Overview

The Master of Science in Architecture is a three- or four-semester program that allows enrollment in six different tracks (with a minimum curricular requirement of 30-36 credits). On the background of interdisciplinarity the students of the six tracks will oscillate between joint courses for all MSA students, track-specific courses and courses that are shared with students from other programs and departments. Each track will be led by a recognized leader in the field, supported by the joint resources of the MSA umbrella. The program acts as an accelerator and cross-pollinator, in which the confrontation with contemporary problems and themes takes priority over disciplinary silos. In offering an open academic environment to investigate design strategies in relation to the most pressing issues of the 21st century, the MSA program provides a contemporary skills and knowledge base for professional application, as much as future advanced doctoral study. The degree is STEM-designated which allows international students to apply for OPT for up to 36 months after graduation.

Admissions

Applications are generally considered for entrance in the Fall semester only. Design studios in the Master of Science in Architecture program are sequenced to deliver a cohesive educational experience and students are expected to follow the established design studio sequence for their program. Students entering the program in Spring or Summer are not eligible to enter the course sequence at that time, but may take electives or other required courses. This will necessarily extend the duration of the Master of Science in Architecture program.

Applications start on November 1 until June 1 for entry in Fall and October 1 until December 1 for entry in Spring. Admission to the Graduate Program is subject to the rules, regulations and procedures of the Graduate School as stipulated in the University Graduate Bulletin. It is the responsibility of each student to understand these requirements and to ensure that they are met.

Applications will be reviewed by the Architecture Faculty Graduate Admissions Committee only after fulfilling the below requirements and all of the following documents have been received:

  1. 3.0 cumulative point average
  2. Completed application form with an application fee. This fee is mandatory.
  3. A letter or statement expressing your interest in the program and reasons for applying.
  4. Official transcripts of all college and university courses taken, indicating the date your professional or other undergraduate degree was awarded. All transcripts must be sent directly from the institution’s registrar. E-scripts to download are also accepted. See more information on international transcripts below.
  5. Three academic (and professional, if applicable) letters of recommendation. If you have waived your right for access to your letters, they may be sent directly from the recommender, or they may be included with your application in a signed and sealed envelope.
  6. Digital portfolio sent to email: SoAgradadmissions@miami.edu.                          

Please save the digital portfolio with your Lastname_Firstname. Digital portfolios must be no greater than 8 MB. You may also share a portfolio link to review your work.

Students applying for the four design related tracks must present a selection of their best architectural works during their pre-professional studies. Students applying to the Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse and the Theory of the Built Environment tracks have to submit work samples that exemplify their preparedness for the chosen field, f.e. in the form of essays and articles. In order to facilitate the waiving of courses and studios, examples must emphasize comprehensive skills including sketches, plans, sections and elevations, and graphics that exhibit conceptual and diagramming abilities, understanding of structures and of urban context, as well as any other skills (computer modeling, models, photography and film abilities, etc.). Examples of professional work are encouraged but must clearly identify and describe work done independently and as part of a team.

Additional requirements for International Students:

  1. TOEFL of min. 80 or IELTS of min. 6.5 (please use University code 5815). 
  2. Graduate international transcripts will be reviewed by one of the approved Evaluation Services:
  3. Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., International Education Associates , (www.jsilny.org)
  4. Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (www.ece.org)
  5. World Education Services (www.wes.org)

For application review purposes, English translated official transcripts are sufficient. Once the applicant gets admitted, the international evaluation report is required. 

Please visit our website at www.arc.miami.edu and refer to our latest admission and portfolio requirements here.

Curriculum Requirements

Master of Science in Architecture: Digital Fabrication & Technology

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

ARC 609Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR6
ARC 610Architecture Design Degree Project6
ARC 629Research in Design-Methods and Procedures3
ARC 656Parametric Tectonics3
ARC 657Design and Fabrication Techniques3
ARC 681Special Problems Emergent Methods3
ARC 682Special Problems Independent Study3
ARC 699Directed Research3
Thesis Option
ARC 810Master's Thesis Optional6
Total Credit Hours30-36

Master of Science in Architecture: Hospitality Design

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

ARC 608Integrated Architecture Design Studio Hospitality 6
ARC 609Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR6
ARC 610Architecture Design Degree Project6
ARC 629Research in Design-Methods and Procedures (or other approved Research course)3
ARC 640Tropical Architecture3
ARC 664Introduction to Hotel Design and Development3
ARC 699Directed Research3
Thesis Option
ARC 810Master's Thesis Optional6
Total Credit Hours30-36

Master of Science in Architecture: Healthcare Design

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

ARC 608Integrated Architecture Design Studio Healthcare 6
ARC 609Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR6
ARC 610Architecture Design Degree Project6
ARC 629Research in Design-Methods and Procedures3
ARC 681Special Problems Healthcare Modules3
ARC 699Directed Research3
Elective3
Thesis Option
ARC 810Master's Thesis Optional6
Total Credit Hours30-36

Master of Science in Architecture: Classical & Traditional Design

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

ARC 608Integrated Architecture Design Studio Classical 6
ARC 609Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR6
ARC 610Architecture Design Degree Project Rome/Miami6
ARC 629Research in Design-Methods and Procedures3
ARC 674Renaissance Architecture3
ARC 681Special Problems Roman Palimpsest - Architecture & Construction3
ARC 699Directed Research3
Thesis Option
ARC 810Master's Thesis Optional6
Total Credit Hours30-36

Master of Science in Architecture: Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse

ARC 608Integrated Architecture Design Studio Preservation6
ARC 609Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR3
ARC 618Documentation of Historic Architecture3
ARC 628Historic Preservation3
ARC 629Research in Design-Methods and Procedures3
ARC 681Special Problems Materials and Preservation Techniques3
ARC 682Special Problems Concepts of International Heritage3
ARC 683Special Problems Roman Palimpsest - Architecture & Construction3
ARC 810Master's Thesis6
Research Elective3
Total Credit Hours36

Master of Science in Architecture: Contemporary Theory of the Built Environment

ARC 609Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR3
ARC 620Responsible Architecture3
ARC 622Urban Design Theory and History of the Modern City or other Elective3
ARC 629Research in Design-Methods and Procedures3
ARC 681Special Problems Architectural Discourse3
ARC 682Special Problems Contemporary Architectural Theory3
ARC 683Special Problems Independent Study/Field Research3
ARC 699Directed Research3
ARC 810Master's Thesis6
Theory Elective3
Elective3
Total Credit Hours36

All Electives as per semester schedule offerings and with approval.

Suggested Plan of Study

Master of Science in Architecture: Digital Fabrication & Technology

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

Plan of Study Grid
FallCredit Hours
ARC 629 Research in Design-Methods and Procedures 3
ARC 657 Design and Fabrication Techniques 3
ARC 656 Parametric Tectonics 3
ARC 699 Directed Research 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
ARC 609 Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR 6
ARC 681 Special Problems Emergent Methods 3
ARC 682 Special Problems Independent Study 3
 Credit Hours12
Summer
ARC 610 Architecture Design Degree Project 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours30
Plan of Study Grid
Fall ICredit Hours
ARC 810 Master's Thesis Optional 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours6

Master of Science in Architecture: Hospitality Design

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

Plan of Study Grid
FallCredit Hours
ARC 608 Integrated Architecture Design Studio Hospitality 6
ARC 629 Research in Design-Methods and Procedures ( ) 3
ARC 664 Introduction to Hotel Design and Development 3
ARC 699 Directed Research 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
ARC 609 Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR 6
ARC 640 Tropical Architecture 3
 Credit Hours9
Summer
ARC 610 Architecture Design Degree Project 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours30
Plan of Study Grid
Fall ICredit Hours
ARC 810 Master's Thesis 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours6

Master of Science in Architecture: Healthcare Design

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

Plan of Study Grid
FallCredit Hours
ARC 608 Integrated Architecture Design Studio Healthcare 6
ARC 629 Research in Design-Methods and Procedures 3
ARC 699 Directed Research 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
ARC 609 Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR 6
ARC 681 Special Problems Healthcare Modules 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
Summer
ARC 610 Architecture Design Degree Project 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours30
Plan of Study Grid
Fall ICredit Hours
ARC 810 Master's Thesis Optional 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours6

Master of Science in Architecture: Classical & Traditional Design

Non-thesis Option 30 credits, Thesis Option 36 credits

Plan of Study Grid
FallCredit Hours
ARC 608 Integrated Architecture Design Studio Classical 6
ARC 629 Research in Design-Methods and Procedures 3
ARC 699 Directed Research 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
ARC 609 Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR 6
ARC 674 Renaissance Architecture 3
 Credit Hours9
Summer
ARC 610 Architecture Design Degree Project Rome/Miami 6
ARC 681 Special Problems Roman Palimpsest - Architecture & Construction 3
 Credit Hours9
 Total Credit Hours30
Plan of Study Grid
Fall ICredit Hours
ARC 810 Master's Thesis Optional 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours6

Master of Science in Architecture: Historic Preservation & Adaptive Reuse

Plan of Study Grid
FallCredit Hours
ARC 608 Integrated Architecture Design Studio Preservation 6
ARC 628 Historic Preservation 3
ARC 629 Research in Design-Methods and Procedures 3
ARC 681 Special Problems Materials and Preservation Techniques 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
ARC 609 Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR 3
ARC 618 Documentation of Historic Architecture 3
ARC 682 Special Problems Concepts of International Heritage 3
Research Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
Summer
ARC 683 Special Problems Roman Palimpsest - Architecture & Construction 3
 Credit Hours3
Fall I
ARC 810 Master's Thesis 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours36

Master of Science in Architecture: Contemporary Theory of the Built Environment

Plan of Study Grid
FallCredit Hours
ARC 620 Responsible Architecture 3
ARC 681 Special Problems Architectural Discourse 3
ARC 629 Research in Design-Methods and Procedures 3
ARC 699 Directed Research 3
Theory Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
ARC 609 Architecture Design Research Studio or PAIR 3
ARC 622 Urban Design Theory and History of the Modern City or other Elective 3
ARC 682 Special Problems Contemporary Architectural Theory 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
Summer
ARC 683 Special Problems Independent Study/Field Research 3
 Credit Hours3
Fall I
ARC 810 Master's Thesis 6
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours36

All Electives as per semester schedule offerings and with approval.

Goals

  • To prepare students for professional leadership and lifelong learning in architecture, urbanism, and related fields.
  • To preserve and develop knowledge for the profession through research and practice.
  • To share knowledge locally and internationally.
  • To promote building and community design goals of environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic sustainability.
  • To bridge disciplinary silos within the professions of the built environment.
  • To explicitly address issues of societal and environmental change.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate the ability to develop knowledge for the profession through research and practice.
  • Students will demonstrate clear reasoning with organized presentation of evidence, assumptions, and conclusions.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to raise clear and precise questions, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider diverse points of view, reach well-reasoned conclusions, and test alternative outcomes against relevant criteria and standards.
  • Students will not only deepen their knowledge in their selected field of specialization, but will be able to understand and communicate concepts that originate from other fields.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to read, write, speak and listen effectively.