Architecture + Health
Professor David Allison, Director of Graduate Studies in Architecture + Health
Within the framework of the Master of Architecture degree, the Architecture + Health Concentration includes seminar courses and studio work appropriate for both a general professional degree and a concentration in architecture + health. The intent of the A+H concentration, which is the most structured and established program of its type in the United States, is to develop the generalist-specialist graduate who can creatively work in both modes. The curriculum concentration includes both the study of health facility design and the study of relationships between architectural settings and their impact on human health and well-being. The primary purpose of the concentration is to study how architectural environments impact health and how to create architectural settings that support the health and well-being of individuals and larger populations.
Studio design projects and seminar courses examine architecture-health relationships for settings and conditions ranging from entire communities to specific projects and individual spaces. The emphasis in the studio is on design excellence within the framework of the complex demands found in the practice of health-care architecture. Student work must stand up critically at all levels of architectural consideration.
The architecture + health concentration is demanding in the scope of its professional studies, with most of the course work designated for specific areas of learning which are currently only offered on the main campus in Clemson. Students may take advantage of off-campus programs for a maximum of one semester with the approval of the program director. Given the number of required courses, students may also opt for an additional semester of study within the concentration years to accommodate an off campus semester in conjunction with a summer + semester internship with a healthcare design firm. A thesis option is offered in the Architecture + Health concentration, and is developed during the final year of study. The thesis deals with particular architectural topics as they relate to health and well-being.
For further information regarding the Architecture + Health Concentration, contact Professor David Allison, Director of Graduate Studies in Architecture + Health at adavid@clemson.edu
Application Deadline and Review Process
The deadline for the submission of the application and all supporting materials, including the portfolio, is January 15 for entrance at the start of classes in the coming fall semester, which begins in mid-August.
The review of candidates will begin immediately after the deadline. To receive full consideration, application files must be completed on time. Late or incomplete applications may not be reviewed.
Initial offers are made to candidates six to eight weeks after the deadline, at which time a wait list is also determined. Students on the wait list may be offered admission as places become available. Letters to all applicants will be sent out as expediently as possible. Due to the volume of applications, we cannot reply to inquiries about the timing of the review process or the status of individual applications, unless there is a particular issue with an application that requires an inquiry and a reply.
Applications are not reviewed after the Admissions Committee concludes its work for a given application cycle. The School of Architecture does not offer mid-year (spring semester) admission.
Offers of admission extended by the School of Architecture are not official until approved and processed by the Dean of the Graduate School.
Portfolio
The most important part of the Master of Architecture application is the design portfolio. All applicants are required to submit a portfolio of creative work.
The portfolio provides evidence of design abilities and design sensibilities. The portfolio provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate preparation, prior experiences, accomplishments, and research interests relevant to their graduate degree program goal.
For applicants with a pre-professional undergraduate background in architecture, the portfolio will include examples of studio projects, including titles, brief descriptions, and information about the date and year level when the work was completed. Any group work or work in an office setting must be clearly identified as such, and include a brief description of the applicant's contribution.
For applicants without a pre-professional background in architecture, who are applying to our three-year M. Arch. I tracks, any two-dimensional creative work, or representations of three-dimensional work, such as photography, graphic design, interior design, sketching, painting, sculpture, etc., may be included. Published writing samples, website designs, and other relevant design work may also be included. Any collaborative work must be clearly identified and include a brief description of the applicant's contribution. Since the M. Arch. emphasizes architectural design, candidates who do not have any creative work and do not submit a portfolio will not present the Admissions Committee with a complete picture of their design abilities or sensibilities, but may submit a statement of intent describing their academic background, the relevance to the understanding of the built environment, and their objectives in pursuing a professional degree in architecture. Non-preprofessional applicants with non-design backgrounds should consider taking courses in the arts or design before applying.
The portfolio must be no larger than 8.5" x 11" and must contain printed material only. Electronic portfolios, slides, DVDs, and websites will not be reviewed. The cover of the portfolio must include the applicant's name; include the degree sought and current contact information inside or on the cover. Also include a resume or CV within. In all cases, the Admissions Committee considers not just at the content of the portfolio but also presentation and the way the portfolio itself is put together.
For reference, here are some useful links about composing and organizing a portfolio:
The portfolio must be sent directly to:
Graduate Admissions Committee
Care Of Michelle McLane
Lee Hall
Clemson University School of Architecture
Clemson SC, 29634
According to Graduate School policies, application materials submitted to the Graduate School become property of the University are are not returned. However, as a courtesy, portfolios will be returned at the conclusion of the application cycle (in May) if accompanied by a pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope. The School of Architecture will not provide postage, track packages, or be responsible for loss or damage.
Graduate Admission Requirements and Process
Admission to graduate programs at Clemson University follows procedures established by the Clemson University Graduate School and the School of Architecture. Please follow the procedures below and submit the requested information as follows:
Step 1: Complete an online application for admission as linked here: http://www.grad.clemson.edu/Admission.php. The online application form requires you to attach copies of transcripts; if you are offered admission, you must request official transcripts to be sent from your degree-granting institution(s) to Clemson University following instructions on the online application. The online application form also requires you to submit the names and email addresses of three references who will submit online recommendation forms and letters.
Step 2: File your requests for GRE scores and TOEFL scores (for international students). Note that scores received after the application deadline may not be considered and may put your application at a significant disadvantage.
Step 3: Send your design portfolio, accompanied by a resume, directly to the School of Architecture (see address below).
Step 4, if offered admission: As part of your online application, you were required to attach unofficial transcripts. If you are offered admission, you will be required to submit official transcripts, following the instructions on the online application.
Mailing Addresses:
For all application materials apart from portfolio:
Graduate Admissions Office
E-209 Martin Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-5124
For portfolio:
Graduate Admissions, Attn: Michelle McLane
Clemson University School of Architecture
Lee Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-0503
Previous Coursework
Transfer Credit: Transfer credit is considered only for graduate-level coursework in courses numbered 700 and above on the applicant’s transcript. Graduate transfer credit is not automatic; it is subject to review and approval by the School of Architecture and the Graduate School. Transfer credits are limited to 12 credit hours.
Advanced Standing and Course Substitutions: Applicants to the Two-Year M. Arch. track with an undergraduate degree in architecture are automatically considered for advanced standing in the overall Three-Year M. Arch. program. Prior coursework determines placement into the Two-Year or Three-Year tracks.
Two-Year students must have completed the equivalent of Structures II as an undergraduate or will be required to take this course with Three-Year track students in place of an elective course. This requirement will supersede elective off-campus study in the semester that Structures II must be taken.
Applicants to both the Two-Year and Three-Year tracks who have completed previous coursework equivalent to program requirements may be considered for course substitutions at the time of admission or after admission. For example, a Three-Year student with an undergraduate degree in Engineering may be permitted to substitute advanced or elective courses for the fundamental courses in structures.
To be considered for course substitutions, admitted students will be required to provide syllabi and other supporting materials related to prior coursework in order to document equivalency.
Except where graduate-level transfer credit is approved, all Two-Year track students must complete 60 credit hours and all Three-Year track students must complete 90 credit hours to earn the M. Arch. degree. In other words, course substitutions do not reduce coursework demands or the length of time to graduation.
Concentrations and Elective Courses
Due to the coursework demands necessary to complete the M. Arch. degree, in most cases it is not practical or possible to simultaneously complete a dual degree or certificate program. Both the Two-Year (60 credit hour) and Three-Year (90 credit hour) tracks require the maximum enrollment of 15 credit hours per semester to complete the degree requirements in four or six semesters respectively. Applicants may also consider a concentration in Architecture and Health by requesting consideration for the Architecture and Health program. Students in the general M. Arch. have elective opportunities to take graduate-level coursework in any area of their interest, as well as selective or option courses in architectural history/theory and technology. Students who have unique research objectives may consider the Master of Science program, which does not earn a professional degree, but which is designed for focused research, sometimes leading to doctoral studies.
Tuition, Costs, and Financial Aid
For information about tuition and fees, please see the Graduate Program Tuition and Fees page. Please note that these costs do not include such important and necessary materials as room and board, a laptop computer, digital design software (e.g., Adobe design software), books, architectural drawing and modeling materials, printing costs, and other typical expenses of graduate architectural education. Be sure to factor such expenses into your financial planning.
The School of Architecture offers a limited number of graduate assistantships and fellowships to students each year based on merit and availability; these may be offered to promising program applicants based on their standing in the applicant pool. These are offered in the form of stipends and tuition remission. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester to qualify for a graduate assistantship and must work 10 hours per week as a teaching, research, or administrative assistant. Assistantships may be offered for one or two semesters. Students offered assistantships may be required to remain on the Clemson campus to fulfill assistantship obligations. Assistantships cannot be deferred. Assistants are subject to performance reviews and assistantships are not automatically renewed. The School of Architecture also offers a number of grants and fellowships for students who study in Italy or Spain. Assistantships may also be available directly from the Graduate School, but graduate students in architecture may only accept quarter-time assistantships (10 hours per week) due to the coursework and enrollment requirements necessary to complete the M. Arch. degree in a timely manner.
Transfer Applications
Those interested in transferring from another graduate program should apply following the procedures outlined above, following the typical application process and the January 15 application deadline. Please note that Graduate School policy limits graduate transfer credits to 12 credit hours (e.g., three seminar courses, or one studio and one seminar). Please see the section regarding Previous Coursework above. Applicants seeking transfer credit should be sure to include a letter outlining their previous graduate (600-level and above) coursework.
Additional Information for International Applicants
Degree Track Selection: International undergraduate degrees may differ from US Bachelor degrees in Architecture. International applicants should compare their course of study to Clemson's undergraduate degree program for a general comparison; the Admissions Committee also uses this as a general benchmark for a pre-professional undergraduate curriculum (for the purposes of a preliminary assessment of advance placement), while recognizing that undergraduate programs in architecture differ somewhat from school to school. International applicants with undergraduate studies in architecture may apply to the Two-Year or Three-Year track, but must consider whether their portfolio will be competitive in the Two-Year applicant pool, where applicants will have up to four years of architecture design studios and other pre-professional studies in architecture.
Language Requirements: All coursework is in English and there is no time within the demands of the Master's degree curriculum to add coursework in English language study. Therefore, international applicants are required to submit their TOEFL scores, and the Admissions Committee looks at scores for strong language abilities. The examination must have been taken no more than 24 months prior to application. A TOEFL score of 90 or better is an indication that the applicant will be able to satisfactorily understand and complete coursework in English. In order to ascertain language abilities, international applicants may be requested to participate in a Skype interview. (Free software for Skype is available at www.skype.com). After admission, any enrolled student whose English language abilities are found to be insufficient will be required to take supplemental language instruction although this may delay degree progress.
Campus Visits
The School of Architecture welcomes campus visits from prospective students. Due to renovations of Lee Hall, the location of graduate studios in temporary facilities, and the construction of Lee III, the future home for the Graduate Program in Architecture, visits to the School should be scheduled in advance and visitors should first check in at the department offices located at Room 2-312 Lee Hall.
More Information
- Graduate School Information:
- Graduate School Application Information:
- Tuition and Financial Aid:
- For International Students: