Program Overview

MS in Architecture/MA in Design Criticism Joint Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the program requirements as listed below.

• To be considered for direct admission to the joint program, students must apply to each of the individual degree programs separately, noting that they are applying to the joint program in each application.
• To be admitted to the joint program, students must meet the admission requirements for each individual degree program.
• Students who enter the MSArch program and later decide to transfer into the joint program may be considered for admission before their second semester of MSArch study if they meet the admission requirement of the MAD-Crit program and have taken ARCH 587 in the fall as an elective.
• Joint degree applicants who are already enrolled in one program will be evaluated by members of the School of Architecture admission committee.
• Students in the joint program will be advised by the School of Architecture graduate academic advisor, who will ensure each student understands and fulfills the program and course sequence requirements.
• The advisor will also provide guidance regarding elective selections.
• If a student leaves the program before the requirements for the joint degree are complete, and the student has met the individual requirements for one of the two degrees, a single degree will be awarded.

Degree Requirements

The joint degree combines the one-year post-professional Master of Science in Architecture (MSArch) with the two-year Master of Arts in Design Criticism's (MAD-Crit) academic specialization in written and graphic argumentation. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 72 hours in two years of full-time study
  • Required Courses:
    • MSArch Core courses (16 semester hours)
      • ARCH 565: Topic Studio
      • ARCH 567: Research Studio
      • ARCH 522: Topics in Architectural Technology
    • MAD-Crit Core courses (40 semester hours)
      • ARCH 587: Pro-seminar I: Design Criticism
      • ARCH 588: Pro-seminar II: Publication and Graphic Argumentation
      • ARCH 589: Writing Tutorial I
      • ARCH 590: Writing Tutorial II
      • ARCH 520: Topics in Architectural Theory and History
      • ARCH 531: Architectural Theory and History I
      • ARCH 532: Architectural Theory and History II
      • 400- to 500-level approved Art History Electives (12 hours)
    • Shared requirements for MSArch and MAD-Crit (16 semester hours)
      • ARCH 585: Architectural Theory and History III
      • ARCH 586: Architectural Theory and History IV
      • ARCH 566: Research Seminar
      • 400- to 500-level Elective approved by the advisor
  • Portfolio Submission: An annual portfolio review occurs during the spring semester of each academic year. The submission of a satisfactory portfolio in each year is a degree requirement.
• Comprehensive Examination None
• Thesis, Project, or Coursework-Only Options Coursework only