Overview of Graduate Programs
Graduate Degrees and Degree Tracks
As described below, Clemson offers four tracks toward earning the Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) degree and a track for earning the Master of Science (MS Arch.) degree. The School of Architecture does not offer a PhD, but is part of the interdisciplinary PhD in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment (PDBE).
Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) Degree Tracks
Clemson offers four tracks toward earning the professional, NAAB-accredited (NAAB accreditation) Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) degree:
M. Arch. I: a first professional, three year, 90-credit hour degree track for students without a pre-professional degree in architecture. (For comparison, see Clemson's or other programs' BA in Architecture.)
M. Arch. II: a second professional, two year, 60-credit hour degree track for students with a pre-professional Bachelor’s degree in architecture.
For more information, see M. Arch. degree tracks
The School also offers a parallel concentration in Architecture and Health, with separate two-year and three-year M. Arch. degree tracks of 61-credit hours and 91-credit hours respectively:
M. Arch. I in A+H: a first professional, three year, 91-credit hour degree track for students without a pre-professional degree in architecture, who wish to pursue a concentration in Architecture + Health.
M. Arch. II in A+H: a second professional, two year, 60-credit hour degree track for students with a pre-professional Bachelor’s degree in architecture, who wish to pursue a concentration in Architecture + Health.
For more information, see Architecture and Health Program
Master of Science in Architecture (MS in Arch.) Degree Track
Clemson also offers a Master of Science in Architecture degree, which is most appropriate for students who have completed an M. Arch. degree and wish to pursue a defined research agenda. The MS program is focused on research. (The MS degree is not a professional degree; a professional degree such as the M. Arch. is necessary for licensure.)
For more information, see Master of Science in Architecture
PhD in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment (PDBE)
The School of Architecture does not offer a PhD in Architecture, but is affiliated with Clemson's Ph.D. Program in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment (PDBE). Applicants apply directly to the PDBE program (not to the School of Architecture).
For more information, see Ph.D. Program in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment (PDBE)
Detailed Program Information
For further information about the degree tracks listed above, click the appropriate links above or to the left. The answers to many questions about the Graduate Program in Architecture can be found in the linked webpages and documents, as well as Clemson University's Graduate School website. If you do not find the answers that you are looking for in these documents and webpages, contact the Program Director, Peter Laurence, or the Student Services Coordinator, Michelle McLane.
Our graduate programs are part of and work in partnership with Clemson University's Graduate School.
For Graduate School regulations and policies, see:
For detailed information about our graduate programs, see the Graduate Program Handbook (aka Graduate Student Handbook) 2012-13.
New and prospective students may find the 2012 Clemson University Graduate Student Guidebook helpful.
Visiting the School
Prospective graduate students are welcomed and encouraged to visit, and it is suggested that prospective students visit during the school year, when students and faculty are present. (Studios are in session Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons.) The Architecture Graduate Programs host Graduate Open Houses in the fall (typically in October) for prospective graduate students and in the spring (in late March or early April) for prospective admitted and wait-listed applicants-- but prospective students are always welcome.
Visitors must get a parking pass from the University Visitor's Center and must make an appointment if you wish to speak with a program director. Campus maps will direct you to Lee Hall. Campus tours are arranged by the Visitor's Center.
Fall Graduate Open House: Friday, October 26
The 2012 Fall Graduate Open House for prospective graduate students will be held on Friday, October 26 at 10:30 am. It will be followed by a lecture by Belinda Tato of Ecosistema Urbano, Madrid, Spain, at 1:30 pm in the Lee Hall Auditorium (Lee 2-111).
Spring Graduate Open House: Friday, March 29, 2013
The 2013 Spring Graduate Open House for prospective admitted and wait-listed applicants is scheduled for Friday, March 29 at 11:00 AM in the Lee III reception area. Please see Visitor's information above for directions and parking information.