting body for professional degree programs in architecture. Since most state registration boards in the United States require any applicant for licensure to have graduated from an NAAB-accredited program, obtaining such a degree is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture. First time students matriculating with a 5-year B.Arch degree can also qualify for registration without obtaining a master's degree. Some programs offer a concurrent learning model, allowing students the opportunity to work in the profession while they earn their degree, so that they can test for licensure immediately upon graduation.
In Canada, Master of Architecture degrees may be accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board, allowing the recipient to qualify for both the ARE and the Examination for Architects in Canada.
As of June 2022, there were 120 accredited Master of Architecture programs in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Master's degree programs

United States

Canada

Colleges and universities in Canada with accredited Master of Architecture degree programs are listed below:
Universities in Australia and New Zealand with accredited Master of Architecture degree programs are listed below :
The only 2 universities offering HKIA, CAA & RIBA accredited Master of Architecture for architect professional registration.
In Mexico, an officially recognized Bachelor of Architecture is sufficient for practice.
Federal University of Technology, Minna. Nigeria.

India

In India, the Council of Architecture regulates the architectural education and maintains a registry of higher education institutions approved to offer a 2-year long Master of Architecture degree. While 5-year long Bachelor of Architecture degree allows a person to register with Council of Architecture as an architect and practice architecture in India, Master of Architecture is often required to teaching architecture at the collegiate level.

Iran

Some universities in Iran with accredited Master of Architecture degree programs are listed below:

Austria

All M.Arch courses listed below comply with RIBA and ARB accreditation, complying to RIBA's Part 2 stage before Part 3 and Architect registry.
England
  • , School of Civil Engineering, Architecture MArch or Architecture MArch, MEng
  • University of Bath, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Bath, as MArch
  • Birmingham City University, Birmingham School of Architecture, Birmingham, as MArch
  • Arts University Bournemouth, Bournemouth, as MArch
  • University of Brighton, Brighton, as MArch
  • University of the West of England, Bristol, as MArch
  • University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture, Cambridge as MPhil
  • The University of Creative Arts, Canterbury School of Architecture, as MArch
  • The University of Kent, Kent School of Architecture, as MArch
  • The University of Huddersfield, School of Art, Design and Architecture. as M.Arch or M.Arch
  • Leeds Beckett University, School of Arts, as MArch or Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship.
  • De Montfort University, The Leicester School of Architecture, Leicester, as March or Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship.
  • University of Lincoln, The Lincoln School of Architecture, Lincoln, as MArch
  • University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Architecture, Liverpool, as MArch
  • Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, as MArch
  • Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, as Final Examination
  • The London School of Architecture as MArch
  • The University College of London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, as MArch
  • The University of Arts, London, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, as MArch
  • The University of East London, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, as March
  • The University of Greenwich London, School of Architecture, Design and Construction, London, as MArch
  • Kingston University London, Kingston School of Art, London, as MArch
  • London Metropolitan University, School of Art, Architecture and Design, as MArch or Level 7 Architect Apprenticeship
  • Royal College of Art, School of Architecture, as MA
  • London South Bank University, Engineering, Science and the Built Environment, as MArch or Level 7 Architect Apprenticeship
  • The University of Westminster, Department of Architecture, as M.Arch
  • University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, The Manchester School of Architecture, as MArch or Level 7 Architect Apprenticeship
  • The University of Newcastle upon Tyne, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle, as M.Arch
  • Northumbria University, Architecture Department, School of the Built Environment, Newcastle upon Tyne, as MArch orLevel 7 Architect Apprenticeship
  • The University of Nottingham, Architecture and Built Environment, Nottingham, as MArch
  • Nottingham Trent University, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment. as M.Arch
  • Oxford Brookes University, School of Architecture, Oxford, as M.ARchD
  • University of Central Lancashire, The Grenfell-Baines School of Architecture, Construction and Environment, as MArch
  • RIBA Studio, as Diploma
  • The University of Plymouth, Plymouth School of Architecture, Design and Environment, Plymouth, as M.Arch
  • The University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth School of Architecture, Portsmouth, as MArch
  • The University of Sheffield, Sheffield School of Architecture, Sheffield, as MArch
  • Sheffield Hallam University, Department of Architecture and Planning, Sheffield, as M.Arch
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales