Program Information

Doctor of Philosophy: The college offers an interdisciplinary program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in design, construction, and planning. Areas of specialization in this program include architecture, building construction, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban and regional planning. For information, write to the:

Ph.D. Director
College of Design, Construction, and Planning Doctoral Program
331 ARCH
Box 115701.

Master of Architecture: The School of Architecture offers graduate work leading to the first professional degree, Master of Architecture. During graduate studies, each student has the opportunity to focus on one or more areas, including design, history and theory, urban design, preservation, structures, and technology. Concentrations and certificates are available in historic preservation, sustainable architecture, and sustainable design. The student’s overall college experience, both undergraduate and graduate programs, is intended to be a complete unit of professional education leading to practice in architecture or related fields.

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a 6-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The University of Florida School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

• Master of Architecture (pre-professional degree + 52 graduate credits) Master of Architecture (professional degree + 30 graduate credits) Master of Architecture (non-pre-professional degree + 54 undergraduate credits + 52 graduate credits)
• Master of Architecture (pre-professional degree + 52 graduate credits): For those students who have a 4-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited architectural program, 2 years in residence (52 credits) are normally required to complete the Master of Architecture degree; notification of program length is part of the letter of acceptance and is determined by portfolio and transcript review. ARC 6241 Advanced Studio I (1-9 cr.), ARC 6355 Advanced Studio II (6 cr.), and ARC 6356 Advanced Studio III (6 cr.) are required of all graduate students in this track and are prerequisites for the required thesis or master’s project. Course sequences in history and theory, technology, structures, and practice must also be completed.
• Master of Architecture (professional degree + 30 graduate credits): For students who have a baccalaureate degree with an architecture or related major (interior design, landscape architecture) and who have completed 4 or 6 architecture or design studies courses, three years of residence (83 credits, approximately) are normally required to complete the Master of Architecture degree; notification of program length is part of the letter of acceptance and is determined by portfolio and transcript review. ARC 4073 Core Studio 3 (6 cr.), ARC 4074 Core Studio 4 (6 cr.), ARC 6241 Advanced Studio I (1-9 cr.), ARC 6355 Advanced Studio II (6 cr.), and ARC 6356 Advanced Studio III (6 cr.) are required of all graduate students in this track and are prerequisites for the required thesis or master’s project. (Undergraduate courses 3000 and 4000 level in the major do not count toward the minimum requirements for the graduate degree.) Course sequences in history and theory, materials and methods, technology, structures, and practice must be completed.
• Master of Architecture (non-pre-professional degree + 54 undergraduate credits + 52 graduate credits): For students with a baccalaureate degree in a nonrelated academic area and have completed fewer than 4 design studies courses, 4 years of residence (112 credits, approximately) are normally required to complete the Master of Architecture degree; notification of program length is part of the letter of acceptance and is determined by portfolio and transcript review. ARC 4071 Core Studio 1 (6 cr.), ARC 4072 Core Studio 2 (6 cr.), ARC 4073 Core Studio 3 (6 cr.), ARC 4074 Core Studio 4 (6 cr.), ARC 6241 Advanced Studio I (1-9 cr.), ARC 6355 Advanced Studio II (6 cr.), and ARC 6356 Advanced Studio III (6 cr.) are required of all graduate students in this track and are prerequisites for the required thesis or project. Undergraduate courses 3000 and 4000 level in the major do not count toward the 52-hour minimum requirements for the graduate degree. Course sequences in history and theory, materials and methods, technology, structures, and practice must be completed.
• Accredited 5-year professional base: For students with a baccalaureate degree in architecture from an accredited 5-year professional degree program, a 1-year degree program is available. In these cases, a specialized curriculum is developed that compliments the needs of the applicant. Minimum registration is 30 credits; however, the minimum may increase if transcript reviews show that further course work is needed to meet registration and curriculum requirements. ARC 6356 Advanced Studio III (6 cr.) is a prerequisite for the thesis or master’s project.

