Master of Architecture (Track I: 5+ Year Program)

The Master of Architecture is a NAAB-accredited professional degree program and is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture. Graduates of this program who complete a recognized internship program (such as the Architectural Experience Program) and successfully complete the Architectural Registration Examination are able to become licensed architects.

The Track I program is designed for students entering from high school or transferring from another undergraduate program. The curriculum is designed to be completed within 5 calendar years, but to do so demands sustained concentration and focus. 

The 172 credit curriculum is divided into three segments: Foundations, Core, and Professional Options.

The Foundations segment involves two foundation design studios and introductory lecture courses examining the discipline of architecture. A unique aspect of our program is that immediately upon commencing their studies at KU, first-year students enter into architecture-specific design studios and are immediately ensconced in the program’s culture.

The Core is a six-semester sequence that addresses the wide range of skills and understanding required for the practice of architecture, including history and theory, technology, professional practice, and integrating this knowledge within design projects of increasing scale and complexity. The core culminates in a comprehensive studio experience in which students demonstrate their readiness to enter the profession of architecture.

Professional Options: The architecture profession has become an extremely diverse field. Seeking to provide our students the greatest opportunity within that diversity, the final year of the curriculum allows a student to explore a more-focused professional option of their choosing. This experience allows students to craft an area of specialization or a domain of architecture that may otherwise be addressed superficially within a professional curriculum. Currently, students are investigating design-build processes, researching sustainable design practices, participating in internship-based Co-Op programs, pursuing healthcare and urban design as areas of specialization, and engaging in service-learning opportunities around the globe.

Within the 172 credits required to graduate, students will also have a study abroad experience and complete coursework in a variety of other academic disciplines. Students will be exposed to the social sciences, the physical sciences, the humanities, and the arts. Study abroad options currently include spending a semester in Denmark, Germany, England, or Australia, traveling to Central America, Asia, or Europe during intersessions, or working in an international architecture office in Paris or Asia.

Students in the Department of Architecture M.Arch Track I program will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies when they complete a minimum of 136 credits of courses as outlined in the degree plan and fulfill all KU Core course requirements after the first 4 years of undergraduate studies. 

Professional Registration and Licensing

Although state laws vary, professional registration as an architect in Kansas involves the completion of three aspects: receiving an accredited professional degree (such as the M.Arch.), completion of internship requirements (for information on the Architectural Experience Program, see www.ncarb.org) and successful completion of all sections of the Architectural Registration Examination (ARE). Upon successful completion of these three aspects, the applicant may use the title “architect” and may practice as an architect, either as an individual or as a licensed professional in an office performing professional services.

Undergraduate Admission

All prospective students must complete the online University of Kansas application. This application serves as the application for admission to KU, University Scholarships, and the Architecture program. Admission is highly selective and competitive. For questions about your application and the process reach out by email to arcd@ku.edu for more information. First-year and transfer students may be admitted to the 5-year Master of Architecture degree program. If you have any questions about your application please email arcd@ku.edu.

Applications

Applications for the Fall semester should be submitted during the student’s senior year in high school. The priority application deadline is November 1, and the final application deadline is February 1. Completed applications are reviewed, and applicants are notified of their admission status. Applications received after February 1 are considered but are less likely to be accepted due to space limitations.

High School Students

Applicants to the Master of Architecture 5-Year program who apply by November 1 and meet the following criteria will be guaranteed admission:

• 3.8+ GPA on a 4.0 scale and at least 1 high school drawing or art class with grade of B or higher

or

• 3.5 – 3.79 GPA on a 4.0 scale and ACT 24+/SAT 1160+ and at least 1 high school drawing or art class with grade of B or higher

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria or who apply after November 1 will be holistically reviewed and admitted as space permits. Applicants whose high schools do not offer drawing or art classes are encouraged to contact Joan Weaver, Admissions Coordinator, at jweaver@ku.edu to submit drawing or artistic samples.

Students who are already at the University of Kansas may apply to the M.Arch. program by February 1 for admission in the following fall. Students must have a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher and space must be available to be admitted to the M.Arch. program.

Transfer Students

Transfer students should apply by October 1 for the spring semester and by the priority deadline of February 1 for the summer and fall terms. The final application deadline is February 1. Space limitations apply to transfer students. Transfer applications received after February 1 are likely to be denied due to space limitations. Transfer students may be admitted, if space is available and if they have an overall grade-point average of at least 3.5. Students who plan to transfer into the Architecture program should contact arcd@ku.edu for more information. 

All prospective transfer students should complete the online application and select a major in Architecture in their application. Transfer students can use KU’s credit transfer tool to learn more about how courses may transfer to KU. Transfer applications will be reviewed at the end of each semester and admitted as space permits.

Advanced studio placement may be available to students transferring from another architecture or design program. Students transferring from Johnson County Community College should review the transfer guides published on their website in order to determine studio placement eligibility.

Review Process and Studio Placement

1. Review transcript and crosscheck with our B.S.I.A. or M.Arch. I curriculum.
2. Studio placement
   • Advanced studio placement only applicable to applicant transferring from an interior design/architecture or architecture program.
   • Review portfolio and transcript for studio placement.

For students from Johnson County Community College (JCCC) who are interested in transferring to KU Master of Architecture, please submit the same application documents as listed above. 

There is an established articulation agreement between KU and JCCC.

When students from JCCC apply for transfer to KU, 

1. The transcript will be crosschecked with the articulation agreement.
2. Studio placement
   • Review portfolio and transcript for studio placement.
   • ARCH 108 and ARCH 109 equivalent studios are typically completed at JCCC.
   • The applicant is usually placed in ARCH 208 in the fall semester for their first KU studio.

Change of School Students (Current KU Students)

All current KU students interested in switching to a major within the School of Architecture & Design should submit the Change of School form by the deadline of October 1 for spring and February 1 for fall. Students will be reviewed for admission once grades have been finalized following their second semester of full-time enrollment and will be admitted as space permits. Applicants are usually placed in ARCH 108 in the fall semester for their first KU studio.

Application Requirement

• 3.5 GPA after being enrolled full-time for 2 semesters at KU.

Review Process and studio placement 

The transcript will be reviewed and crosschecked with our M.Arch. I curriculum.

Studio placement

Applicants are usually placed in ARCH 108 in the fall semester for their first KU studio.

We maintain no admission quotas by race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, state of residence, or expressed preference of major within the department.

International Students

The School of Architecture and Design admits only exceptional students from other countries. Standards for admission are set according to the traditions and grading policies of those countries. In some countries, for example, the grade of A is almost never given, while in other countries the A grade is more frequently seen. The number of students admitted depends on the space available on February 1.

Visit the Office of International Support Services for information about international admissions.

Readmits

Students who withdraw from KU for medical or compassionate withdrawal reasons as outlined by the registrar’s office and who have been unenrolled for less than a year will be readmitted and guaranteed a spot in their studio sequence. All students who have been unenrolled from KU for more than a semester must still submit an application for readmission. Students who are readmitted after no more than 2 years of being unenrolled at KU may enroll in their original career requirement term and maintain the same general education requirements as their previous enrollment. Students who are readmitted after 2 or more years of being unenrolled at KU may be required to update their career requirement term in line with KU’s new Core 34 general education requirements, which went into effect Fall 2024. Readmitted students in architecture may petition for a course substitution if a course they took previously is no longer a requirement for their degree plan. 

Master of Architecture Degree Requirements

Credit hours in the 5-year Master of Architecture curriculum are distributed as follows:

Students must maintain a 2.0 grade-point average to remain in good standing and to graduate.

Students are required to complete at least 30 credit hours at the graduate level (fifth year), based on the NAAB Accreditation requirements. Up to six credits of Graduate Level Architecture electives (600+) can be taken during the Spring semester of 4th year to count towards Graduate Credits.

