Master of Science in Architecture
The Master of Science in Architecture (MS in Arch.) degree is most appropriate for students who have already completed a B. Arch. or M. Arch. professional degree and wish to pursue a defined research agenda. The MS program is focused on research and is sometimes preparation for doctoral studies.
Research Focus
As compared to the highly structured M. Arch. curriculum, the MS curriculum is flexible and individually tailored to student and faculty mentors' research agendas and specializations. An individual plan of study may be crafted in collaboration with an appropriate and available advisor (see architecture faculty biographies). However, the MS program currently has three areas of specialization:
Architecture + Health: visit the Architecture and Health concentration webpage for background information and contact David Allison, Director of Architecture + Health or Dr. Dina Battisto for more information.
Animated Architecture: visit the Animated Architecture website for background information about design research in advanced materials, systems and information technologies for the built environment and contact Dr. Keith Evan Green for more information.
Community Research + Design: research in design/build, appropriate technology, community economic development, and field work in community building, contact Dan Harding, Director of the Community Research & Design Center (CRDC) for more information.
The MS in Architecture is excellent preparation for the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Planning, Design, and the Built Environment (PDBE), and may be well suited to US and international students seeking a research qualification to initiate an academic career, as well as others interested in pursuing a focused and individually determined plan of study and research.
Degree Requirements
Requirements for the MS degree consist of a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework and directed studies, and 6 credit hours of thesis work, which will take a minimum of one year to complete at 15 credit hours per semester. Students work closely with a Major Advisor and an Advisory Committee, with whom they determine an individual Plan of Study. The advisors periodically review the student's work and evaluate the research thesis. The course of study may include two or three semesters.
Application Requirements
Since MS students work closely with a major advisor, they are most likely to be admitted if they have identified a potential advisor and discussed a possible plan of study with a faculty member in advance of their application. Faculty members are limited in the number of MS students whom they can advise, so admission is limited and competitive. Apart from determining a director for their research and identifying an advisor, admission is based on an applicant's previous academic credentials, GRE scores, TOEFL scores (for international students), a design portfolio, and a clear and concise research agenda describing the applicant's purpose and intent.
For more information about graduate studies at Clemson University, visit the Graduate School’s Admissions, Academic, and Financial policies webpages. For more information about the Master of Science in Architecture program, please contact graduate director Dr. Peter Laurence.
More Information
- Graduate Program Documents:
- Graduate School Policies: