Program Overview

---

Overview of the Harvard Graduate School of Design

The Harvard Graduate School of Design offers a variety of degree programs across different design disciplines. These programs are designed to educate leaders in design, research, and scholarship to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world.

Academics

The school provides various academic programs, including:

• Master of Architecture I
• Master of Architecture I AP
• Master of Architecture II
• Master in Landscape Architecture I
• Master in Landscape Architecture I AP
• Master in Landscape Architecture II
• Master of Architecture in Urban Design / Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design
• Master in Urban Planning
• Master in Real Estate
• Concurrent and Joint Degrees
• Master in Design Engineering
• Master in Design Studies
• Doctor of Design
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Early Design Education
• Executive Education

Admissions

The admissions process involves applying to and being separately admitted to both the Harvard Law School (HLS) and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). Prospective students may apply concurrently or during their first year at either school. The HLS deadline is early February, while the GSD deadline is in early January. All applicants are required to submit a GRE or LSAT score.

Financial Aid

Financial aid deadlines are as follows:

• October: FAFSA opens to applicants
• Mid-March: GSD financial aid application opens
• Mid-April: Financial aid application deadline
• Late May/Early June: Notification of financial aid awards

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines for various programs are:

• January 5, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET: MArch, MLA, MUP, MAUD, MLAUD, MRE, DDes
• January 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET: MDes, MDE

Research

The school has various research centers, initiatives, and projects, including:

• Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities
• Joint Center for Housing Studies
• Aga Khan Program
• Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative
• Laboratory for Design Technologies
• Critical Landscapes Design Lab
• Geometry Lab
• Grinham Research Group
• Healthy Places Lab
• Just City Lab
• Material Processes and Systems Group
• Office for Urbanization
• Responsive Environments & Artifacts Lab
• Laboratory for Values in the Built Environment

People

The school has a faculty directory, student directory, staff directory, alumni directory, and affiliates directory.

Offices & Facilities

The school has various offices and facilities, including:

• Academic Affairs
• Academic Administration
• Academic Planning and Innovation
• Advanced Studies Programs
• Department of Architecture
• Department of Landscape Architecture
• Department of Urban Planning and Design
• Faculty Affairs
• Student Affairs
• Admissions
• Career Services
• Financial Aid
• Registrar
• Student Life
• Administrative Offices
• Communications
• Dean’s Office
• Development & Alumni Relations
• Community, Impact and Opportunity
• Facilities and Campus Operations
• Finance & Research Administration
• Human Resources
• Research and Production
• Frances Loeb Library
• Fabrication Lab
• Information Technologies

Public Discourse

The school has various public discourse initiatives, including:

• Harvard Design Magazine
• Publications
• Exhibitions
• Public Programs
• Podcasts

Calendar

The school has an academic calendar, application deadlines, and a calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions.

Alumni & Support

The school has an alumni and friends program, events, alumni updates, alumni council, and ways to support the school.

About

The school has a mission and values statement, leadership and administration, and a fact book. The school is committed to community, academic integrity, respectful engagement, and equitable accountability.

Joint Degree Programs

The school offers joint degree programs, including:

• Master in Urban Planning and Juris Doctor
• Master in Urban Planning and Master in Public Administration
• Master in Urban Planning and Master in Public Policy

Master in Urban Planning and Juris Doctor

The joint degree program in law and urban planning is offered by Harvard Law School (HLS) and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). The program supports and encourages students seeking an interdisciplinary education in urban planning and law, and prepares them for leadership positions at the intersection of these fields. The joint program permits students to pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) degree at HLS and a Master in Urban Planning (MUP) degree at the GSD and to complete both degrees in four years, rather than the five years that would be required if the degrees were pursued independently.

Admission

Prospective JD/MUP students must apply and be separately admitted to both HLS and the GSD. The admissions process involves applying to and being separately admitted to both schools. Questions relating to the admissions process at each school should be addressed directly to JD Admissions at HLS and to the Admissions Office at the GSD.

Coursework

Students in the joint degree program have four academic years to complete both degrees and are expected to spend five semesters and two winter terms in residence at HLS and three terms in residence at the GSD. In the first two years of the joint degree program, students are required to enroll for one full year of study at HLS and for one full year of study at the GSD; either can come first. In the third and fourth years of the program, joint degree students will enroll in, and take courses at, both schools. Students must take the majority (at least 12 units of the required 40) of their coursework at the GSD during one of those terms.

Faculty Advisors

Students in the joint degree program will have a primary faculty advisor at both HLS and the GSD. Faculty advisors will supervise a student’s academic work and assist in determining the most appropriate sequencing for each student’s course of study, keeping in mind the requirements for both degrees.