Skip to Main Content

Architecture M.S.

Download as PDF

College of Design (TALA)315 - Master of Science

Description

Program details

Admission details

Requirements

Contact information

Learning outcomes

Minimum GPA to receive degree

2.800
Completion requirements
Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
  • 0113801
  • 8100181
  • 8103351
  • 8078681

Each semester, alongside your internship, you will enroll in ARCH 5688 as a co-requisite, support course.

Earn at least 1 credits from the following:
  • 8132111

ARCH 5688 may be repeated up to 6 times for credit depending on how many semesters a student needs to complete the program.

Complete one of the following courses in consultation with your Faculty Advisor.

Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 8182021
  • 8021881
  • 0075701

A significant and exciting component of the MS-ARP degree program is your academic capstone experience, where you will propose and realize an applied research project as a culmination of your MS-ARP degree.  The following courses are designed to support the students in making progress towards their final research project by providing opportunity and structure for peer-review as well as mid-semester and end-of-semester review sessions with guests to provide feedback to the students.

Earn at least 8 credits from the following:
  • 8132091
  • 8132101

Take 6 credits minimum of electives from architecture or non-architecture offerings, in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies.

Complete the required internship as described below.

MS-ARP students must complete a multi-semester internship in award-winning consortium firms as a requirement of the degree program. The Research Practices Internship (RPI) is a paid position where you gain experience with research in professional practice and maximize work experience hours. Your work helps bridge the knowledge gap between academia and practice. Students must complete at least one RPI that lasts two semesters or more. To the extent possible, students intern with a consortium industry partner over multiple academic terms, e.g. for each semester and the summer between semesters while completing degree requirements.

Each semester, alongside your internship, you will enroll in the ARCH 5688 as a co-requisite, support course.

Students in the MSRP are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits and an applied research practice internship. Students are required to participate in up to 20 hours per week in applied research practice internship that lasts two semesters minimum during this program. The internship may be taken in any semester in consultation with the faculty advisor.

The Applied Research Practices track (MS-ARP) is an industry-engaged degree that prepares students for leadership in Built Environments Practices (Architecture and allied disciplines) through an advanced, applied research experience- and coursework-based curriculum. The paid Applied Research Practices internship accelerates students towards licensure and is hosted by award-winning firms which are members of the Consortium for Research Practices.

MS-Applied Research Practices students are required to maximize their progress toward licensure or certification such as the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and others in allied disciplines, during their time in the MS program. This means all students in this track work in a firm setting in Applied Research Practice internship(s) while enrolled in the program to gain experience hours, including each semester and summer between semesters. Exceptions to the Applied Research Practice internship will be made only for extraordinary circumstances (such as practice engaged grant-funded research, firms not offering internships due to industry hardship, or student personal situation). Guided in nested, networked mentorship structures, students identify emerging issues, create and implement customized and rigorous research work plans, and develop resources and networks in practice and research, in which they are co-advised by licensed or certified practitioner(s), faculty experts, advisor(s), and peers. Finally, students disseminate research findings in the Research Practices Consortium and other public venues in industry and academy.

MS-ARP students take 10-12 courses (30-35 credits) over 2-3 academic terms (two semesters and a summer session for concurrent degree students). After establishing a foundation for applied research in practice, you’ll take more advanced coursework which culminates in a final project of your choosing.  

Completion requirements
Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 0120401
  • 0154481
Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 0120391
  • 0120381
  • 8141001
  • 0153911
  • 0121101
  • 8073341
  • 8073481

Select courses in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies. Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 8165211
  • 8047101
  • 8100181
  • 0122791

Select courses in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies. Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 0154221
  • 0149481
  • 0129641
  • 0129671
  • 0078131
  • 0145041
  • 7974591
  • 0147061
Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Earn at least 10 credits from the following:
  • 7885701
OR

