Master of Architecture

• Degree Tracks

  Clemson offers four tracks toward earning the professional, NAAB-accredited (NAAB accreditation) Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) degree:

  • The M. Arch. I  is a three-year, 90-credit hour degree track for students without a portfolio of 6-8 semesters of strong architecture studio work. Students in the M. Arch. I track have diversity of undergraduate majors, including architecture and architectural studies, and various design (art, city planning, urban design, landscape architecture, industrial design, and others) and non-design backgrounds (business, economics, engineering, literature, psychology, and other fields).      
  • The M. Arch. II is a two-year, 60-credit hour degree track for students with a pre-professional Bachelor degree (BA or BS) in Architecture and strong portfolios documenting 6 to 8 semesters of design studio work. The M. Arch. II track is an advanced placement track and a BA or BS in a pre-professional architecture program is a minimum requirement. A competitive portfolio is also required. In the context of applicant pool, advanced placement is determined by the Admissions Committee during the application and portfolio review process. 
• Plan of Study

  Within the framework of the accredited and highly structured M. Arch. degree program, Clemson Architecture seeks to offer students as much choice as possible. Some students seek to focus their studies in the highly respected Architecture + Health program. Others focus their interests in the Architecture + CommunityBUILD program or Digital Ecologies certificate program. Some spend one or two semesters in Charleston, Barcelona, or Genoa. Others pursue up to 12 credit hours of elective coursework (nearly one semester) outside of architecture.

  As seen in the Master of Architecture Plan of Study, the M. Arch. curriculum is described as a three-year curriculum with 6 semesters of coursework. The semesters are numbered 1 through 6 and described as Semester 1, Semester 2, etc. Three-Year, M. Arch. I students begin in First Year, Semester 1; Two-Year M. Arch. II students receive advance placement for their pre-professional studies and begin in Semester 3. 

  All three-year M. Arch. I students take the same coursework in the First Year. After the First Year, students may begin to specialize their studies. Students admitted to the Architecture + Health program move into the A+H studios and concentrate on A+H coursework. All other M. Arch. students have 12 credit hours (4 courses) of open electives in any graduate level subject, may pursue certificate programs, and have greater flexibility for up to two semesters of off-campus study in Charleston, South Carolina; Barcelona; and/or Genova, which together comprise Clemson's Fluid Campus.

  Download a printable version here.

  2023-2024 AY Master of Architecture Plan of Study

  FIRST YEAR: CORE STUDIOS
  Three-Year (M. Arch. I) Track (90 Credits) begins here

  Semester 1 | FALL | Clemson Campus   6  ARCH 8410  Architecture Studio I   3  ARCH 8100  Visualization I   3  ARCH 8600  Architectural History and Theory I   3  ARCH 8700  Structures I 15 credits

  Semester 2 | SPRING | Clemson Campus   6  ARCH 8420 Architectural Studio II   3  ARCH 8200 Visualization II   3  ARCH 8610 Architectural History and Theory II   3  ARCH 8710  Structures II 15 credits

   

  FIRST SUMMER

  Summer Session | Clemson Campus ARCH XXXX   Electives (if offered)      GRAD XXXX

  *Note: Electives taken during the summer may be substituted for electives otherwise required during the spring and fall semesters.

  
  SECOND YEAR: INTERMEDIATE STUDIOS
  Two-Year (M. Arch. II) Track (60 Credits) begins here

  Semester 3 | FALL | Clemson Campus   6  ARCH 8510 Design Studio III   3  ARCH 8210 Research Methods   3  ARCH 8720 Productions and Assemblies + 8721 Lab    3  ARCH 8810 Professional Practice I 15 credits	Semester 4  | SPRING| Clemson Campus Option   6  ARCH 8520 Design Studio IV (Clemson)   3  ARCH 8730 Environmental Systems + 8731 Lab ONLINE   3  ARCH 8620 Architectural History and Theory III   3  GRAD XXXX ELECTIVE (or Structures II: See Notes) 15 credits
  	Semester 4  | SPRING| Charleston Option   6  ARCH 8520 Design Studio IV (Charleston)   3  ARCH 8730 Environmental Systems + 8731 Lab ONLINE   3  ARCH 8620 Architectural History and Theory III   3  ARCH XXXX CA.C OPTION (See Notes) 15 credits
  	Semester 4  | SPRING| BARCELONA or GENOA Option   6  ARCH 8520 Design Studio IV (Barcelona/Genoa)   3  ARCH 8730 Environmental Systems + 8731 Lab ONLINE   3  ARCH 8620 Architectural History and Theory III   3  ARCH 6160 Field Studies 15 credits

   

  SECOND SUMMER 

  Summer Sessions ARCH XXX ELECTIVES (if offered) GRAD XXXX

  *Note: Electives taken during the summer may be substituted for electives otherwise required during the spring and fall semesters.

   

  THIRD YEAR: ADVANCED STUDIOS

  Semester 5 | FALL | Clemson Campus Option   6  ARCH 8570 Design Studio V (Clemson)   3  GRAD XXXX ELECTIVE   3  GRAD XXXX ELECTIVE   3  GRAD XXXX ELECTIVE 15 credits	Semester 6 | SPRING | Clemson Campus   6  ARCH 8920 Comprehensive Studio (Studio VI)   3  ARCH 8640 Architectural History and Theory IV   3  ARCH 8740 Building Processes: Technical Resolution + 8741 Lab   3  ARCH 8820 Professional Practice II 15 credits
  Semester 5 | FALL | CHARLESTON Option   6  ARCH 8570 Design Studio V (Clemson)   3  ARCH XXXX CA.C OPTIONS   3  ARCH XXXX CA.C OPTIONS   3  ARCH XXXX CA.C OPTIONS 15 credits	IMPORTANT NOTES: CREDIT HOURS: Credit hours must total 15 each semester to complete graduation requirements in a timely manner, except if electives are taken during the summer. No more than 15 credit hours may be taken in a semester. STRUCTURES II: All students must have taken the equivalent of ARCH 8710 Structures II as undergraduates or take this course, even if this requires staying on campus for Semester 4 and excludes other electives. ELECTIVES: Any Clemson Univ. graduate level courses numbered 6000 and above. CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS IN DIGITAL ECOLOGIES AND COMMUNITY BUILD: Visit the certificate programs web pages at the SoA website. FLUID CAMPUS COURSE OPTIONS: Off-ca,[us study is an elective. Off-campus centers have limited second-tier elective options. Barcelona generally has a fixed slate of courses; Genoa may have a few options; and Charleston has more, as well as College of Charleston nearby. For details, contact the program/resident director. THE GS2 PLAN OF STUDY FORM: The GS2 form is for graduation and it has information about graduation requirements.
  Semester 5 | FALL | BARCELONA or GENOA Option   6  ARCH 8570 Design Studio V (Barecelona/Genoa)   3  ARCH 6160 Field Studies   3  ARCH 6140 SEMINAR   3  ARCH 6120 SEMINAR 15 credits

• Certificate Programs

  Architecture + Community Build
  Architecture + Community Build is an application-based, 18-credit hour certificate program focused on community engagement and a holistic approach to design-build.

  Digital Ecologies
  Digital Ecologies is an elective course focused, 9-credit hour certificate program focused on architectural technologies.
  
  Certificate in Architecture, Society and the City
  This graduate certificate focuses on the ideas, histories, and theories behind buildings. It emphasizes the effects of cultural, social and political changes in the design of built environments. It aims to prepare students to navigate and develop agency in a world that is rapidly changing culturally, socially, and physically, in terms of demographics and social structures as well in its patterns of urbanization and growth. The certificate examines these changes, including current spatial practices across different scales, from buildings to cities to landscapes, in diverse historical, social, and cultural contexts.

  Historic Preservation Certificate
  The Certificate in Historic Preservation is designed to enhance a variety of other degree programs at Clemson through advanced studies in historic preservation. The 15-credit semester meets NCPE mandated curriculum requirements. Prerequisites and further course requirements are determined by the student’s degree program of study. All courses for both tracks of the certificate program are completed at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston, South Carolina.

  Resilient Urban Design Certificate
  The Certificate in Resilient Urban Design addresses design and development thinking relative to stewarding change in rapidly growing metropolitan regions. The Certificate uses an issues-based, teamwork model that engages students in an issues/questions based model built upon a design-thinking foundation and enhanced with methodologies and processes from multiple disciplines. The Certificate in Resilient Urban Design prepares individuals to engage complex cultural, market, and government policy forces through sustainable and resilient urban form. The Certificate can also serve as the first step in achieving the Master of Resilient Urban Design degree.

• STEM Designation

  This is a STEM designated program:  CIP code 04.0902 (architectural and building sciences/technology)

  STEM designated graduate degree programs:

  CIP Code 04.0902 (architectural and building sciences/technology)
  

  • Master of Architecture (M. Arch.), a NAAB-accredited professional degree
  • Master of Architecture + Health (M. Arch. A+H), a NAAB-accredited professional degree
  • Dual Master of Architecture + Master of Resilient Urban Design Based in Clemson and Charleston, SC.

  Other (non-STEM) graduate degree programs

  • Master of Science in Historic Preservation (M.S. in Historic Preservation), Based in Charleston, SC and jointly administered by the College of Charleston
  • Master of Resilient Urban Design (M.S. in Resilient Urban Design), Based in Charleston, SC
  • Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.), First professional and second professional degree options, Based in Clemson and optional time in Charleston, SC
• Assistantships and Employment

  Employment versus Financial Aid
  The School of Architecture does not offer financial aid. For financial aid, see the University's Financial Aid webpage. The School of Architecture offers employment in the form of assistantships and hourly positions. The School offers a limited number of assistantships to new M. Arch. II students based on the strength of their applications and their standing in the applicant pool; however, these students must still apply for placement to determine their best assistantship role among available positions. (The School also offers a limited number of recruiting fellowships sponsored by the state chapters of the AIA and other benefactors.) The number of assistantships available is limited by the School of Architecture's budget in a given year; fellowships are limited by the amount and timing of funds; hourly positions depend on the budget and School employment needs. No assistantships or fellowships extend beyond the number of semesters offered in the official award letter; all are limited in time and none renew automatically.  

  Graduate Assistantships
  Assistantships are employment where a full-time graduate student serves the School of Architecture as a graduate teaching assistant (GTA), graduate research assistant (GRA), or graduate administrative assistant (GAA) in return for a paycheck and tuition credit. See the Graduate School's Graduate School's Student Employment/Graduate Assistantships webpage.   

  Application Process and Timing
  Assistantships are for one year and follow the academic calendar. Applications are requested one time per year, during the late spring or early summer—probably in May—before the start of the next academic year. At this time, a call for applications is sent by email to all registered graduate students with a list of available positions. Under normal circumstances, no positions will be offered or available after positions are awarded until the next call for applications, in the next summer, in advance of the next academic year.  

  Qualifications
  Full-time graduate students (i.e., minimum enrollment of 9 credit hours) in good academic standing (i.e., GPA 3.0 and above) are eligible for consideration. For School of Architecture assistantships, the primary considerations for appointment are 1) academic performance for continuing students or applicant ranking for new students, and 2) fitness, experience, or other qualifications for the employment role.    

  Employment Period
  The employment period is August 15 to May 15. Graduate Assistants work on the same schedule as faculty, including term breaks (but not official holidays). See the Graduate Assistantships, Holiday Leave policy.   

  Payroll Paperwork
  Assistants must complete employment paperwork on campus and no later than August 15. Please see or contact Michelle McLane, Student Services Coordinator, for more information. 

  Responsibilities
  Graduate assistants (GAs) serve faculty and the School of Architecture as teaching, research, and administrative assistants. GAs in architecture are required to work an average of 10 hours per week, for a total of 200 hours per semester. Given the required 15-credit hour workload in the Master of Architecture program, M. Arch. students are limited to a "1/4 time" assistantship, with maximum of 10 hours per week. See the Enrollment Limits policy and chart and the Maximum Work Hours policy. Assistants cannot be scheduled for more than 10 hours per week, but must account for 200 hours of work per semester. Assistants must keep a current timesheet and work log, and must be prepared to give a copy of this to their primary supervisor, student services coordinator, or department head upon request. Also see the "Aspire" program requirement below. 

  "Aspire for Graduate Students" Training
  All graduate assistants are required to complete an "Aspire for Graduate Students" session. "Aspire for Graduate Students" is a comprehensive program that provides a dialogue-based educational session focusing on sexual violence prevention in adherence with Title IX guidelines, alcohol and other drug misuse, mental health, and campus resources. Graduate students will learn about beneficial personal health resources and also how to respond to and seek professional help for their peers and the undergraduates with whom they work. The program is administered by the Student Health Services, Division of Student Affairs, Healthy Campus initiative. 

  Off-Campus Assistantships
  Assistantships are employment related to the needs of the School, its programs, and its faculty. The Clemson campus, since it is the hub of School activities and has more students in residence, has more employment needs than our smaller off-campus centers. It is therefore our policy to limit assistantships to no more than two students at our off-campus centers. Because assistantships may not be deferred, if there are more than three students awarded assistantships who are slated to study at the same off-campus center, it may be the case that someone (based on rankings and other considerations) awarded an assistantship will be asked to defer their off-campus study to another semester or forfeit their assistantship for that semester.  

  International Students 
  International students must have a high level of English language ability to qualify for most assistantships; teaching, administrative, and research assistants all need a high level of English language proficiency. International students employed in labs must also have the requisite skills. See the International Student Employment, Graduate Assistantship policy.  

  Tuition/Fees
  Students with assistantships pay fees but no tuition. See the Graduate School Tuition & Fees webpage.

  Renumeration
  Graduate assistants are paid. The pay is sometimes referred to as a "stipend." See the Graduate School's Student Employment/Graduate Assistantships webpage.    

  Renewal
  Assistantships are for one year only and do not automatically renew. Even if your financial aid account shows an assistantship as continuing, this is due to a lag in the accounting process—assistantships do not automatically renew. However, all registered graduate students may apply for an assistantship in the annual call for applications, and the applications of students previously awarded an assistantship who have performed their duties well will be considered.  

  Termination 
  Assistants may be terminated for not carrying out assistantship responsibilities, including not working the required 10 hours per week, and will be required to pay the balance of remitted tuition. See the Graduate Assistants, Termination for Cause policy. Assistants are required to maintain good academic standing; students on academic probation (i.e., with a GPA below 3.0) will not be eligible for an assistantship, and GAs placed on academic probation after the fall semester will lose their assistantship for the spring semester. See the Termination for Academic Deficiency policy.    

  Graduate School Policies 
  For all Graduate School policies related to assistantships, see the Graduate School's Financial Policies webpage.

  Hourly Employment
  For some needs and special projects, the School will employ students on an hourly basis. Hourly employees are limited to 10 hours per week in accordance with the Enrollment Limits policy and chart and the Maximum Work Hours policy.

  Graduate School Policies
  The following Graduate School policies apply to hourly employment:

  • Hourly Employment policy
  • Hours of Employment, Maximum. See Maximum Work Hours policy for M. Arch. students above. 
  • International Student Employment, General
  • International Student Employment, Hourly On-Campus
  • International Student Employment, Hourly Off-Campus
• Handbook and Architectural Licensure Information

  M.Arch Handbook

  Clemson’s IPAL program
  INTEGRATED PATH to ARCHITECTURAL LICENSURE (IPAL) - provides an opportunity to fulfill the requirements for architectural licensure while completing the architectural degree. Clemson University’s School of Architecture has been selected by NCARB as one of the accredited programs to participate in this initiative, and has developed a rigorous curriculum track that integrates the academic and experience components essential to architectural licensure. Architecture students selected for the program during their second year of undergraduate study will embark on a 4 ½ year track that integrates the academic components of architectural study with the internship and examination components of architectural practice. Two semesters of undergraduate study and two semesters of graduate study will take place at the Clemson Architecture Center in Charleston (CAC.C), and summer internships will be necessary to fulfill requirements.

  Architectural Experience Program™ (AXP™)
  The Architectural Experience Program^™ (AXP^™) provides a framework to guide you through gaining and recording your professional experience. Developed by NCARB, the program is required by most U.S. jurisdictions and is a key step on the path to earning a license.

  Architect Registration Examination^® (ARE^®)
  As developed by NCARB, the ARE^® assesses a candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide the various services required in the practice of architecture.  It has been adopted for use by all U.S. registration boards and the Canadian provincial architectural associations as the registration examination for all candidates seeking architectural licensing. NCARB tracks the pass rates for the ARE^® in two ways - one by division and the other by NAAB-accredited schools of architecture.

Student Spotlight