Most states require individuals intending to become architects to hold an accredited degree. The National Architectural Accrediting Board acknowledges two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture (minimum 5 five years of study); and the Master of Architecture (minimum 3 years of study after an unrelated bachelor’s degree, or 2 years after a related pre-professional bachelor’s degree). These professional degrees educate those who aspire to registration and licensure to practice as architects.

Student work: The College may retain student work for the purpose of record, exhibition, or instruction.

Master of Science in Architectural Studies: The M.S.A.S. is a nonprofessional degree for advanced investigations in specialized areas of architectural history, architectural pedagogy, theory, technology, design, preservation, or practice. Students with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited university are eligible to apply to this program; the proposed area of focus should be precisely defined in the application. This is a 3- to 4-semester program (32 hours minimum) that includes a thesis. (No more than 6 hours of ARC 6971 Research for Master's Thesis (1-15 cr.) may be counted in the minimum credit hours for the degree.) Interdisciplinary study is encouraged. Concentrations and certificates are available in historic preservation, sustainable architecture, and sustainable design.

The School sponsors special curricula in architecture to enhance the academic program. Preservation Institute: Caribbean, Preservation Institute: Nantucket, and Vicenza Institute of Architecture (Italy) accepts students from the University of Florida, and also from academic circles throughout the United States and the world for year-round study. Any student in a graduate architecture program at the University of Florida may apply for one or more of these programs.

Requirements for the M.Arch., M.S.A.S., and Ph.D. degrees are described in the General Information section of this catalog.

The School also participates in a program granting an Interdisciplinary Concentration and Certificate in Sustainable Architecture. For more information, see the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies section of this catalog.

Applications: All applications for fall term graduate admission (including official transcripts, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores, if necessary) must be received by the Office of the Registrar by January 15. In addition to satisfying University requirements for admission, applicants are required to submit to the Graduate Program Assistant, School of Architecture, 231 ARCH, Box 115702, the following: a portfolio of their creative work; a scholarly statement of intent and objectives; and three letters of recommendation. This material must be received by January 15 to be considered for admission in the next fall term. Students may apply after the January 15 deadline but will only be considered if spaces become available. (Updates of portfolios are accepted after January 15; however, applications will not be considered until they are complete.)

The School reserves the right to retain student work for purposes of record, exhibition, or instruction. Field trips are required of all students; students should plan to have adequate funds available. It may be necessary to assess studio fees to defray costs of base maps and other generally used materials.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Architecture

• Master of Science in Architectural Studies
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Historic Preservation
  • concentration in Sustainable Architecture
  • concentration in Sustainable Design
  • concentration in Themed Environments Integration
• Master of Architecture
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Historic Preservation
  • concentration in Sustainable Architecture
  • concentration in Sustainable Design

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Architecture Program Core Courses

School of Architecture Courses

College of Design, Construction, and Planning Courses

Architecture (MS)           

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Acquire, interpret and analyze information as it relates to the design process. Use critical thinking and specialized knowledge of architectural systems to identify and assess problems. Develop design responses in a competent and ethical manner

SLO 2     Skills           
Develop an area of focus and a self-directed inquiry. Work collaboratively toward integrative proposals

SLO 3     Professional Behavior         
Engage in the advancement of the discipline  
Engage the economic, ethical, and aesthetic aspects of professional practice

Master of Science in Architectural Studies

SLO 1     Knowledge
Acquire, interpret and analyze information as it relates to the design process. Use critical thinking and specialized knowledge of architectural systems to identify and assess problems. Develop design responses in a competent and ethical manner

SLO 2     Skills           
Develop an area of focus and a self-directed inquiry.  Work collaboratively toward integrative proposals

SLO 3     Professional Behavior         
Engage in the advancement of the discipline.  Engage the economic, ethical, and aesthetic aspects of professional practice