University Catalog

The purpose of the Master of Architecture degree program is to educate toward ultimate leadership positions within the profession of architecture. Within a broad curriculum, design as a discipline and a process is emphasized. Students are encouraged to give rich visual and material substance to both theoretical and pragmatic ideas. The context for design at the UT-Arlington focuses on the contemporary urban condition, a viewpoint especially appropriate for a school at the heart of a diverse, expanding, and internationally oriented region like Dallas/Fort Worth.

There are three distinct programs of study in architecture, which provide options to graduate students with different backgrounds and needs. Path A requires approximately 3-1/2 years, Path B two years, and Path C one year.

Accreditation

The Master of Architecture is a NAAB-accredited professional degree offered only at the graduate level. The Master of Architecture curriculum is coordinated with the Bachelor of Science in Architecture curriculum degree to form a six-year professional program. 

Objective

The purpose of the Master of Architecture program is to educate for ultimate leadership positions within the architecture profession.

Design is emphasized as central to the discipline of design deeply informed by history, theory, technology, and the broader cultural setting. Design studios, lecture courses, seminars, and workshops develop the critical mind as well as the visual sensibility.

Architecture and its practice exist within the social fabric. Thus discourse and communication are a vital part of the educational process. Through case studies in studios and courses, students learn to present ideas, and to use and give commentary. Visiting faculty leading practitioners and teachers from other schools provide a rich connection to the world of building and to a variety of views. In addition, international student exchange programs, study-travel courses, and numerous internship opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area connect the learning of architecture with the wider world.

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited 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 two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a five-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.

Master's degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree. The University of Texas at Arlington does not offer the Bachelor of Architecture degree.

The professional program leading to the Master of Architecture degree consists of a sequence of coordinated core courses that introduce and develop architectural knowledge; this is followed by a flexible array of more advanced and speculative course options. The preparation each student brings determines where, in this progression from introductory to advanced work, the program is entered. Path A is for those with a baccalaureate degree but no specific background in architecture; this sequence normally takes 3.5 years to the M.Arch. Path B is for those with a four-year undergraduate baccalaureate degree with a major in architecture; this sequence assumes satisfactory core studies and consists of about two years of more advanced professional studies. Path C is for those who already hold an accredited professional degree in architecture and who wish for a second professional degree; at least one year of advanced work is required.

NAAB Statement

The National Architectural Accrediting Board explains the accreditation policy:

"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 two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a five-year, three-year or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.

"Master's degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree."

The complete NAAB Conditions for Accreditation, including Student Performance Criteria, can be found on the NAAB website at www.naab.org .

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

To be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistant position, the candidate must be admitted without provisional conditions. Candidates whose native language is not English must submit an acceptable score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE-A) before arriving in the United States. GTA positions in architecture are limited and are very competitive.

Fellowships

To be considered for a Dean's Fellowship, the candidate must have a favorable review in most of the evaluation criteria. Candidates must be new students coming to UT Arlington, must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours and any graduate credit hours, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours in both long semesters to retain their fellowships. Fellowships in architecture are limited and very competitive.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the Graduate Advisor and discuss their options, the admission process, and how the M.Arch program may fit in their professional plans. Students are also invited to visit the School, sit in on classes, and meet faculty and students at the School of Architecture.

Master's Admissions Requirements

UNCONDITIONAL ADMISSION

Path A: For unconditional admission to the Path A program, the candidate must meet the following requirements:

• B.S. or B.A. Degree - Hold a 4-year B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited program.
• GPA of 3.0 - Have a GPA of 3.0 as calculated by Graduate Admissions.
• GRE score of 1000 - Have a minimum total score of 500 in the verbal and 500 in the quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
• 3 Letters of recommendation - Submit three letters of recommendation from sources who are familiar with the applicant's academic record, preferably former professors. (For applicants who have been out of school for an extended period, letters of recommendation may be from professional sources if academic ones are no longer available).
• 200 Word Essay
  Submit a short 200-word personal statement providing evidence of professional or academic goals consistent with the Architecture Program.
• TOEFL Score of 550
  For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the equivalent score on the computer based test. For otherwise highly qualified candidates, this requirement may be eased.
• Portfolio Submission (Optional)
  Submission of a design portfolio is not required. If a candidate does have a portfolio of creative work showing freehand drawings or sketches, painting, graphic design, architectural or furniture design, he/she is encouraged to submit it.

Path B: For unconditional admission to the Path B program, the candidate must meet the above requirements, and in addition must:

• Portfolio Submission (required)
  Submit a portfolio of design work and/or professional involvement, which shows evidence of design capability on a level expected in the graduate program as determined by the Graduate Architecture Admissions Committee. (Design work produced in an office as an employee carries less weight because of the difficulty in determining the applicant's exact contribution to the work shown). The best indication of probable success in the program is the quality of work demonstrated in the portfolio.

Path C: For unconditional admission to the Path C program, the candidate must meet the requirements of the Path A and Path B programs (except the requirement of a B.A. or B.S. degree) and must:

• Professional Architecture Degree
  Have a professional architecture degree (B.Arch. or M.Arch. or the international equivalent) from an accredited architecture program.

Probationary Admission

Path A: Candidates who do not meet the criteria for unconditional admission to Path A, will be considered for probationary admission in which they will be required to maintain a grade of B or better in the first 12 credit hours of courses in the program. To be considered for probationary acceptance, the candidate must perform well on four of the following six criteria:

• Undergraduate performance in relevant courses
• Work experience
• GPA
• GRE
• Portfolio review (optional)
• Letters of recommendation

Path B: Candidates who do not meet the criteria for unconditional admission to Path B may be considered for probationary admission in which they will be required to maintain a grade of B or better in the first 12 credit hours of courses in the program. And/or they may also be required to take one or more Path A and/or fourth year design studio as determined by the graduate advisor on review of their portfolio before continuing with the Path B design studio sequence.

To be considered for probationary acceptance, the candidate must perform well on three of the following five criteria:

• Undergraduate performance in relevant courses
• GPA
• GRE
• Letters of recommendation
• Portfolio review

Path C: Candidates who do not meet the criteria for unconditional admission to Path C, may be considered for probationary admission in which they will be required to maintain a grade of B or better in the first 12 credit hours of courses in the program. To be considered for probationary acceptance, the candidate must perform well on three of the following five criteria:

• Performance in relevant courses in a program leading to the B.Arch or M.Arch degree.
• GPA
• GRE
• Letters of recommendation
• Portfolio review

Note: Applicants whose native language is not English who do not meet the program's minimum TOEFL score, may be asked to complete extramural training in English, as approved by the program and the Graduate Office.

Provisional Admission

An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the submission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission. All missing documentation must be received before the end of the first semester of study.

Deferred Admission

A deferred admission may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

Waiver of Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

A waiver of the Graduate Record Exam may be considered for a UT Arlington undergraduate who has completed an undergraduate degree in Architecture or Interior Design; the student's GPA must equal or exceed 3.50 in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington. The GRE waiver may also be extended to other UT Arlington undergraduates who have completed an undergraduate degree at UT Arlington; the student's GPA must equal or exceed a 3.50 in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington. The final decision to waive the GRE also requires a positive review of completed coursework by the graduate advisor to determine the applicant's readiness to study Architecture.

Denial of Admission

Candidates who do not satisfy the requirements for probationary admission will not be admitted.

Architecture Degree Requirements

Professional Degree Program: Path A (3.5 years)

For applicants holding a baccalaureate (B.A., B.S.) degree in a subject outside architecture, such as liberal arts, sciences, business, or another profession.

A minimum of 104 credit hours in architectural design, theory, and practice is required of Path A candidates for the professional degree in architecture (M.Arch). Due to the rigor of the program (not unlike any other professional school, law or medicine), students entering this program are advised to discontinue outside employment.

Advancement in Professional Degree Program Path A is predicated upon successful and timely completion of required coursework as well as an annual review of the student's portfolio of design work by the Directors Group of the Architecture Program.

In addition to completing an introductory curriculum beginning in the summer of the first semester of enrollment, students must also complete the Path B core curriculum of 39 credit hours. The core curriculum of this course of study is:

ARCH 5325	ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS	3
ARCH 5326	ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS	3
ARCH 5329	TOPICS IN COMPUTERS AND DESIGN	3
ARCH 5331	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE	3
ARCH 5333	CONSTRUCTION II	3
Advanced Studio		24
Total Hours		39

Students approved by the Directors Group to substitute a design thesis for the last semester of the required studio sequence must also take ARCH 5363 DESIGN RESEARCH prior to enrollment in ARCH 5693 DESIGN THESIS.

Electives must include at least one course from each of the following categories of courses offered by the school:

1. history and theory
2. technology and practice, and
3. allied disciplines (landscape architecture, urban design, housing, and interior design).

Professional Degree Program: Path B (2 years)

For applicants holding a baccalaureate degree with a major in architecture. Placement in the graduate curriculum may be adjusted on the basis of previous academic and professional work.

A minimum of 54 credit hours is required for the thesis option or 57 for the design thesis and advanced studio options.

The core curriculum for this course of study is:

ARCH 5325	ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS	3
ARCH 5326	ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS	3
ARCH 5327	ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES II	3
ARCH 5328	ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES III	3
ARCH 5329	TOPICS IN COMPUTERS AND DESIGN	3
ARCH 5331	PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE	3
ARCH 5333	CONSTRUCTION II	3
Advanced Studio		18
Select one of the following:
ARCH 5693	DESIGN THESIS
ARCH 5698	RESEARCH THESIS
Advanced Studio
Total Hours		39

Students in design thesis option must take ARCH 5395 TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE prior to enrollment in ARCH 5693 DESIGN THESIS.

Electives must include at least one course from each of the following categories of courses offered by the School of Architecture:

1. history and theory
2. technology and practice and
3. allied disciplines (landscape architecture, urban design, housing and interior design).

Post-Professional Degree Program: Path C (1 year)

For applicants holding a previous professional degree in Architecture (B.Arch.) from an accredited program. The M.Arch, as a second rather than a first professional degree, does not receive NAAB Accreditation.

Thirty credit hours are required of students in Path C with thesis while 33 hours will be required of students with design thesis or advanced studio options.

A minimum of 18 hours is required in architectural program courses including six hours of history/theory as well as thesis, design thesis, or advanced studio. Students are also required to take an advanced studio which may be waived by student request if design proficiency or equivalent experience has been demonstrated. The remainder of the work will be arranged with and approved by the Graduate Advisor to suit the interests of the student. Courses of study provide for an area of specialization or for advanced general studies.

The School of Architecture offers international study programs in Rome, Italy, Barcelona, Spain, Innsbruck, Lund, Sweden and Cottbus, Germany. The Rome Program, conducted for five weeks each summer by UT Arlington faculty, is open to upper division and graduate students and may be used to satisfy history and elective requirements. The Barcelona, Innsbruck and Lund programs are semester-long exchange programs with universities in these cities, with the normal expectation of both studio and elective credit.

M.C.R.P. and M.Arch. Dual Degree Program

Students in this dual program may earn both the Master of City and Regional Planning and the Master of Architecture degrees in a curriculum of 87 semester credit hours. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both the M.C.R.P. and the M.Arch. programs. City and Regional Planning students wishing to earn the M.Arch degree will be required to take Path A in the Architecture Program unless they have earned an undergraduate degree in architecture which will allow CIRP applicants to take Path B. Programs of study will follow both master's programs, with all of the 15 credit hours of electives in the M.Arch program to be taken in the MCRP program. In addition to the 36 credit hours of architectural core courses, the remainder of coursework will be in the City and Regional Planning program in the School of Urban and Public Affairs with a required thesis proposal and programs of work to be jointly approved by the City and Regional Planning Program and the Architecture Program. A thesis supervisor should be selected from CIRP or the School of Architecture, and committee members should be selected from both faculties.

