The field of Architecture encompasses both practice and theory as it applies to the design of buildings, landscapes, cities, and other environments. The University of Cincinnati’s Master of Science in Architecture Program is a post-professional degree program of advanced theoretical studies in architecture with a focus on the acquisition of critical skills related to architectural production, both built and theoretical. Students enrolled in the program study architectural history and theories as these relate to practice. The program exposes students to a range of concepts in the field and fosters the ability to question and assess the built environment and the documents that relate to it.

Intended primarily for students already in possession of a graduate degree in architecture or a related field such as interior design, planning, or landscape architecture, the MS program has a common core consisting of two years of coursework in architectural theories and research methods.

Curriculum
MS Arch 2018

Fall Semester Year 1
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
ARCH8012    M.S. Research Methods (C min)    3
Free Electives    Graduate Elective    3
Free Electives    Graduate Elective    3
ARCH9021    Advanced Architectural Theory One (C min)    3

Spring Semester Year 1
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
ARCH9093    Colloquium One (C min)    3
ARCH9022    Advanced Architectural Theory Two (C min)    3
Free Electives    Graduate Elective    3
Free Electives    Graduate Elective    3

Fall Semester Year 2
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
ARCH8013    M.S. Thesis Writing Workshop (C min)    3
Free Electives    Graduate Elective    3
Free Electives    Graduate Elective    3
Contemporary Theory Directed Elective
Select 3 credit hours from Approved List or other course by Permission of the Program Director
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
ARCH9023    Advanced Architectural Theory Three (C min)    3
ARCH9024    Advanced Architectural Theory Four (C min)    3
ARCH7037    Contemporary Theory in Architecture (C min)    3
ARCH8038    Cultural Approaches to Architecture (C min)    3
ARCH8035    Critical Theory and Architecture (C min)    3

Spring Semester Year 2
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
ARCH9094    Colloquium Two (C min)    3
ARCH8014    M.S. Thesis (C min)    3 - 6

Career

The program prepares researchers, educators, and practitioners for advanced scholarly, pedagogic, and professional work in architecture and related fields. Most graduates of the program become full-time professors or practitioners of architecture. Other career opportunities for graduates of the MS and PhD in Architecture include historic preservation, public policy, curating, journalism, and institutional administration.

Success

Applicants to the MS Program in Architecture must demonstrate a commitment to the critical study of architecture and related design fields, including interior design, urban design, and landscape architecture. Prior education or working experience in architecture or a related field is desirable. Excellent writing skills and an interest in theoretical research are essential. Students whose English writing or speaking skills are not adequate for the demands of the curriculum must enroll in advanced, graduate-level English as a Second Language coursework prior to and sometimes in tandem with program coursework.

Admission Requirements

The School of Architecture and Interior Design bases admission decisions on a balanced consideration of the following indications of scholarly potential:

Students applying to the MS Program in Architecture should have completed a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation.

Unofficial transcript(s) from all colleges/universities attended are required.  Official transcripts are not required during the admissions process, and only unofficial transcripts are required for the application. Applicants should not send official transcripts until they are offered admission. For complete requirements please visit: http://grad.uc.edu/admissions/policy.html

A portfolio of design, art, or other graphic work is optional. The portfolio is an opportunity to demonstrate your design abilities, artistic talents, or other information you deem pertinent to your application. The content does not have to be architectural if your background is in another discipline. Written project statements to accompany visual work are helpful. Portfolios are submitted online. We do not accept hard copies of portfolios.

Three letters of recommendation from persons who are in a position to evaluate your abilities and your potential for success as a graduate student are required. There is no standard form to fill out; instead, based on information you provide in your application recommenders will be emailed instructions on the process for submitting letters of recommendation. 

A résumé of academic and professional experiences is required.

A two-page statement of your interest in graduate study in architecture is required. This should be a concise, articulate presentation of your academic and career goals, and any specific interests you have in architectural topics for graduate research and design. It should reflect your prior intellectual and professional engagement with these issues, and may also provide some additional perspective on the work illustrated in the portfolio.

Students applying to the MS Program must submit one or two writing samples demonstrating the ability to conduct scholarly research and examine theoretical concepts. The essays can expand on the areas of research interest or on any topic.

Scores from the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) are required. Successful candidates have earned the following average scores: verbal 153 (prior 500); quantitative 151 (prior 650); analytic 4.5. The ETS University code is 1833. You do not need a department code.

Tuition fee-3 years$105,000