Take 9-10 additional credits, in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies. Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 9 credits from the following:
  • 8162591
  • 8047101
  • 0122791
  • 0154221
  • 0149481
  • 0129641
  • 0129671
  • 0078131
  • 0145041
  • 7974591
  • 0147061
The heritage conservation and preservation track of the Architecture MS offers courses and research opportunities in the study of the preservation of historic buildings, districts, and landscapes, as well as the design and management of cultural heritage sites. The track explores heritage on several distinct but related levels. It examines the materiality of heritage resources through documentation, diagnosis, and the design of treatment interventions. It also encourages critical analysis and assessment of the cultural values that underlie and define preservation policies, laws, and professional norms. Through fieldwork, case studies, and courses that investigate regional, national, and global heritage, the track focuses on the philosophy, policy, technology, economics, and social implications of heritage preservation.

Completion requirements
Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
  • 0122791
  • 7942111
  • 0122971

Take courses outside the major, in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies. Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 0092841
  • 0097531
  • 0144681
  • 0078131
  • 0077401
  • 0077981
  • 7971071
  • 0077631
  • 0147061
  • 0158611
  • 0077251
  • 8066661

Take electives from the following list, in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies, to meet minimum major and total program credit requirements.

Plan A students complete 6 credits.

Plan B students complete 16 credits.

Plan C students complete 12 credits.

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 0120391
  • 8047101
  • 0120401
  • 8040981
  • 0122811
  • 7978821
  • 0097531
  • 0144681
  • 0078131
  • 0077401
  • 0077981
  • 7971071
  • 0147061
  • 0158611
  • 0077251
  • 8066661

For Plan A students only, complete 10 credits of Thesis

Earn at least 10 credits from the following:
  • 7885701
The metropolitan design track of the architecture MS is an advanced program intended for individuals who are keenly interested in the study of cities and their metropolitan regions. The track combines strong design instruction supported by applied research courses in urban design history and theory. The objective is to train students to work across a large range of urban scales and become familiar with the social, ecological, economic, and political interactions that eventually shape the quality of city living. It is open to professionals from the design disciplines and provides concurrent options for graduate students enrolled in the M.Arch and MLA professional programs. Concurrent students must graduate from the Architecture MS (metropolitan design track) after they have successfully completed their professional programs.

Completion requirements
Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
  • 7978821
  • 7978661
  • 7978831
  • 7978671

Complete at least 6 credits of ARCH Electives, in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies. Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 8037111
  • 8031391

Complete at least 6 credits of Electives outside of ARCH in consultation with the advisor or director of graduate studies. Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
  • 8064191
  • 0052031
  • 7989751
  • 0154221
  • 7913811
  • 7989761
  • 0143361
  • 7975871
  • 7975981
  • 0145331
  • 0149481
  • 0078131
  • 7974591
  • 0147061
  • 0158611
  • 0077251
  • 0108821
  • 7957881
Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:
Earn at least 10 credits from the following:
  • 7885701
OR

Additional electives may be approved by the director of graduate studies.

Earn at least 10 credits from the following:
  • 8037111
  • 8031391
  • 8064191
  • 7989751
  • 0154221
  • 7913811
  • 7989761
  • 0143361
  • 7975871
  • 7975981
  • 0145331
  • 0149481
  • 0078131
  • 7974591
  • 0147061
  • 0158611
  • 0077251
  • 0108821
  • 7957881

The sustainable design track of the MS admits from diverse design and environmental backgrounds. Candidates for the program include, practicing design professionals, architecture graduate students, engineering and environmental science professionals, and related disciplines. Ideal applicants will have a clear sustainable design research agenda, experience in environmental design or design production, and a desire to develop new knowledge in the sustainable design field.
The sustainable design track's goals are to foster sustainable design education, research, and practice and to create a significant positive impact on sustainable design in the region and nation. It will achieve these goals by providing courses and research opportunities that:

  • Promote excellence and innovations in regional and global ecological design practice and research.

  • Contribute to the evolving and emerging sustainable design practice and research knowledge base, which includes ecological, environmental, social, and economic issues and impacts.

  • Provide architectural designers and researchers with qualitative and quantitative knowledge, methods, and tools to implement sustainable design in professional practice.

© 2025 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Privacy Statement