Course selection and programs of study should be designed with the assistance of the Graduate Advisors in both programs. Only in special instances may students select the thesis substitute plan of the MCRP program. The successful candidate will be awarded both degrees rather than one joint degree.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the general requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies. A personal interview with the Director, Graduate Advisor or members of the landscape architecture faculty is strongly recommended. Three letters of recommendation are required, and it is suggested that at least two of the letters come from former educators or academic contact. Applicants also are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Average GRE scores of successful applicants since 1998 have been approximately 550 Verbal and 550 Quantitative. Also required is a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 as calculated by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Applicants holding first professional degrees in landscape architecture, or in some cases degrees related to landscape architecture (such as architecture, engineering, environmental design, horticulture, interior design, planning, and the like) are required to submit portfolios reflecting the applicants' professional and/or academic experiences and interests. Portfolios are assessed according to proficiency in design, presentation and layout, technical skills, and content, similar to criteria used in design studios.

Applicants who have a weakness in one of the criteria for admission can enhance their credentials with strengths in the remaining criteria.

Applicants can be admitted according to four conditions: Unconditional; Provisional; Probationary; and, Deferred. Applicants who do not meet the criteria of one of these conditions will be denied admission to the Program.

Unconditional Admission

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Transcripts from all previous college or university work, along with scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and three letters of recommendation are required of all applicants. In addition, applicants should have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, as calculated by the Office of Graduate Studies. Applicants holding the first professional degree in landscape architecture, or a related field, must submit a portfolio.

Provisional Admission

Those who have submitted their applications forms, but whose packets are incomplete, can be admitted provisionally if their GPA meets minimum requirements, and if the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies have received official transcripts. In this case, incomplete materials could include letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and/or portfolios.

Probationary Admission

Those who have weaknesses in no more than two of the Degree Requirements (letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA), can be admitted on probation, with the condition that they make no less than a B in the first 12 hours of coursework in landscape architecture. Such students must complete no fewer than 9 credits during the semester in which they are on probation.

Deferred Admission

Those who have weaknesses in no more than two of the Degree Requirements (letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA), and/or who have not submitted all of the materials required for unconditional admission, can have their applications deferred for one semester, until outstanding requirements and criteria are met.

International Student Admission

International applicants must meet the Degree Requirements (letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA), and must be admitted in one of the admission categories described above. In addition, applicants whose native language is not English must have a demonstrated speaking ability in English. They also must meet the Program's minimum required score of 575 on the paper exam, or an equivalent score on the computer based- or internet-based tests, on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants who do not meet the Program's minimum TOEFL score, must complete extramural training in English, as approved by the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Certificate in Repositioning & Turnaround Strategies

13 Credits for Certificate --- Four Core Courses and Studio

Purposefully designed for real estate professionals seeking enhanced skills and new career options, or for graduate students seeking new credentials in course electives, the University of Texas at Arlington Graduate School of Architecture offers a special Certificate Program in Repositioning & Turnaround Strategies. This one-semester 14 -week intensive Certificate meets two evenings each week, Wednesday + Thursday at The Universities Center, 1901 Main St. in downtown Dallas. The Financial Analyses course meets on Saturday mornings for three weeks in the UT Arlington Ft Worth campus with the remainder of the course taught online. For Students already experienced in financial modeling, this component can be replaced by Independent Research to qualify for the Certificate.

REAE 5392. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

Course in financial feasibility for those without knowledge of real estate cash flow analysis and excel spreadsheets.

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Certificate Program Faculty

The UT Arlington Certificate Program is led by senior UT Arlington Faculty from the Graduate Schools of Architecture and Business Administration, and assisted by Visiting Lecturers drawn from the DFW real estate industry.

Michael P Buckley

Director, Certificate Program in Repositioning & Turnaround Strategies, Center for Metropolitan Density

Professor Buckley formerly directed Columbia’s Master of Science in Real Estate program and now heads the UT Arlington Certificate in Repositioning & Turnaround Strategies, and the new UT Arlington research platform, the Center for Metropolitan Density. 

Past President of the Connecticut Society of Architects, he now serves on the Dallas AIA Exec Committee. As President of Halcyon LTD Development Advisors, he has an international reputation for mixed-use concepts and strategic urban planning. Assignments to redevelop underutilized sites include San Juan’s El Triangulo Dorado Harbor Plan and Washington DC’s Navy Yard. Consulting engagements included Organizational options for a major Asian developer and Strategic Cluster studies for cities in Texas, Connecticut and Puerto Rico. 

Prof Buckley is a former ULI Trustee and former Chair, ULI Program Committee and Urban Development Mixed-Use Council. He is now on the Research Committee of the Real Estate Roundtable DC, Affinity Group Leader for the Pension Real Estate Assoc, Academic Member of the Assoc. of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, and The Commercial Real Estate Finance Council. He serves on the Advisory Boards of Interlink Group, and the Texas Sustainability Council. He holds BA and BSc degrees from Rice University, and a Master’s degree in Advanced Studies from MIT.  

Fred A. Forgey

Professor of Finance, UTA College of Business

Director, Graduate Real Estate Programs

Dr. Forgey teaches the program’s Real Estate Development Financial Analysis and Valuation course. He is executive director of Graduate Real Estate Programs for the UT Arlington College of Business. Over the past 20 years, he has held faculty positions with the University of Auckland-New Zealand, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, where he was coordinator for the Master of Science in Land Development Program. He has led a variety of specialized study abroad programs to Australia and New Zealand, has taught in executive MBA programs in Asia and has been a professor of real estate for ORIX Capital Markets. Dr. Forgey’s teaching and research focus on adaptive re-use and redevelopment initiatives. He currently serves as chair of the Downtown Bryan Economic Development Association in Bryan, Texas.

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Adjunct Faculty/ Visiting Lectures

The UT Arlington Cert Program has an objective to maintain a close working relationship and a deliberate outreach to the real estate industry.

Each Semester, a select group of industry leaders share their project experience and opinions of emerging trends and proven operational and investment practices. Over the past two years the UT Arlington Cert Program has benefitted from an outstanding array of professionals from Banking, Law, Development, Leasing, Asset Management and Private Equity, with senior executives serving as Visiting Lecturers such as:

• Michael Dalton - Vice President, Archon Group
• Peter McKee - Partner, Andrews Kurt
• John Walsh - President, TIG USA
• Steve Kennedy - Partner, E2M Private Equity
• Jay Small - Vice President OREO Keybank
• Steve Kanoff - EVP, Westmont Realty
• Mark Wolf - Principal, JHP Architects
• Chuck Bedsole - VP Hospitality. Alvarez& Marsal
• David Parham - Partner, Baker McKenzie 

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UT Arlington Roundtable Series

Now in its third year, this popular topic-oriented gathering is sponsored by UT Arlington Center for Metropolitan Density and is an integral part of the Certificate curriculum which has been co-sponsored by major DFW Professional organizations including:

• North Texas District Council
• The Real Estate Council
• AIA Dallas
• Texas Capital Bank
• Cushman & Wakefield LLP
• Haynes & Boone LLP 
• Ernst & Young LLP
• Jones Lang LaSalle

The UT Arlington Roundtable series has featured Panelists from the top DFW Region, including Asset Managers, Real Estate Funds Financiers, Developers, Equity Sources, Brokers and Law Firms such as:

• Holiday Feneglio Fowler LLP
• Granite Properties
• Hunt Realty Corp
• Texas Capital Bank
• Witten Assocs
• Cushman & Wakefield LLP
• Invesco Real Estate
• Stratford Land Corporation
• Primera Companies
• E2M Private Equity 
• Corgan Associates
• CityPlace Development 
• Andrews Kurth LLP
• Berkadia Commercial Mortgage
• Joe Foster Company
• Crosson-Danis
• Centerline / C3 M
• DLA Piper LLP
• BOKA Powell
• Good Fulton Farrel
• Hughes Development
• Jones Lang LaSalle
• The Weitzman Group
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit
• Texas Institute for Sustainability
• Jackson Walker LLP
• City of Dallas Eco Dev
• Archon Group
• Billingsley Companies
• Trinity Works
• HKS Architects
• Cityview Corp
• UCR Realty
• Baker McKenzie LLP
• Ernst & Young LLP
• Haynes & Boone LLP 
• Behringer Harvard 
• JHP Architects
• Interlink Group
• Texas Capital Bank