Master in Architecture | Architectural Studies

Master of Architecture

Master in Architecture Balsam wood scale model

The School of Architecture strives to achieve and maintain education, research, and creative excellence, to serve and transform our society and communities, to nurture the environment, to build our professional bearings, and catalyze our aspirations, skills, and knowledge for toward the greater public good and its well-being. The Master of Architecture degree is accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board.

We are proud of our broad-based program with emphases on:

Transformative urban design and community development
Architecture of the Mississippi Delta and Heartland region
Critical engagement, multiregional dialog and global practice
The development of technical skills and performance-driven design
Social and environmentally responsive architecture

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Our Master of Architecture program is designed as a combined undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Graduate professional program for architecture professionals seeking an accredited Master of Architecture degree that leads to National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certification. The Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education.

Master of architecture program Students in gallery

View our Pathways:

On-Campus Pathway

An energized campus/studio atmosphere fosters community support and scholarly discourse. Meanwhile, unique campus opportunities and activities allow students to customize degrees around individual professional goals.

Online Pathway

The online/hybrid program consists of the same curricular and semester-structured course format as our on-campus program, but predominantly utilizes distance education methods and learning platforms.

Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) Pathway

This pathway offers extra courses that allow you to prepare for the AREs. The goal is to finish the master’s degree and pass the ARE tests at the same time. Then transfer your first state of licensure from NCARB to the state where you want to be licensed.

Master in architecture Skateboard exhibit

The graduate program consists of 42 total credit hours. These credits are completed over four continuous semesters, allowing the student to graduate in 15 months. The beginning summer semester (for on-campus students) provides an initial experience and overview of regional architecture and urban design issues (online and IPAL students take this the initial fall semester). Building upon this introduction, the student identifies and develops a thesis design project over the next three semesters. This is augmented by seminars, electives, and courses in global architecture and professional practice.

Options for Graduate Study

Earn your degree one of three ways:

Complete a design thesis project
Write a thesis
Write a research paper

Curricular Guides

Master of Architecture:15 month track

For students with a 4-year pre-professional degree in architecture

Students who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies or its equivalent are placed in the 15-month track consisting of courses taken in four consecutive semesters starting in the summer term.

Check out the 15-Month Curricular Guide (PDF) for an outline for what courses you would want to take each semester.

Master of Architecture: 27 month track

For students with a 4-year degree in interior design or an allied area of practice.

Students who have completed a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design or its equivalent are placed in the 27-month program. These students must take a portion of the undergraduate curriculum in addition and prerequisite to the full graduate curriculum.

Check out the 27-Month Curricular Guide (PDF) for an outline for what courses you would want to take each semester.

Master of Architecture: 39 month track

For students with any other four-year degree.

Students from other four-year degree areas are placed in the 39-month program. These students complete a significant portion of the undergraduate curriculum in addition and prerequisite to the graduate curriculum.

Check out the 39-Month Curricular Guide for an outline for what courses you would want to take each semester.

Accreditation

When earned sequentially, the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture degree programs consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

Every student graduating from SIU with a Master of Architecture degree must meet the National Architectural Accrediting Board Student Performance Criteria.