Degree Requirements

Over a period of two academic years, students take a series of required seminars in theory and research, along with electives and independent studies in their own area of investigation. A minimum of 72 graduate quarter credits is required for graduation. Students with prior master's degrees in architecture or a related field can generally finish in four quarters. The majority of effort in the second year is devoted to the preparation of a research thesis. We recommend that students take a four-course load in each term.

The curriculum is structured in four strands: theory, option, elective, and colloquium. Throughout the two years of the program, increasing amounts of time open up for the individual student to pursue elective course work, independent studies, and thesis research within one of the specialized research areas.

At the end of four quarters, students will demonstrate, in a written, take-home examination, that they are conversant with the main concepts and bibliography from all the shared required courses (theory, option, elective, and colloquium), in combination with their own specialized (thesis) bibliography. The question for each student will be written by a committee composed of the thesis advisors, the theory teachers, and the graduate director. Satisfactory completion of this exam will be a pre-requisite to continuing work on the thesis project during the final two quarters of the program.

Various faculty members serve as primary advisers to M.S. students, depending on the areas of research involved. The graduate director steers each student to the most appropriate adviser as early as possible. The students will consult with the primary adviser, sometimes along with the graduate director, on all subsequent decisions about electives, independent studies, research, and thesis work, as well as ultimate career and placement objectives.