Architecture

The faculty in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture offer a professional program leading to the Master of Architecture degree and a research-based postprofessional graduate program leading to the MS degree in Building Design. See Master of Science in Building Design, for information on this degree program.

The faculty in the school also participate in offering a PhD in Environmental Design and Planning. See Environmental Design and Planning, for information on this degree program.

The Master of Architecture is the accredited professional degree program at ASU. There are two typical programs of study available: (1) a two-year program for applicants who have completed the four-year Bachelor of Science in Design (with a major in Architectural Studies) at ASU or an equivalent degree from another school that offers an accredited professional degree in architecture, and (2) a three-plus-year program for applicants with an undergraduate degree in a discipline or field other than architecture. Both programs promote broad areas of knowledge, professional skill, and a social awareness that the architect must command if architecture is to enhance contemporary life and remain an enduring and valid expression of society.

The program represents an attempt to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for graduates to achieve future leadership roles in the professional practice of architecture and related environmental design fields.

It is the intention of the faculty that the programs also

Elective foci currently offered in the program include energy-conscious design, computer applications, urban design, architectural history and theory, and architectural administration and management.

In the first year of the two-year program, graduate design studio projects focus on advanced comprehensive problems that require integration of the full range of knowledge and skills from students’ undergraduate education. In the second year, students select design studios and undertake final design projects that complement their areas of interest. Courses in technology, history and theory, and architectural management are structured alongside the studio sequence.

The three-plus-year program begins with an intensive 10-week summer session introducing architecture and design fundamentals and continues with a preparatory year of architectural history, technology, and design. The final two years are similar to the two-year program described above. Students without work experience in architecture must also complete a summer internship between the first and second years.

Application Requirements. An applicant to the MArch program must hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university recognized by ASU and must meet the minimum GPA requirements as established by the Division of Graduate Studies.

In addition, all applicants are required to submit for review a design portfolio, GRE scores, a statement of intent, and letters of reference. Applicants are accepted on a space-available basis only. Students may be admitted to the two-year program with deficiencies if their previous course work is not equivalent to the ASU undergraduate requirements and standards.

Students intending to apply for admission to the professional program in architecture at the graduate level should apply to the program well in advance of the application deadline.

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit the official GRE scores as well as the TOEFL (with a minimum score of 600, or 250 for the computer-based exam).

Application Procedures. Applicants must submit separate application materials to the Division of Graduate Studies and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. In addition to the Division of Graduate Studies admission requirements, applicants must file all of the following admission materials with

Because of space limitations, not all qualified applicants can be accommodated and the admission process is necessarily selective.

Students should indicate for which program of study they are applying. Those with a four-year degree equivalent to the BSD in Architectural Studies should apply for the two-year program. Those with an undergraduate degree that is not part of an accredited program in architecture should apply for the three-plus-year program. Students who are uncertain about which program suits them should contact the senior academic advisor for determination of appropriate application. Applicants are required to write their names in a clear and consistent manner on all materials submitted, preferably in the “family name, first name” format (e.g. Smith, John).

Students with a previous professional degree in architecture (five or six years) who wish to pursue advanced study in climate responsive architecture, building energy performance, computer-aided design, energy simulation and analysis, and facilities development and management should apply to the Master of Science in Building Design program. See Master of Science in Building Design.

Application Deadline. Priority consideration is given to completed applications received on or before December 31. Students are not admitted to the two-year Master of Architecture program at any time other than the beginning of the fall semester. Students are not admitted to the three-plus-year Master of Architecture program at any time other than the beginning of the first summer session. The school does not allow deferrals.

Personal Interview. A personal interview is not required. However, a candidate wishing to visit the school is welcome and should make arrangements by contacting the graduate coordinator in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Requirements for the Two-Year Program. The two-year graduate program requires a minimum of 56 semester hours of approved courses and electives and a comprehensive examination. For most students, this program involves an average of 14 semester hours per semester. An internship may be offered as an elective to be taken in the summer before the final year of study. The internship is an honors program individually arranged and approved by the Master of Architecture Committee.

Students who can adequately demonstrate competence through experience or previous academic course work for any of the specific requirements outlined below are encouraged to petition the graduate coordinator for a course substitution.

Requirements for the Three-Plus-Year Program. The three-plus-year graduate program requires a minimum of 99 semester hours of approved courses and electives and a comprehensive examination. For most students, this program involves 12 semester hours in the first summer and 14 to 15 semester hours in each of the subsequent six semesters. A summer internship is required after the first full year of study. A second internship may be offered as an elective to be taken in the summer before the final year of study. The second internship is an honors program individually arranged and approved by the Master of Architecture Committee.

Students who can adequately demonstrate competence through experience or previous academic course work for any of the specific requirements outlined below are encouraged to petition the graduate coordinator for a course substitution.