The core of the curriculum is a sequence of design studios composing approximately 1/3 of the total degree requirements. Students complete sequences in graphics, structures, building construction, environmental technology, and architectural history and theory, and meet a study abroad requirement. Course work in site planning, urban design, and professional practice completes the professional content.

In addition to professional courses, students are expected to complete coursework in a variety of academic disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of architecture. These general education requirements include course work in mathematics, physics, English, communication, humanities and Western civilization, fine arts, and the natural and social sciences.

In the final year of the program, students participate in a chosen year-long professional option which may include an internship. Options are defined by faculty strengths and the emerging needs of the profession. They offer students the opportunity to focus on a particular area of interest that is one of the professional choices or specializations available after graduation. 

• Students in the Designbuild option participate in our national award-winning Studio 804, where they collaboratively design and construct a sustainable building.
• Students in the Health and Wellness option are expected to complete a 7-month professional work experience in an architectural firm engaged in design for health followed by an advanced capstone studio with an emphasis on investigations into healthy and sustainable environments and a focus on problem-solving, research, and design synthesis.
• Globalized Practice in Asia or Paris introduces students to the increasingly multinational nature of architectural practice; Paris Academic Internship program students will participate in a studio abroad for one semester and followed by being placed in an internship abroad for the final semester.
• Professional Practice Internship in Sports and Leisure or General Practice:  offers opportunity for a 7-Month Sports & Leisure professional internship experience, and an advanced studio focused on research and design concepts for large-scale architectural projects including stadiums, convention centers, entertainment venues, and other recreational facilities.
• Professional Practice Internship in Urban Design: offers opportunity for a 7-month Urban Design professional internship experience will focus on the development of a research topic related to urban design, and an advanced studio centered upon the research and development of transformational urban design projects, including district framework strategies, infrastructure and public realm proposals. Projects will emphasize site research and analysis; urban equity and access; public space programming; ecological resiliency; architectural concepts and emergent technology.
• Co-Op programs based on internships
• Social Entrepreneurship and Participatory Design: provides advanced studios with an emphasis on engaging community stakeholders and the general public, with a focus on problem-setting, discovery, and analysis. These studios will focus on the development of a research topic in areas such as global issues, public interest, and social entrepreneurship.

Requirements and Policies

Study Abroad Requirement

Students must fulfill a 6-credit-hour study abroad requirement by participating in eligible study abroad programs and enrolling in ARCH 690 (6 hours). 

1. Participation in any school-directed short-term study abroad program, usually in the summer or winter (but including any during regular semesters), meets the requirement.

2. Participation in any of the school’s academic-year or semester study abroad programs in Germany, England, Denmark, Australia, and Spain automatically fulfills the study abroad requirement; however, to fulfill the total degree requirements, students must complete an additional 6 hours of electives.

3. Participation in other university-sponsored study abroad programs or programs at other college-level institutions approved by KU for transfer credit might meet the requirement. But the student's proposal requires approval by the Architecture Chair.

4. International students, for whom enrollment in the school is already a study abroad experience, automatically meet the requirement; however, to fulfill the total degree requirements, they may need to complete an additional 6 hours of electives.

All students are encouraged to meet with their professional advisor by the end of the second year to begin planning to fulfill the study abroad requirement.

Portfolio Requirement

All students must maintain a record of work as they proceed through the program. This must be in the form of a portfolio and must include examples of at least one major project from each semester of the design sequence, starting with the foundation studios in the first year. It is recommended that all major projects be included in the portfolio as well as selected examples of work from support and elective courses such as building technology, construction documents, and photography. 

Studio Grading Policy

Work evaluated as “satisfactory” is graded C. Work evaluated as “more than satisfactory” is graded B. Work evaluated as “exceptional” is graded A. Work evaluated as “less than satisfactory” is graded D. Work evaluated as “failing” is graded F. Information on the studio grade appeal procedure is available in the Dean's Office.

