Program Overview

Graduate Studies

The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design offers various graduate programs, including:

• Master of Architecture [MARCH +3]
• Master of Architecture [MARCH +2]
• Master of Arts in Architectural Studies
• Master of Science in Architecture
  • Urban Design
  • Media + Fabrication
  • Sustainable Design
  • Sustainable Urban Systems
• Master of Science in Industrial Design
• STEM Designated Programs
• Graduate Course Catalog

Master of Science in Architecture – Concentration in Sustainable Urban Systems

The Master of Science in Architecture with a concentration in sustainable urban systems [MS ARCH in Sustainable Urban Systems] is an interdisciplinary post-professional degree focusing on sustainable architecture and urban systems. Using Houston and its coastal context as a laboratory, the program encompasses urban and regional planning, neighborhoods, cities, metropolitan areas, and their urban and natural systems.

The program allows for a wide range of graduate student participation with areas of concentration in design, business, public policy, engineering, natural sciences, and law. Students strengthen their ability to function as creative problem solvers capable of facilitating community discussions about livable, sustainable, resilient, and healthy cities and places, and also strategic thinkers who lead multidisciplinary design teams.

Degree Plan

An interdisciplinary team of instructors teaches this program's core curriculum. Students have 18 hours of core courses and 18 hours of electives. Up to six hours of the electives may be shared by related dual graduate programs. Core courses include:

• Interdisciplinary practicum and environmental analysis
• Ecologies and technology courses
• Sustainable urban systems and urban sites capstone project
• Environmental Analysis I+II
• Urban Ecologies and Technologies I+II