Master of Architecture - STEM Designated

Our Master of Architecture program is a launching pad for those seeking leadership roles in architecture, design, development, and construction, and is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, forging a direct pathway to licensure. Students holding a pre-professional degree in architecture may qualify for our two-year program of study, while students without a background in architecture typically finish in three years.

Our studio-based curriculum emphasizes ethical design practice and is led by prominent architects who work with students to develop the skills they need to address pressing architectural and urban problems. Each studio offers a distinctive learning environment in which students sharpen their capacity to think critically, experiment speculatively, and make architecture ambitiously.

The city of Chicago offers a ready-made urban laboratory for all of our efforts. Moreover, our location in a global city allows us to bring together and work with expert designers, engineers, technologists, and theorists.

This program is open beginning in the fall semester only.

Program Overview

Our M.ARCH. program stresses research, analysis, and synthesis as preparation for an expanding disciplinary field in which resourcefulness and daring are rewarded. We are committed to helping our graduates become exceptional design leaders as well as ethical global citizens.

Our mission is to teach design excellence and technical expertise, and to foster an understanding of the role of the architect in society as an ethical, insightful, and informed leader. We believe that society sustains and enriches itself through thoughtful planning and careful work, and we regard the architect as the central figure who is best able to synthesize the natural and man-made in the creation of a more humane built environment.

The curriculum addresses principles of design concepts, materials, construction, systems, planning, professional practice, history, and visual judgment, which are fundamental for the development of the creative process. The curriculum is progressive with required core coursework offering foundation knowledge, skills, and vocabulary, while upper-level study seeks a broader understanding of architecture by combining theoretical exploration with practical considerations.

Why Illinois Tech is one of the best value universities in the country

As an Illinois Tech student, you’ll automatically be considered for our university’s generous institutional scholarships. On average, this adds up to a savings of $107,472 on tuition and housing for every student during your four years at Illinois Tech ($134,340 for five years, based on fall 2021 figures).

We’re committed to dramatically reducing the cost of your degree, so you can focus on learning at one of the most dynamic and innovation-driven universities in the country.

Want some more great reasons?

• On top of our institutional scholarship, on average, Illinois Tech awards our students an additional $34,412 each in need-based tuition aid over four years ($43,015 for five years). (among FAFSA filers, fall 2021)
• We’re the #44 Best Value School in the nation (U.S. News & World Report)
• 98% of our students receive some form of financial aid
• The mean starting salary of our undergraduates is $63,938

Located in the great global city of Chicago, Illinois Tech is a top-tier, nationally ranked, private research university with programs in engineering, computer science, architecture, design, science, business, human sciences, and law. As Chicago’s only comprehensive tech-focused university, Illinois Tech offers a bachelor of science, master of science, professional master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, as well as certificates, in in-demand STEM fields and other areas of innovation. Options include in-person, hybrid, and online courses. Undergraduate students can take part in dual-degree and pre-med/pre-health programs, as well as Illinois Tech’s Accelerated Master’s Program, which allows them to receive both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as few as five years.

Illinois Tech is the only university to offer all students the Elevate program. Elevate guarantees that students participate in hands-on experiences—internships, research, competitions, study away, career-focused short courses, and more—that empower them with the twenty-first-century skills that employers seek. Elevate also ensures students receive personalized academic and career mentorship from a team of advisers and are uniquely career-ready upon graduation.

Illinois Tech is ranked #1 in Illinois among private colleges for return on investment (after aid, PayScale) and is the #44 ranked best value school in the United States (U.S. News & World Report). Illinois Tech graduates achieve a 92.8% employment rate within six months of graduation (2021 class). Its alumni include the inventor of the cell phone, the pioneer of barcode technology, and the head scientist for Amazon Alexa, among other leaders.

Students enjoy studying and living on a historic campus just minutes from downtown Chicago, which offers networking, internship, and career opportunities. Less than a mile from Lake Michigan’s stunning beaches, Illinois Tech’s campus has been acclaimed as “one of America’s most beautiful college campuses.” Illinois Tech students come from more than 106 countries and all 50 states.