The department’s mission is to educate future design practitioners, advance research of the built environment and disseminate knowledge of architectural studies to improve quality of life for people. The philosophy of the Department of Architectural Studies embraces the synergy created between architecture and interior design. Having a symbiotic relationship, both fields explore the design process and its final products. Promoting the meaning and value of physical settings and responding to the human condition, the program investigates the interaction between people and their surroundings to create a more beautiful and sustainable world.
The program encourages an interdisciplinary, scholarly climate celebrating aesthetic values and the human sciences. Consistent attention is placed on planning and designing physical environments that support human needs and aspirations. Course work may include courses in supportive areas such as the human and physical sciences, art, humanities and allied design professions.
Graduate programs offer two emphases: 1) in environment and behavior studies with a creative project leading to an MA degree and with research leading to the MS and PhD degrees and 2) in design with digital media studies leading to the MA, MS and PhD degrees. The graduate program builds on Architectural Studies course work and a core of courses in design theory, research methods, graduate seminars, research and readings in environment and behavior.
The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree builds upon a pre-professional undergraduate or graduate degree in Architectural Studies or related discipline. With the design studio at its core, the curriculum utilizes knowledge gained from supporting coursework and evidence-based design research to provide innovative solutions to problems in the built environment, ultimately resulting in an improved condition for the population it serves. The program emphasizes the Department of Architectural Studies’ strengths in sustainability, digital media, and human factors while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. The project-based plan of study is an in-depth investigation of a problem culminating in a comprehensive and synthesized design solution and presentation to a professional panel for evaluation.
Degrees Offered
Doctoral
100% Online On Campus
Admission Criteria
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall | January 18 |
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Architectural Studies Program
- Statement of Purpose. Statement describing your goals and objectives for advanced graduate-level work in architectural studies. This statement will be uploaded to the Graduate School online application, be 1,500 words maximum, and include:
- A description of your research interests in architectural studies
- Emphasis areas of interest (design with digital media or environment and behavior)
- The graduate faculty with whom you would like to work and why (we suggest closely reading faculty bios and select publications in advance)
- How this Ph.D. degree emphasis area in Architectural Studies will help you to reach your future goals
- Letters of Recommendation. 3 letters of recommendation can be submitted through the Graduate School online application. At least two of these letters should be from college or university faculty members who can speak to your academic competencies. Professional practice references welcome. All letters should include the association to the applicant and length of time recommender has known applicant).
- Portfolio or Dossier. All applicants will submit an electronic portfolio or dossier. Applicants with a background in design should include a sample of design projects from institutional coursework, independent creative work, writing samples, and/or professional practice. Applicants without a design background should upload a dossier that includes writing samples (completed or published), research examples, teaching outcomes, and/or any other materials that demonstrate readiness for graduate-level work in Architectural Studies. Including a link to an online document or website is preferred by the department, otherwise the file must be a single PDF and no larger than 20 MB.
- Resume/CV
- GRE Scores: Recommended but not required
Master's
On Campus
Admission Criteria
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall | January 18 |
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Architecture Program
- Statement of Purpose. Statement describing your goals and objectives for the M.Arch. This statement will be uploaded to the Graduate School online application, be 1,500 words maximum, and include:
- A description of your past experience and how that experience has prepared you for the M.Arch.
- A description of your future goals.
- How the M.Arch Studies will help you to reach your future goals.
- Letters of Recommendation. 3 letters of recommendation can be submitted through the Graduate School online application. At least two of these letters should be from college or university faculty members who can speak to your academic competencies. Professional practice references welcome. All letters should include the association to the applicant and length of time recommender has known applicant).
- Portfolio. All applicants will submit an electronic portfolio. Applicants with a background in design should include a sample of design projects from institutional coursework, independent creative work, writing samples, and/or professional practice. Including a link to an online document or website is preferred by the department, otherwise the file must be a single PDF and no larger than 20 MB.
- Resume/CV
- GRE Scores: Recommended but not required
100% Online On Campus
The program offers a Master of Science in Architectural Studies with emphasis areas in Design with Digital Media and Environment & Behavior. A Master of Science in Architectural Studies with an emphasis in Environment and Behavior is also offered online.
Admission Criteria
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline |
| Fall | January 18 |
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Architectural Studies Program
- Statement of Purpose. Statement describing your goals and objectives for advanced graduate-level work in architectural studies. This statement will be uploaded to the Graduate School online application, be 1,500 words maximum, and include:
- A description of your research interests in architectural studies
- Emphasis areas of interest (design with digital media or environment and behavior)
- The graduate faculty with whom you would like to work and why (we suggest closely reading faculty bios and select publications in advance)
- How this master’s degree emphasis area in Architectural Studies will help you to reach your future goals
- Letters of Recommendation. 3 letters of recommendation can be submitted through the Graduate School online application. At least two of these letters should be from college or university faculty members who can speak to your academic competencies. Professional practice references welcome. All letters should include the association to the applicant and length of time recommender has known applicant).
- Portfolio or Dossier. All applicants will submit an electronic portfolio or dossier. Applicants with a background in design should include a sample of design projects from institutional coursework, independent creative work, writing samples, and/or professional practice. Applicants without a design background should upload a dossier that includes writing samples (completed or published), research examples, teaching outcomes, and/or any other materials that demonstrate readiness for graduate-level work in Architectural Studies. Including a link to an online document or website is preferred by the department, otherwise the file must be a single PDF and no larger than 20 MB.
- Resume/CV
- GRE Scores: Recommended but not required