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The MArch is an accredited professional degree program at ASU.
Two programs of study are available. The two-year program is for applicants who have completed the four-year BSD in architectural studies at ASU or who have earned an equivalent degree from another school. The three-plus 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 Plan of study is the required curriculum to complete the program.
Application Procedures and Requirements
Online applications are open September 15 with a priority deadline of January 15 for the following programs: MArch 2-year; MArch 3-year; MIA 2-year; MIA 3+; MID 2-year; MID 3+; MLA 2-year; MLA 3-year; MS.Arch; MSD; MUD; MVCD 2-year; and MVCD 3+.
Fall Admission: MArch 2- year and MArch 3-year programs only admit students for the fall semester. We accept applications until July 15th. Any applicant who would like to apply after these deadlines is welcome to contact designgrad@asu.edu.
Teaching and Graduate Assistantships
Assistantships are appointed each term to a select number of graduate students who are excelling in The Design School. Learn more about teaching assistantships including eligibility and application details.
Financial Aid
Learn more about your financial aid options.
Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)
Students who live outside of Arizona may be eligible for 150% in-state tuition, find out if you qualify.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of a student's first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency. The minimum score for admission to the program is 80 (internet-based) or 550 (paper-based) on the TOEFL or an overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS. Other information can be found at https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english-proficiency.
The portfolio, letter of intent and references are required by the Design School in addition to the Graduate College application requirements.
Applicants are encouraged to report GRE scores, especially if the applicant's background is broad or other than a traditional design major, but it is not required.
A personal interview is not required; however, a candidate wishing to visit the school is welcome and should make arrangements by contacting the department.
Admission to the program is selective. Admission cannot be deferred; students must enroll in the semester for which they are admitted, otherwise they will need to go through the entire application process again for the year in which they are applying.
Applicants may be admitted to the program with deficiencies if their previous coursework is not equivalent to the ASU undergraduate requirements and standards. If a student is assigned any deficiency coursework by the academic unit upon admission, those courses must be completed with a grade of "B" (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or higher before completing the graduate program's required coursework. A Master of Architecture student with assigned deficiencies has two pathways: the three-year plus pathway with up to 42 credit hours which begins in the summer, and the the two-year plus pathway with up to 15 credit hours which begins in the spring. Deficiency courses may include:
ADE 510 Foundation Architectural Studio
ADE 511 Core Architectural Studio I
ADE 512 Core Architectural Studio II
ALA 235 Introduction to Computer Modeling
APH 313 History of Architecture I
APH 314 History of Architecture II
APH 509 Foundation Seminar
ATE 361 Architectural Technology I
ATE 362 Architectural Technology II
ATE 452 Architectural Technology III
Admission requirements to the two-year pathway: Applicants must have completed a four-year Bachelor of Science degree with a major in architectural studies or a similar preprofessional degree in architecture. The undergraduate degree must be granted by an institution that is recognized by ASU and offers a National Architectural Accreditation Board-accredited degree program in architecture.
Admission requirements to the three-year plus pathway: Applicants must have earned a minimum of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a field other than architectural studies.
Master of Architecture Two-year Program (MArch)
Master of Architecture Three-year Program (MArch 3)
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:
Our next accreditation visit for all programs: 2022
More information about architecture accreditation.
Please visit the ASU Professional Licensure website for information on licensure surrounding this and other ASU programs.
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.
Students completing a 2–year or 3-year graduate degree program in the following studio-based disciplines are required to complete an internship: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, and Visual Communication Design. The internship typically takes place during the last summer that precedes the final year of the graduate program.
Learn more about internships.
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.
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.