If a student receives a grade of D in a design studio in any semester, he or she is placed on notice by the school, regardless of the overall grade-point average. To be removed from this status, the student must perform satisfactory work in the next semester of design. If in any subsequent semester the student receives another grade of D, he or she must repeat that studio before advancing in the sequence. If the student receives a grade of D in 2 consecutive studios, he or she must repeat the entire design year in which the first D was given.

Computer Requirement

All students in the Master of Architecture program must supply a computer for digitally based architectural studios. Students must follow a checklist of minimum hardware- and software- requirements when they purchase a computer. The specifications for architectural studio computing are on the school’s website.

Substitution of Courses

A student who wishes to select certain courses not in the prescribed curriculum may petition through the Chair. 

Credit for ROTC Courses

Students may enter the Reserve Officers Training Corps to train for commissions as regular or reserve officers. An allowance of 6 hours of military science, aerospace studies, or naval science may be substituted for free electives in the M.Arch. program. A student who enters one of the ROTC programs but discontinues military training and does not receive a commission may not apply credits for ROTC courses toward a degree in architecture. If a student does not receive a commission because of circumstances beyond his or her control (such as a medical discharge), he or she may use ROTC credits as part of the requirements for the degree as indicated above.

Activity Courses

The School of Architecture and Design does not accept physical education (HSES) activity courses for fulfilling graduation requirements.

Career Opportunities

The M.Arch. is a NAAB accredited professional degree. The following options are open to students after they complete it:

1. Graduates may seek to refine and augment their professional capabilities through experience in an office under a licensed architect. Such experience qualifies the graduate for admission to the appropriate examination for licensing and practice as an architect or may precede admission to graduate school. Increasingly, graduates are finding alternative career options, including work in urban design, design-build firms, interior design, historic preservation, and many others.
2. Qualified students may pursue graduate study in Ph.D. in architecture programs or in areas related to architecture and environmental design, such as urban planning, law, psychology, social welfare, public administration, or business.

Prescribed Curriculum

Master of Architecture (5-year)

A total of 172 credit hours is required. Substitutions in the prescribed curriculum may be made only by petition to the department.

Students are in Undergraduate Status for enrollment in the first 4 years and begin Graduate Status enrollment in the final year of this program.

NOTE:  Students admitted to the Master of Architecture degree prior to 2023 will follow the curriculum in place at the time of their admission (see the KU Archived Academic Catalogs). 

1. Limit of 75 transfer credits used from Community Colleges.
2. HSES Activity courses do not count for this degree plan.
3. Studios are strictly sequenced and should be taken in the listed semester. Only 509 can be taken at either Fall or Spring of the third year. KU Core Goal courses outside Architecture and Undergraduate level ARCH Elective can be taken out of sequence. Consult an advisor prior to enrollment each semester to ensure proper course sequencing and fulfillment of requirements.
4. Study Abroad is a required component of the M.Arch Degree and can be completed within undergraduate (Arch 590) or graduate level (Arch 790). Students can study abroad as soon as the Winter Break of their second year. Consult your major's check sheet and your advisor if considering internships, study abroad, etc.
5. Students should plan to complete all KU Core courses by the summer after 4th-year.
6. The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies may be awarded to students who fulfill the requirements of all 136 credits of the first four years' courses as outlined in the degree plan, meet all KU Core course requirement, and apply after completing the Spring semester of Year 4.
7. Students will become graduate status after they complete the Year 4 of study. Students are required to take a minimum of 36 Graduate Credits. At least 18 credits out of the 36 Graduate Credits need to be at 700 level and above. Up to six credits of Graduate Level Architecture courses (electives or otherwise) can be taken during the Spring semester of 4th year to count towards Graduate Credits. These 6 credits will be waived from 5th-year requirement.

Notes:

*  - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.

**  - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.

***  - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.