Architecture - Graduate Programs
Master's Degree
Overview
The purpose of the Master of Architecture degree program is to educate and prepare students to secure leadership positions in the profession of architecture. Within a broad curriculum, design as a discipline and as 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 School of Architecture is the contemporary urban condition, a point of departure that is especially appropriate for a school at the heart of a diverse, expanding, and internationally oriented region like Dallas/Fort Worth.
Each student's prior record of study of each student determines where, in a progression from introductory to advanced work, the program is entered. There are three distinct programs of study, which provide options to graduate students with different backgrounds and needs.
- Path A Master of Architecture (3 ½ years, 104 credit hours; requires a 4-year bachelors degree)
- Path B Master of Architecture (2 years, 57 credit hours; requires a 4-year pre-professional degree in architecture)
The University of Texas at Arlington, School of Architecture also offers the following post-professional Master of Architecture degree program:
- Path C is for applicants who already hold an accredited professional degree in architecture and desire to earn a second professional degree. It requires at least one year of advanced work.
Students interested in a post-professional degree program of study may wish to consider the Master of Sustainable Building Technology.
Objective
The discipline of design is deeply informed by history, theory, technology, and broader cultural settings. Architecture and its practice exist within the social fabric. Thus discourse and communication are a vital part of the educational process. Design studios, lecture courses, seminars, and workshops develop critical thinking skills of students, as well as their visual sensibilities. Through case studies in studios and courses, students learn to present ideas, and to receive and give constructive criticism. Visiting faculty, leading practitioners, and teachers from other schools provide a rich connection to the world of building and to a diversity 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.
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.
Advising
Interim Program Director: Donald Gatzke
Program Asst. Director: Josh Nason
Director for Academic Affairs and Advising: Cheryl Donaldson
Prospective / Future Students Info
Master OF ARCHITECTURE Admissions Requirements
Unconditional Admission
Path A - Students without architecture background
For unconditional admission to the Path A program, the candidate must:
- Hold a baccalaureate (B.S. or B.A.) degree from an accredited program in a subject outside architecture, such as liberal arts, sciences, business, or another profession.
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 as calculated by Graduate Admissions.
- Have a minimum total score of 297 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)with a minimum score of 154 in the verbal portion.
- 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).
Submit a short 200-word personal statement providing evidence of professional or academic goals consistent with the Architecture Program.- For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS, or a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 79 is required. Further, when the TOEFL iBT is taken, sectional scores of at least 22 on the Writing section, 21 on the Speaking section, 20 on the Reading section, and 16 on the Listening section are preferred. For otherwise highly qualified candidates, this requirement may be eased.
Submission of a design portfolio is optional. Candidates are encouraged to submit portfolios of creative work including freehand drawings or sketches, painting, graphic design, architectural or furniture design.
Path B - Students with baccalaureate architecture majors (typically a B.S.)
For unconditional admission to the Path B program, the candidate must:
- Meet the Path A requirements
- Have completed a baccalaureate degree with a major in architecture
- 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 - Students with a professional architecture degree
For unconditional admission to the Path C program, the candidate must:
- Meet the requirements described under Path A
- Submit a portfolio as described under Path B
- Have a professional architecture degree (B.Arch, 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 through the Pathways Admission Program described in the Admission section of this Catalog.
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.
Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships
To be considered for a Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship, the candidate must be admitted unconditionally. In order to be eligible for teaching assistantships, students whose native language is not English, must complete extramural training in English as approved by the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies, score of 23 on the TOEFL-iBT Speaking subtest or score a 7.0 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS.
Fellowships and Scholarships
To be considered for fellowships or scholarships in the Program the candidate must admitted without provisional conditions and have a favorable review in most of the evaluation criteria. Fellowships and scholarships in architecture are limited and very competitive. Generally, 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 hours, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 hours in both long semesters to retain their fellowships or scholarships. For further information and to apply for scholarships visit: https://www.uta.edu/academics/schools-colleges/cappa/admissions/scholarships
CAPPA Inadequate Academic Progress Point System
A student may be subject to dismissal from the program if they accumulate 4 deficiency points during their Master’s degree or their Ph.D. Students who complete a Master’s degree at CAPPA will not carry deficiency points into their Ph.D. work. Deficiency points may not be removed from a student’s record by repeating a course or additional coursework.
D = 2 deficiency points
F = 3 deficiency points
I = 1 deficiency point
W = 0.5 deficiency point
A graduate student, whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below a 3.000 in all graduate courses, be they graduate or undergraduate level and taken while enrolled as a UT Arlington graduate student, may be subject to dismissal from the program. (Reference: http://catalog.uta.edu/academicregulations/academicstanding/#graduatetext )
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 Fall of the first semester of enrollment, students must also complete the Path B core curriculum of 39 credit hours. The curriculum of this course of study is:
Path A Students
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Session | Hours | Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 53xx (Optional Electives) | ARCH 5301 | 3 | ARCH 5304 | 3 | |
| ARCH 5303 | 3 | ARCH 5343 | 3 | ||
| ARCH 5342 | 3 | ARCH 5364 | 3 | ||
| ARCH 5591 | 5 | ARCH 5592 | 5 | ||
| 0 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Summer Session | Hours | Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 5670 | 6 | ARCH 5323 | 3 | ARCH 5324 | 3 |
| ARCH 53xx Arch Elective | 3 | ARCH 5325 | 3 | ARCH 5326 | 3 |
| ARCH 5357 | 3 | ARCH 5594 | 5 | ||
| ARCH 5593 | 5 | ARCH 53xx History or Theory Elective | 3 | ||
| 9 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Summer Session | Hours | Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 5331 | 3 | ARCH 5327 | 3 | ARCH 5328 | 3 |
| ARCH 5670 | 6 | ARCH 5336 | 3 | ARCH 5333 | 3 |
| ARCH 5671 | 6 | ARCH 5672 | 6 | ||
| ARCH 53xx Technical Elective | 3 | ARCH 53xx Elective | 3 | ||
| 9 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Total Hours: 104 | |||||
Electives must include at least one course from each of the following categories of courses offered by the school:
- history and theory
- technology and practice, and
- 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.
The core curriculum for this course of study is:
Path B Students
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 5325 | 3 | ARCH 5326 | 3 |
| ARCH 5327 | 3 | ARCH 5328 | 3 |
| ARCH 5357 | 3 | ARCH 5670 | 6 |
| ARCH 5670 | 6 | ARCH 53xx Technical Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 5336 | 3 | ARCH 5331 | 3 |
| ARCH 5671 | 6 | ARCH 5333 | 3 |
| ARCH 53xx Arch Elective | 3 | ARCH 5672 | 6 |
| ARCH 53xx History or Theory Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours: 57 | |||
Electives must include at least one course from each of the following categories of courses offered by the School of Architecture:
- history and theory
- technology and practice and
- 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.
A minimum of 18 hours is required in architectural program courses including six hours of history/theory as well as 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.
Path C Students
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 5670 | 6 | ARCH 5670 | 6 |
| ARCH 53xx History or Theory Elective | 3 | ARCH 53xx Technical Elective | 3 |
| ARCH 53xx Arch Elective | 3 | ARCH 53xx Arch Elective | 3 |
| ARCH 53xx Arch Elective | 3 | ARCH 53xx Arch Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 30 | |||
Electives must include at least one course from each of the following categories of courses offered by the School of Architecture:
- history and theory
- technology and practice and
- allied disciplines (landscape architecture, urban design, housing and interior design).
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 PLAN 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 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.
POLICY FOR CLASSROOM + STUDIO NON-REGISTERED ATTENDEES
The following policy applies to scheduled courses and academic activities in the School of Architecture, including undergraduate and graduate programs in Architecture and Interior Design. The policy is effective January 1, 2024 and complies with University of Texas at Arlington EI-PO-11, the Texas Education Code Section 51.982, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Only assigned instructors, enrolled students, invited guests and other individuals who have received the instructors’ permission in advance are permitted in scheduled classes within CAPPA buildings. Unenrolled students, dependent minors of enrolled students or guests without instructors’ permission are not permitted within the assigned classroom during any scheduled class. Other faculty engaged in peer review or other sanctioned academic responsibilities may attend as warranted and with consent of the instructor for the course or program director.
On occasion, due to extenuating circumstances, it is understood that an enrolled student who is a parent may have no other childcare choice than to have their child brought to the learning environment. In these circumstances, suspension of the above policy may be permitted by the instructor on a limited basis, to be designated by the instructor. Prohibited Minors: Persons under the age of ten (10) are not permitted in any laboratory (studio).