Master of Architecture
Dr. Peter Laurence Director of Graduate Studies
Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) Degree Tracks
At Clemson, the Master of Architecture Program seeks to develop students’ proficiency in responding to contemporary architectural, social, and global issues through a broad range of theoretical knowledge and practical abilities. The major emphasis is on design, accompanied by complementary coursework in building technology, architectural history and theory, representation and fabrication, professional topics, and elective subjects. Accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) is the professional degree required by most state registration boards as a condition of licensure for architectural practice.
Clemson offers four tracks toward earning the professional, NAAB-accredited 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 + 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 about the A+H Program and its degree tracks, see Architecture + Health Program
M. Arch. Program Structure
All M. Arch. degree tracks earn the NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture degree.
The M. Arch. curriculum is described as a 3 year curriculum with 6 semesters of coursework. The semesters are numbered 1 through 6 and described as Semester 1, Semester 2, etc. M. Arch. I students begin in First Year, Semester 1; M. Arch. II students receive advance placement for their pre-professional studies and begin in Second Year, Semester 3. All students must successfully complete 15 credit hours per semester to complete the degree requirements (60 or 90 credit hours) in a timely manner.
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."
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs offer M. Arch. students the opportunity to focus their elective coursework and begin to develop a specialization in a subject area. Effective as of the 2012-13 academic year, M. Arch. students may earn a certificate in "Digital Ecologies" by completing 9 elective credit hours from a list of approved courses. Effective as of the 2013-14 academic year, a certificate in Architecture + CommunityBUILD is offered to students who apply for and are admitted to this certificate program and successfully complete the required 18 credit hours. For more information, see Certificate Programs. Note that Certificate Programs are an elective, as is off-campus study; it is not necessarily possible to do both.
Up to Two Semesters of Off-Campus Study in Charleston, Barcelona, and/or Genoa
One of Clemson School of Architecture's greatest assets is its "Fluid Campus." While maintaining a consistent path toward the completion of required coursework, M. Arch. students have the opportunity to study in Charleston, Barcelona, and/or Genoa for one or two semesters. While Lee Hall III in Clemson is one of the finest school of architecture facilities in the country, these study centers offer opportunities to work in three unique urban environments while completing degree requirements. These full-time, semester-long experiences are open to students in Semesters 4 (Second Year, Spring) and/or Semester 5 (Third Year, Fall). Placement is by application, but since two semesters of off-campus study are available a first choice is typically available in one of the two semesters. For more information, see the "Fluid Campus" webpages. Note that Architecture + Health students may be limited in their opportunities for off-campus study due to the demands of the A+H curriculum and should discuss their interest in off-campus study with the A+H Program director.
M. Arch. Plans of Study for 2013-14
Note: See A+H webpage for A+H Plans of Study
Program Policies and Policy Documents
The answers to many questions about the Graduate Program in Architecture can be found in the documents and other webpages linked from this one, 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.
Graduate Program Documents:
Graduate School Policies: School of Architecture Policies & Documents: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.
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, 2012
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.
Preparing to Graduate?
Be sure to attend to graduation deadlines and complete the necessary forms.
Toward Licensure: The Intern Development Program (IDP) and the Architect Registration Exam (ARE)
Earning a NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture (or B. Arch. or D. Arch.) is one of a series of steps toward licensure for the practice of architecture. Before licensure, those wishing to become licensed architects must register with the national Intern Development Program (IDP) and complete 5,600 hours (approximately three years) of work experience under the supervision of a licensed architect. IDP is a comprehensive training program created to ensure that interns in the architecture profession gain the knowledge and skills required for the independent practice of architecture; it was created jointly in the 1970s by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is administered by NCARB. Licensure also requires the satisfactory completion of the Architect Registration Exam (ARE).
For further information about careers in architecture...
For more information about "Becoming an Architect, The Profession, Careers in Architecture, and What It's Like to Work As An Architect," start with "The Basics" on the NCARB site. See also the "Careers in Architecture" webpage from the American Institute of Architects, as well as the ARCHcareers.org website.
Other good sources of information for those considering a career in architecture are Gunnin Architecture Library's "The Architecture Student's Basic Bookshelf," websites like Archinect, and professional journals including Architect magazine and Architectural Record.