Download Program Curriculum

MArch 2-Year

MArch 3+

Concurrent Degree Options / Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Students in their first year of the two-year program or second year of the 3+ program may apply to study two graduate programs concurrently.  The curricula has been designed to allow for most of our programs to be taken simultaneously.  Please note that MArch students have the opportunity to apply to the W.P. Carey School of Business to study for a Master of Business Administration concurrently with their MArch degree.  We work to try to reduce the length of time for both degrees to save students a year of time and tuition fees. Students with two Master degrees have increased professional opportunities and great marketability.  If the concurrent option is taken, this will extend the graduate program by a minimum of one year.  

Global Engagement Studios

The graduate program curriculum encompasses a travel studio which is completed in the fall semester of the final year. Students travel all over the world to locations such as Australia, South America, Europe, and Asia among others. This offers students the opportunity to experience a foreign country for one week at the beginning of the fall semester. This trip is faculty led and the cost is inclusive within tuition fees. The benefit of this experience to our graduate students is invaluable. To hear what our students are saying about the Global Engagement Studios and their experience view this video.

Admission Requirements

Master of Architecture Two-year Program (MArch)

• Applicants must have completed a four-year Bachelor of Science degree with a major in architectural studies or similar pre-professional degree in architecture. The undergraduate degree must be granted by an institution that is recognized by ASU and offers a National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) accredited degree program in architecture.
• Applicants must meet the minimum GPA requirements as established by Graduate College. A 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) is preferred, but students with a GPA less than the minimum requirement may still receive consideration if they have supporting evidence of creative work, significant work experience, or other indicators of their potential to succeed in the program. Particular emphasis is placed on the last two years of the applicant's undergraduate GPA record.
• Applicants are encouraged to report GRE scores. However, they are not required.
• Admission to the Master of Architecture program is selective and cannot be deferred. In most cases, students must enroll in the semester for which they are admitted. The MArch program commences in the fall semester of each year.
• Applicants 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. Deficiencies must be completed prior to taking the required course(s) if necessary.
• A personal interview is not required; however, a candidate wishing to visit the school is welcome and should make arrangements by contacting designgrad@asu.edu.
• Applicants to The Design School graduate programs are required to complete a two-step application process. Applicants must submit the Graduate College application as well as The Design School SlideRoom application.  For complete information on how to apply, please view the steps to apply on the admissions page. 

Master of Architecture Three-plus Program (MArch 3+)

• Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree in any field other than architectural studies. 
• Applicants must meet the minimum GPA requirements as established by Graduate College. A 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) is preferred, but students with a GPA less than the minimum requirement may still receive consideration if they have supporting evidence of creative work, significant work experience, or other indicators of their potential to succeed in the program. Particular emphasis is placed on the last two years of the applicant's undergraduate GPA record.
• Applicants are encouraged to report GRE scores. However, it is not required.
• Admission to the Master of Architecture program is selective and cannot be deferred. In most cases students must enroll in the semester for which they are admitted. The MArch3+ program commences in the summer session of each year.
• A personal interview is not required; however, a candidate wishing to visit the school is welcome and should make arrangements by contacting designgrad@asu.edu.
• Applicants to The Design School graduate programs are required to complete a two-step application process. Applicants must submit the Graduate Education application as well as The Design School SlideRoom application.  For complete information on how to apply, please view the steps to apply on the admissions page. 

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Accreditation

In the United States, most 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 professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a preprofessional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The Design School in the ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

• MArch (pre-professional degree + 56 graduate credits)
• MArch 3+ (non-pre-professional degree + 98 credits)

Our next accreditation visit for all programs: 2022

More information about architecture accreditation.

Internships

Students completing a 2–year or 3+ graduate degree program in the following studio based disciplines are required to complete a summer internship: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, and Visual Communication Design. The internship takes place during the last summer that precedes the final year of the graduate program.

Learn more about about internships.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations serve as the public face for their respective professions, providing information to the general public about disciplinary practice and its role in improving the well-being of communities, promoting design excellence through the recognition of notable professional achievements, supporting the exchange of ideas and information about best practices between professional members through the development of conferences and through the support of opportunities for continuing education.

Learn more about professional organizations.

Student Organizations

Joining a discipline-specific student organization is a great way to help your long-term career plans and goals. Membership can add to your academic experience by building a portfolio, making important connections, networking and engaging with local and national professional communities.

Learn more about student organizations.

STEM Designation

Effective Spring 2018, the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program has the approved CIP code 04.0902, which makes the program a recognized STEM degree program. STEM designation makes M.Arch students at ASU eligible for STEM specific Scholarships, OPT extension for International Students, and expanded GI benefits for Student Veterans.