About This Program
Ready to pursue an architecture career? The professionally accredited (NAAB) Master of Architecture degree expands your technical knowledge and fosters creative thinking and design skills focused on making built environments that meet societal needs. With a strong emphasis on design skills, hands-on learning and real-world experience, our program offers students the opportunity to work with industry professionals and gain practical skills that will set them apart for leadership in the profession. Enroll today and take the first step toward becoming a licensed architect. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Architects, except landscape and naval
- 0.8% little or no change
- 129,900 number of jobs
- $82,320 potential earnings
Architectural and engineering managers
- 2.6% slower than the average
- 198,100 number of jobs
- $149,530 potential earnings
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
- 5.1% faster than the average
- 8,500 number of jobs
- $90,880 potential earnings
Designers, all other
- -1.9% decline
- 13,600 number of jobs
- $63,750 potential earnings
Historians
- 2.6% slower than the average
- 3,500 number of jobs
- $63,100 potential earnings
Accreditation
The M.Arch degree in Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university1
- Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- GRE scores (or GMAT scores for the dual degree with the M.B.A.); test scores are not required for applicants with a Kent State B.S. degree in Architecture (effective for summer 2025 admission, test scores will no longer be required)
- Résumé
- Goal statement (include intent and background information)
- Portfolio, with design work clearly indicating role in group projects
- Three letters of recommendation, with one letter from a non-academic source
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:2
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Application deadline: January 15
- Summer Term
- Application deadline: January 15
Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| ARCH 60101 | GRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO I | 6 |
| ARCH 60102 | GRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO II | 5 |
| ARCH 60103 | GRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO III | 8 |
| ARCH 60150 | PROJECT PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| ARCH 60301 | THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE | 3 |
| ARCH 60922 | METHODS OF INQUIRY IN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES | 2 |
| ARCH 65001 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| ARCH 65002 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: CONTRACT AND PLANNING LAW | 2 |
| ARCH 65003 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: LEADERSHIP, ETHICS AND OFFICE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| ARCH 66995 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE | 1 |
| 1 | 9 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 44 |
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary | Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
| - | 3.000 |
- No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
- Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Note
Time to completion for the degree typically is one to two years for students with an accredited pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture. Students admitted without a pre-professional degree may be required to take additional courses, in addition to the requirements for the degree, to meet NAAB student performance criteria. Therefore, time for graduation may be three years with more than the listed credit hours.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Increase level of intellectual discourse about architecture.
- Demonstrate enhanced verbal, graphic and writing skills.
- Develop and enhance student's research skills.
- Develop and enhance problem-solving and reasoning skills; an ability to critically analyze information and fundamental design skills.
- Understand the complexities of environmental design, including both technical and theoretical components.
- Develop management and leadership skills.
- Understand design and systems integration.
- Demonstrate the ability to think critically and to gather, record and apply relevant information.
- Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to international cultures.
- Understand different cultural perspectives, values, customs and traditions.
- Understand the principles of building programming, including assessment of user needs, review of precedents, an inventory of space requirements, site analysis and review of the relevant laws and standards.
- Understand design principles and theories of urban design.
- Develop an ability to compare and contrast the perspectives, values, customs and traditions of their own culture from those held by other cultures.
- Develop and enhance writing skills.
- Understand the following professional practices:
- real estate and development,
- contract and planning law,
- leadership and ethics and
- office and finance management.
- Understand site.
- Understand the responsibility of the architect to elicit, understand and resolve the needs of the client.
- Develop an awareness of diverse cultures, ideals and beliefs.
Dual Degree with M.B.A. in Business Administration
Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the Master of Architecture degree and the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.
The dual degree combining the M.Arch. and the M.B.A. is designed for architects or undergraduate architectural students who aspire to middle or executive management positions in architectural practices, or who are interested in starting their own business along with the preparation to enter the profession of architecture by stimulating the growth of technical knowledge and design creativity. It fosters the refinement of design skills acquired in undergraduate programs, also by offering a broad exposure to professional issues and knowledge.
Dual Degree Requirements
- Actual offerings and schedules vary from year to year and the college will jointly provide a pre-approved recommended course of study. Students who wish to take a different course of study need to obtain separate approvals from both college graduate coordinators. Contact the College of Architecture and Environmental Design graduate secretary for details on coursework registration.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum of 64 credit hours: 35 credit hours from the M.Arch. degree and 29 credit hours from the M.B.A. degree.
Dual Degree with M.U.D. in Urban Design
Student have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.U.D. degree in Urban Design and the M.Arch. degree in Architecture. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.
This dual degree program prepares students to enter the profession of architecture by stimulating the growth of technical knowledge and design creativity. It fosters the refinement of design skills acquired in undergraduate programs and offers a broad exposure to professional issues and knowledge related to urban design.
Dual Degree Requirements
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| ARCH 60101 | GRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO I | 6 |
| ARCH 60102 | GRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO II | 4 |
| ARCH 60103 | GRADUATE DESIGN STUDIO III | 9 |
| ARCH 60150 | PROJECT PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| ARCH 60301 | THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE | 3 |
| ARCH 60922 | METHODS OF INQUIRY IN ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES | 2 |
| ARCH 65001 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT | 2 |
| ARCH 65002 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: CONTRACT AND PLANNING LAW | 2 |
| ARCH 65003 | PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: LEADERSHIP, ETHICS AND OFFICE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| ARCH 66995 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE 1 | 1 |
| UD 55705 | FORCES THAT SHAPE CITIES | 3 |
| UD 60703 | URBAN DESIGN STUDIO III | 6 |
| UD 60705 | MASTER PROJECT IN URBAN DESIGN PREPARATION | 3 |
| UD 65101 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS | 1 |
| UD 65102 | URBAN SYSTEMS | 3 |
| UD 65632 | URBAN ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| UD 66995 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN DESIGN | 1 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 11 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 70 |
Full Description
The Master of Architecture degree seeks to prepare graduates to lead in the field of architecture by stimulating the growth of technical knowledge and design creativity. The program fosters the refinement of design skills acquired in undergraduate programs. Master coursework affords opportunities for inquiry in architecture through the introduction of traditional scholarly research methods as well as approaches to research through design in a studio setting. Professional practice courses are paired with theory seminars and elective classes in areas of digital technology, building sciences and history to provide a comprehensive exposure to professional opportunities and a broad capacity for considering and postulating architecture in innovative ways.
Students may also pursue a dual degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree or with the Master of Urban Design degree.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.
