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: In the United States, most 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 professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited 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 (M.Arch) – Track I: Undergraduate pre-professional degree with architecture major + 52 graduate semester credit hours
• Master of Architecture (M.Arch) – Track II: Undergraduate professional degree + 30 graduate semester credit hours
• Master of Architecture (M.Arch) – Track III: Undergraduate degree with non-architecture major + 48 preparatory semester credits + 52 graduate semester credit hours

Next accreditation visit for all programs: 2022.

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 themed environments integration, 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.

• Master of Architecture – Track I (Undergraduate pre-professional degree with architecture major + 52 graduate semester credit hours): For those students who have a 4-year pre-professional baccalaureate degree in architecture from an accredited institution, 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 professional practice must also be completed.
• Master of Architecture – Track II (Professional degree + 30 graduate semester credit hours): For students with a professional degree in architecture from a NAAB-accredited professional degree program, a 1-year degree program is available. In these cases, a specialized curriculum is developed that complements 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.
• Master of Architecture – Track III (Undergraduate degree with non-architecture major + 48 preparatory semester credits + 52 graduate semester credit hours): For students with a baccalaureate degree in a nonrelated academic area and have completed fewer than 4 design studio courses, 4 years of residence (100 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.

Student work: The School 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, including themed environments integration, pedagogy, sustainable design, acoustics, computational design, community design, history/theory/criticism, building technology,  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 themed environments integration, historic preservation, sustainable architecture, and sustainable design.

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

Applications: For the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree programs, 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 1. 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 1 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. 

For the Master of Science in Architectural Studies (M.S.A.S.) degree programs, all applications (including official transcripts, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores, if necessary) must be received by the Office of the Registrar by February 15 to be considered for the following fall semester or by September 15 to be considered for the following spring semester. 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 scholarly statement of intent and objectives; three letters of recommendation; and a portfolio of their creative work (if applicable to the course of study). Students may apply after the fall or spring deadlines will only be considered if spaces become available.

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