2020-2021 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Architecture (M.Arch.)


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Program Coordinator/Contact

Brian Rex, Department Head
Department of Architecture
Chicoine Architecture, Mathematics and Engineering Hall 378, Box 2225
605-688-4841

Program Information

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program prepares professional leaders with specialized knowledge and skills to meet the nation’s needs in design, build, and education.  The aim of the program is to prepare architecture majors to practice in a full range of contexts and settings. 

The Master of Architecture degree is comprised of a 48 credit hour, four semester graduate curriculum which rounds out the department’s seven semester NAAB accreditation candidate professional program. (See department website (www.sdstate.edu/arch/) for NAAB Professional Program details.) 

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Research: Understand the theoretical and applied research methodologies and practices used during the design process.
  • Project Implementation: Demonstrate the skills associated with making integrated decisions across multiple systems and variables in the completion of a design project. This demonstration includes problem identification, setting evaluative criteria, analyzing solutions, and predicting the effectiveness of implementation.
  • Integrative Decision-Making: Be able to make design decisions within a complex architectural project while demonstrating broad integration and consideration of environmental stewardship, technical documentation, accessibility, site conditions, life safety, environmental systems, structural systems, and building envelope systems and assemblies. 
  • Mediated Practices: Use a diverse range of mediated practices to think about and convey architectural ideas, including writing, investigating, speaking, drawing, and modeling.  
  • Ethics: Understand the ethical issues involved in the exercise of professional judgment in architectural design and practice and understanding the role of the NCARB Rules of Conduct and the AIA Code of Ethics in defining professional conduct.
  • Team Building: Understand the methods for selecting consultants and assembling teams; identifying work plans, project schedules, and time requirements; and recommending project delivery methods. 

Course Delivery Format

The curriculum is interactive, haptic and performance based, offering problem solving experiences in all major areas of professional practice.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees


Master of Architecture Option C - Coursework Only 48 Credit Hours

Total Required Credits: 48 (Option C)


Additional Admission Requirements


GRE:  Not required
TOEFL: Score of 525 paper-based, 71 Internet-based
IELTS: 5.5

Students may be admitted fully or provisionally. Students provisionally admitted with insufficient graphic capacity may be required to take fundamental drawing and / or design courses the Fall semester before beginning professional study.

Accelerated Master’s Program


The accelerated Master’s program will be available to eligible SDSU students. Up to 12 credits applied to the undergraduate degree may be used to satisfy graduate credit. Students must follow SDSU Policy 2:22 Use of Graduate Credit for Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

General Requirements


Graduate students should consult with their advisor before registering for graduate coursework.

For additional information refer to the Master’s Degree Requirements .

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