Today's grand global challenges make clear how the design of place and space effects the health of our society - from the way we interact and connect, to human impact on the environment, to our physical and emotional well-being, to the cultivation of economic, cultural and social opportunties for all.
Architecture is a comprehensive and highly interdisciplinary profession equipped to tackle large-scale challenges as diverse as climate change, an historic pandemic, and new waves of migration around the world. Indeed, our professions are being called upon to design the solutions - with new partners, new ideas, and new approaches. Together we can create places that enrich, sustain and connect people and communities.
The only prerequisite for an MArch at UB is a passion for design and an ambition to build a better world. Students from any undergraduate background are welcome to apply to the 3.5-year MArch track.
UB's 3.5-year MArch program is designed as a path of entry into the architecture profession for students without a qualifying undergraduate background in the field. A bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited four-year US college or university, or an equivalent credential from a qualifying international institution with, is all that is required. There are no architectural or studio coursework prerequisites. Students enter our program with degrees in the liberal arts, natural sciences, arts, urban planning and the social sciences. Others are early professionals seeking a career change. The 3.5 Master of Architecture program is NAAB-accredited and provides you with a professional degree.
The camaraderie and sense of community among our 3.5-year students supports a collaborative and highly interactive studio culture. All students begin the 3.5-year MArch in the fall semester to support this defining culture of our program.
The program builds your foundation in the fundamentals of design and "thinking through making" while offering paths for focused research in the final two years of the program. Courses in architectural media, drawing and an introductory design studio round out the first year. Students may opt to explore our graduate research groups which foster curricular and scholarly inquiry into fields including inclusive design, ecological practices, material culture, situated technologies and urban design.
Semester 1: Fall | ||
ARC 501 | Design Studio 1 | 7 |
ARC 511 | Architectural Media 1 | 3 |
ARC 531 | Architectural History 1 | 3 |
ARC 541 | Environmental Systems 1 | 3 |
Total Semester Credits | 16 | |
Semester 2: Spring | ||
ARC 502 | Design Studio 2 | 7 |
ARC 512 | Architectural Media 2 | 3 |
ARC 534 | Architectural History 2 | 3 |
ARC 552 | Structures 1 | 3 |
Total Semester Credits | 16 | |
Semester 3: Fall | ||
ARC 503 | Design Studio 3 | 7 |
ARC 553 | Structures 2 | 3 |
ARC 611 | Architectural Media 3 | 3 |
ARC 573 | Environmental Systems 2 | 3 |
ARC 562 | Architectural Theory | 2 |
Total Semester Credits | 18 | |
Semester 4: Spring | ||
ARC 504 | Design Studio 4 | 7 |
ARC 542 | Construction Technology | 4 |
ARC 575 | Environmental Systems 3 | 3 |
ARC 582 | Professional Practice | 3 |
Total Semester Credits | 17 | |
Semester 5: Fall | ||
ARC 605/7 | Research Studio | 7 |
ARC 555 | Structures 3 | 3 |
ARC xxx | Intellectual Domain Seminar* | 3 |
ARC xxx | Technical Methods Seminar* | 3 |
Total Semester Credits | 16 | |
Semester 6: Spring | ||
ARC 606/8 | Research Studio | 7 |
ARC xxx | Intellectual Domain Seminar* | 3 |
ARC xxx | Technical Methods Seminar* | 3 |
ARC xxx | Elective/Directed Research** | 3 |
Total Semester Credits | 16 | |
Semester 7: Fall | ||
ARC 607/5 | Research Studio or Thesis*** | 7 |
ARC xxx | Portfolio*** or Elective | 3 |
ARC xxx | Elective | 3 |
Total Semester Credits | 13 | |
Total Required Credits | 112 |
Students are allowed to take a maximum of two independent study courses (6 credits) for elective credit in the program.
Directed Research must be taken the semester before Thesis. Students must have a mininum GPA of 3.5 or higher to register for Directored Research and Thesis.
Students must complete a Thesis or Portfolio as their culminating experience for graduation.
Technical Methods Seminars:
Descriptions of the seminars can be found under Course Descriptions on the Information for Current Students site. This page will be continuously updated as further course descriptions are submitted by instructors before the start of the semester.
Fall Semester
ARC 543 Technical Method- Material Culture
ARC 545 Technical Method- Ecological Practices
ARC 547 Technical Method- Urban Design
ARC 617 Technical Method- Situated Technology
ARC 620 Technical Method- Inclusive Design
Spring Semester
ARC 544 Technical Method- Material Culture
ARC 546 Technical Method- Ecological Practices
ARC 551 Technical Method- Urban Design
ARC 619 Technical Method- Situated Technology
ARC 621 Technical Method- Inclusive Design
Intellectual Domain Seminars:
Fall Semester
ARC 623 Intellectual Domain- Inclusive Design
ARC 625 Intellectual Domain- Situated Technology
ARC 627 Intellectual Domain- Ecological Practices
ARC 629 Intellectual Domain- Urban Design
ARC 632 Intellectual Domain- Material Culture
Spring Semester
ARC 624 Intellectual Domain- Inclusive Design
ARC 626 Intellectual Domain- Situated Technology
ARC 628 Intellectual Domain- Ecological Practices
ARC 630 Intellectual Domain- Urban Design
ARC 633 Intellectual Domain- Material Culture
Advanced Standing:
Students in this program may be eligible to receive advanced standing based on prior work. Receiving advanced standing decreases the total number of credits required in the program and may let you move on to the next course in sequence. If you believe your academic background in architecture may allow for advanced standing, please follow the instructions here. You will need to complete an electronic advanced standing form for each specific course, confirm through your transcript that you have received a grade of B or higher in the equivalent course(s) taken during your undergraduate studies and upload the undergraduate course syllabi for each course. Any course request will be reviewed by the Associate Chair and faculty and students will be notified of the decision before the fall semester begins.
Develop versatile skills with our courses: focused, practical, and relevant