Master in Architettura (M.Arch.)

Overview

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) is a first professional degree for those intending to enter the professional practice of architecture. Our degree program is accredited by NAAB, or the National Architectural Accrediting Board, which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture. There are 2 pathways towards obtaining the M.Arch. degree:

The M.Arch. 2 program builds upon a solid base of undergraduate studies in architecture, and provides a challenging professional curriculum. The two-year program (consisting of 52 semester credit hours) is seen as a capstone of professional studies, preparing students for internships, the registration exams, and licensure.

The M.Arch. 3 program is designed for students with undergraduate degrees in fields other than architecture. This professional program includes one year of preparatory studies (up to 40 semester credit hours that includes summer study) in preparation for the following two years (52 semester credit hours) of the M.Arch. 2 program sequence. These preparatory studies are required to be completed in full, as a condition of admission to the M.Arch 2 sequence. We encourage students from all disciplines to consider this program as a means for entering the profession of architecture.

Our focus is broad as we have a faculty with a diverse set of expertise and experience. Yet it is targeted, in that we aim to educate our students to be informed, technically proficient, professional, socially aware, and creative future professionals set on making a difference in the built environment.

We are pleased to announce that the Master of Architecture and the Master of Science in Architecture have been recognized as STEM programs through a new STEM CIP-code (04.0902). As a result, our graduate degrees provide potential career paths that will fill a need in the architectural profession to bolster design intentions and ideas with sound research-based solutions. Research and development are primary in improving and developing key concepts related to sustainability and problem solving for the specific user groups architects design for, and the designation will lead to increased research opportunities and available funding for students and faculty.

Specifically for international students, STEM designation carries with it the possibility of an additional 24 months of Optional Practice Training (OPT) beyond the standard 12-month OPT visa extension for employment after completion of the degree (for a potential total of 36 months).

Degree Program

M.Arch. 2 Degree Requirements

Degree candidates must complete 52 semester credit hours of coursework exclusive of coursework or other study required to remove admission deficiencies. Credit toward the program is earned only for grades of “A,” “B,” and “C.” Students must also maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0. Students who earn a grade of “CR” in ARC 6931 Master’s Project Preparation will satisfy the comprehensive examination requirement. Required coursework consists of:

A. 37 semester credit hours of the following required courses: 37

• ARC 5133: Professional Architectural Practice and Ethics
• ARC 5173: Architectural Theory and Criticism
• ARC 5193: Principles of Global Architecture: Place, Context & Culture
• ARC 5733: Advanced Building Technology and Sustainability
• ARC 6126: Advanced Design Studio
• ARC 6136: Advanced Topics Studio
• ARC 6146: Advanced Technical Studio
• ARC 6931: Master’s Project Preparation
• ARC 6996: Master’s Project

B. One 3-semester-credit-hour elective, chosen from the following list of courses:

• ARC 5203: History and Theory of Preservation
• ARC 5533: Contemporary Materials in Architecture and Design
• ARC 5603: Advanced Seminar in Architectural History
• ARC 5713: Environmental Architecture and Sustainability
• ARC 5813: History and Theory of Urban Form
• ARC 6823: Study Abroad: Advanced Architectural History/Theory

C. 12 semester credit hours of electives. No more than 6 semester credit hours of electives from outside of the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning will apply toward the Master of Architecture degree.

Total Credit Hours: 12

M.Arch. 3 Degree Requirements

The M.Arch. 3 program requires up to 40 semester credit hours of preparatory studies and 52 semester credit hours of the M.Arch. 2 program sequence for this degree, exclusive of coursework or other study required to remove admission deficiencies. Credit toward the program is earned only for grades of “A,” “B,” and “C.” Students must also maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0.

The M.Arch. 3 program in architecture consists of Preparatory Studies, Performance Evaluation, and M.Arch. 2 program.

A. Preparatory Studies

Up to 40 semester credit hours consisting of the following: 40

• ARC 5003: Architectural Principles
• ARC 5011: Introduction to Architecture and Design
• ARC 5156: Introductory Design Studio I
• ARC 5166: Introductory Design Studio II
• ARC 5176: Introductory Design Studio III
• ARC 5623: History of Modern Architecture
• ARC 5913: Introduction to Construction Materials and Concepts
• ARC 5923: Principles of Structures
• ARC 5933: Structures
• ARC 5943: Principles of Environmental Systems
• ARC 5953: Environmental Systems

B. Performance Evaluation

• Upon completion of preparatory studies, each student is subject to a performance evaluation intended to determine readiness to enter the M.Arch. 2 program sequence. The performance evaluation format is determined by the M.Arch. Graduate Program Committee. Normally, failure to pass the performance evaluation requires additional coursework or other work to remedy deficiencies or areas of weakness before entering the M.Arch. 2 program sequence.

C. M.Arch. 2 Program Sequence

• Degree candidates must complete the 52 semester credit hours of the M.Arch. 2 sequences.: 52

Admission Requirements

M.Arch. 2 Program Admission Requirements

In addition to University-wide admission requirements, applicants must have completed a pre-professional bachelor’s degree in architecture with a minimum grade point average of no less than 3.0 in the applicant’s last 60 hours of coursework (including all graduate and postgraduate coursework taken).

A complete application package consists of the following:

• Completed Application form
• Official transcripts from all universities attended
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• Letter of Intent, that clearly and succinctly outlines the applicant’s goals for graduate study, including the anticipated focus of study and impact on subsequent professional practice
• Portfolio, documenting proficiency in design, graphic communications, and other creative work
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for international applicants whose first language is not English.

M.Arch. 3 Program Admission Requirements

In addition to University-wide admission requirements, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of no less than 3.0 in the applicant’s last 60 hours of coursework (including all graduate and postgraduate coursework taken).

A complete application package consists of the following:

• Completed Application form
• Official transcripts from all universities attended
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
• Letter of Intent, that clearly and succinctly outlines the applicant’s goals for graduate study, including the anticipated focus of study and impact on subsequent professional practice
• Portfolio of work indicative of the applicant’s preparedness for the study of architecture
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for international applicants whose first language is not English.

All application material must be submitted via the portal found on the Graduate School's website.

Areas of Specialization

The academic strengths in our program reflect the areas of research in which our faculty engage. A consortium of scholars who investigate different aspects of a particular field of study allows us to offer (as non-required options) the following Certificate Programs:

• High-Performance Buildings and Sustainability
• Historic Preservation
• Urban and Regional Planning

Furthermore, different Centers within the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning provide opportunities for research, support, and applied activity:

• Center for Architectural Engagement
• Center for Cultural Sustainability
• Center for Urban and Regional Planning Research

Please consult the faculty biographies (located on the CACP website) for more information about the research that our faculty brings in to the classroom and the studio.

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With a focus on student success and research excellence, UTSA is serving as a model for the urban-serving public universities of the future. Through the transformational learning experiences that we provide, UTSA is creating bold futures for our students, the citizens of San Antonio and beyond. As the largest university in San Antonio, UTSA is rising to new heights as one of approximately 20 universities nationwide that are designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions and hold a prestigious Tier One classification for research excellence.