Comprehensive Examination. The faculty require that all students pass an oral comprehensive examination based, in part, on a defense of their final design project in ADE 622. Each student is required to undertake an independent design project in ADE 622, based on an approved proposal completed the previous semester in ANP 681. Examiners typically include members of the Architecture faculty and may include distinguished practitioners not on the faculty.

MArch/MBA Concurrent Degree Program. A Master of Architecture/Master of Business Administration concurrent degree program is offered through cooperative arrangement between the faculty of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the W. P. Carey School of Business. It is intended for students who wish to obtain comprehensive business knowledge to complement their design education. Through this program, adequately prepared students can obtain both degrees in approximately three years of study if pursuing the two-year MArch program and four and a half years if pursuing the three-plus-year program.

The dual degree program requires a minimum of 92 graduate semester hours to complete. Students must begin the program in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and finish in the W. P. Carey School of Business and must follow admission requirements for each program.

Admission to the MArch program does not guarantee admission to the MBA program. In addition, a student needs to complete the degree requirements for the MArch before beginning study in the MBA program.

The Master of Science in Building Design program is dedicated to the development of new knowledge useful to the arts and sciences of building design, and the integration of that knowledge into the building design process.

The Master of Science degree is an advanced post-professional degree for applicants who have completed an accredited professional degree program in architecture (a five-year B.Arch. or six-year MArch degree). The MS in Building Science is not accredited, and therefore it is not intended to serve as a first professional degree in architecture. The program is structured to educate a new generation of scholars and practitioners who will bring appropriate technology and management techniques to the building and rebuilding of humane and supportable environments. Students who are interested in pursuing further academic studies are encouraged to apply to the interdisciplinary PhD program in Environmental Design and Planning offered by the college after completion of the MS program.

Concentrations are available in design knowledge and computing, energy performance and climate-responsive architecture, and facilities development and management. The program provides advanced study at the post-professional level for architects. The goal of the program is to develop knowledge useful to the arts and sciences of building design and the integration of that knowledge into the design process. Within this context, the program emphasizes: (1) the ecological importance of energy-conscious design and construction, as well as the high social value placed on buildings in which natural forces and systems are utilized rather than suppressed, and (2) the development of research, information systems, and management processes suited to the planning and design of complex buildings in urban settings.

The curriculum for each concentration includes a research methods core, required courses, and in some cases, additional elective course work as approved and directed by the supervisory committee. Typically a student needs at least four semesters of course work and work on their thesis to successfully complete this degree program.

It is recommended that applicants have at least one year of professional employment or comparable field/research experience in building design in addition to their academic experiences.

Application Requirements. An applicant to the MS in Building Design program must hold a previous NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) accredited professional degree in architecture from a college or university recognized by ASU and must meet the minimum GPA requirements as established by the Division of Graduate Studies.

In addition, all applicants are required to submit for review a design portfolio, GRE scores, a statement of intent, and letters of reference. Applicants are accepted on a space-available basis only. Students intending to apply for admission to the post-professional program in architecture at the graduate level should apply to the program well in advance of the application deadline.

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit the official GRE scores as well as the TOEFL (with a minimum score of 600, or 250 for the computer-based exam). International students should apply to the program at least one year before the date they plan to begin study.

Application Procedures. Applicants must submit separate application materials to the Division of Graduate Studies and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Application Deadline. Priority consideration is given to completed applications received on or before December 31. Applications for admission received after December 31 are considered only for remaining vacancies and “alternate” placement.

School of Architecture. In addition to the Division of Graduate Studies admission requirements, applicants must file all of the following admission materials with

Statement of Intent.. A personal narrative (maximum 600 words or two pages typed) indicating the applicant’s interest, previous academic and practical background, and personal and professional educational objectives must be submitted.

Letters of Recommendation.. A minimum of three letters of recommendation in support of the applicant must be mailed directly to the Master of Science in Building Design Admissions Committee, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The references should be from professionals or educators familiar with the applicant’s experience and capability for graduate work. The letter of recommendation form can be downloaded from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Web site at asu.edu/caed/sala/index.htm.

Portfolio.. Applicants must submit a portfolio documenting projects, papers, creative endeavors, and, if appropriate, work experience (maximum size 9" x 12").

The portfolio is returned after final admission procedures, provided the applicant encloses a self-addressed return mailer with sufficient prepaid postage, or if the applicant appears in person to claim the materials within one year of submission. Unclaimed portfolios are retained for only one year. The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture assumes no liability for lost or damaged materials. Applicants are required to write their names in a clear and consistent manner on all materials submitted, preferably in the “family name, first name” format (e.g., Smith, John).

Research/Teaching Statement.. Students wishing to be considered for teaching or research assistantships must submit the application for graduate assistant form with their application materials. International students who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship and whose native language is not English are required to pass the Test of Spoken English administered by the American English and Culture Program at ASU.

Program of Study.. The program requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of approved course work at the advanced level, including six hours of thesis credit.

The MS degree in Building Design is based on concepts of research and decision making emphasized by the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.

Students admitted to the program are required to take a research methods core, certain courses in their area of concentration, additional elective course work as approved and directed by the supervisory committee, and write and defend a thesis. While the minimum requirement is 30 semester hours, most students require at least four semesters of course work and work on their thesis to successfully complete this degree program.

The concentrations include the following: design knowledge and computing, energy performance and climate-responsive architecture, and facilities development and management.

The design knowledge and computing concentration addresses computer-aided design methods and techniques and their application to problem-solving issues in the built environment. The goal of the program is to provide a fundamental understanding of computational issues and methods in architectural design and to explore critically the application and potential of these techniques in practice. Topics studied include computer graphics and geometric modeling, simulation and analysis, Web development and programming, knowledge-based and object-oriented systems, databases, and comprehensive computer-aided design and information management systems.

In climate-responsive architecture, a student applies the principles of “bioclimatic” building design in a studio setting to maximize the use of renewable energy resources in particular locations and building programs. In analysis of building energy performance, a student applies physical and economic analysis, computer simulation, and/or measurement as tools in determining component or whole-building performance relative to energy, climate, and cost-efficiency.

The energy performance and climate-responsive architecture concentration educates students to become experts in energy-efficient design and technology. The program is concerned with the relationships between climate and site, thermal and visual comfort, and energy demand and consumption.

The facilities development and management concentration is concerned with decision-making processes in building (real estate) development and firm management. The goal of the program is the advancement of knowledge in managerial theory, knowledge structures, risk/benefit analysis, marketplace dynamics, and their relationship to building development, and firm management. This concentration addresses the following topics: spatial decision models, building development models and processes, financing and the economic return of facilities, market structure, market strategy, pricing, costs, design automation, group decision making, team building, architectural programming, post-occupancy evaluation, value-based design, and financial management models. The program benefits from ties to various professional groups concerned with real estate development and facilities management, as well as interdisciplinary ties to the W. P. Carey School of Business and the Del E. Webb School of Construction.

The facilities development and management core course requirements (six semester hours) consist of courses taken in the architectural administration and management sequence of the program, which have the AAD prefix.

Foreign Language Requirements. None.

Thesis Requirements. A thesis is required. Each candidate devotes research effort of six semester hours of thesis/research credit in preparation of a thesis. The thesis must conform to school policies and meet Division of Graduate Studies format requirements.

Final Examination. A final oral examination in defense of the thesis is required.

Faculty in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture are engaged in a wide variety of research, scholarship, and creative activity. Faculty research includes issues of history and theory, computing and design knowledge, building tectonics, urban design, design theory, and climate-responsive design, simulation and technology. For more information on the current research interests of the faculty, access the school’s Web site at asu.edu/caed/sala/index.htm.

Courses offered by the faculty of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture are categorized in the following instructional areas.

Architectural Administration and Management (AAD).. AAD courses investigate the organization and managerial aspects of contemporary architectural practice. These studies examine the overall processes relative to management coordination, administration procedures, ethics, legal constraints, and the financial controls and measures of contemporary architectural practice.

Architectural Design and Technology Studios (ADE).. ADE encourages synthesis of the knowledge and understanding the student has gained from previous and parallel course work, and from other sources, toward the comprehensive design of architectural projects. The laboratories integrate the needs, limitations, and determinants of design problems while applying analytical methods and technical skills in seeking and comparing alternative solutions for assigned problems.

Environmental Analysis and Programming (ANP).. ANP develops capabilities to analyze and program environmental and human factors as preconditions for architectural design. These studies are concerned with the existing and emerging methods used by the profession to evaluate and analyze. A variety of courses on computer utilization is included in this area.

Architectural Philosophy and History (APH).. APH develops an understanding of architecture as both a determinant and a consequence of humankind’s culture, technology, needs, and behavior in the past and present. These studies are concerned with the rationale for the methods and results of design and construction.

Architecture Professional Studies (ARP).. ARP provides students with residency and off-campus opportunities and educational experience in group and individual studies relative to specific student interests and faculty expertise.

The program also offers several opportunities to study abroad. In addition, various required and optional field trips are undertaken in course work. (Supplemental fees are assessed for these offerings.)

Architectural Technology (ATE).. ATE develops knowledge of the technical determinants, resources, and processes of architecture. These studies are concerned primarily with the science and technology of design and construction, including materials, structural systems, construction systems, environmental control systems, active and passive solar systems, and acoustics and lighting.