Program Overview

At the graduate level, the Department of Architecture offers the Master of Architecture degree.  The Master of Architecture degree program is fully accredited by the National Architecture Accreditation Board (NAAB). The Department also offers the Master of Design degree.  This degree can be undertaken with a concentration in Historic Preservation. The Master of Design with a concentration in Historic Preservation was established in 2009.

The Department of Architecture works to create a learning environment in which all students can discover and develop their own design process and professional potential. Students in the program are encouraged to critique the work of fellow students as a way to develop their analytic skills and establish ongoing working relationships.

Financial Assistance

The Master of Architecture and the Master of Design programs offer limited teaching and research assistance that carry a semester stipend and a waiver of tuition, the curriculum fee, and most of the health fee in accordance with University guidelines.

Students may also seek Intern and Extern Assistantships, which may be funded for up to two years by a sponsoring firm, agency or department for work specifically designed to support and enrich a student’s academic experience (see the Fellowships and Assistantships section elsewhere in this Bulletin).

Admission

In addition to the university graduate application requirements, applicants to the Master of Architecture must submit a portfolio or representations of their work with a maximum of 20 pages illustrating the ability to see and think in two and three dimensions, to compose, and to experiment. Applicants are encouraged to submit a digital portfolio via the ArchCAS website; current UMass students may use the Spire portal instead. Applicants to the Master of Architecture degree program are required to submit transcripts, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. For priority admission, application materials must be received by the first Friday in January in order to start the following fall. Master of Architecture applications received after that date will be considered as space permits. Please reach out to the Graduate Program Director if you have any questions.

The Master of Design degree programs are for practitioners who are looking to redefine their professional focus, or for people interested in pursuing architectural research without the NAAB accredited degree. Applicants to the Master of Design are required to submit transcripts, a research proposal outlining a proposed area of study and three letters of recommendation. The research proposal may be supported by a portfolio or representations of work. Applicants to the Master of Design with a Historic Preservation concentration are required to submit transcripts, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation.