May 03, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Architecture, M.Arch.


College of The Arts  
Dept: School of Architecture and Community Design 

 


The major leading to the accredited Master of Architecture  degree is intended for students who have completed baccalaureate degrees in architecure or pre-professional majors.  Students with non-architectural majors or with a pre­ professional undergraduate major may also enter the program once pre-requisites are completed.. The comprehensive and rigorous curriculum prepares graduates for a full range of professional activities. The course of study emphasizes urban architecture and related topics to take advantage of its diverse metropolitan setting in Florida’s Tampa Bay.

The School of Architecture  and Community Design (SACD) is home to the Florida Center for Community Design and Research, is a non-profit public service institute  of the School of Architecture and Community Design. It was founded in 1986 to  assist the  citizens of Florida in the  creation  of more  livable and sustainable communities  through  applied community  design, multi-disciplinary research, and public education. The diverse staff includes architecture faculty and students,research scientists, and programmer analysts. In addition, the Center has affiliated faculty or graduate students from the Department of Anthropology, Biology, Fine Arts, Geography, and Social Work.

Accreditation and Licensure:

Applicants for architectural  licensure in Florida, and most jurisdictions in the United States, normally must have:

•      earned a professional degree from a School accredited by the National Architectural  Accrediting Board (NAAB)

•      completed the Intern Development Program (IDP)

•      passed the Architect Registration Examination (ARE)

According to the 2014 edition of the of the NAAB Conditions and Procedures: “ln the United States, most state registration boards require  a degree from  an accredited professional degree program  as a prerequisite  for licensure. The National Architectural  Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programs in architecture, recognized two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a  six-year, three-year, or two-year term  of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance  with established educational standards. Masters degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional  graduate  degree, which,  when  earned  sequentially,  comprise  an accredited  professional  education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.”

Major Research Areas:

Architecture  and Community Design

Admission Information

In order to enroll in the M.Arc. major, students must be accepted by the Office of Graduate Studies and the School of Architecture and Community Design. These are separate admission processes that involve different application forms, supportive materials, and deadlines. For more detailed information, students should see Graduate Admissions online and visit the SACD website.

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements, as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) requires

  • GRE Test Score
  • Written Statement of Intent
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Portfolio of creative work*
  • Completed 3 prerequisite courses: Physics, Calculus, and AutoCAD

*Students who do not have a body of creative work may enroll in 11 hours of studio to create the required portfolio

 

Foundational  Knowledge:  54 hours

Students who do not have a Bachelor’s in Architecture or a post-professional degree are required to complete the following pre-requisites prior to admission to the Master’s program.  Courses completed in undergraduate  pre­ professional or similar programs with a grade of B or above may apply with approval of admissions committee.   Students must have an overall minimum of 3.00 GPA for Foundational Knowledge courses.  Applicants must have completed courses in Physics, Calculus, and AutoCAD by the end of the first year in the Degree Program.

Design/Graphics- 39 hours

Technology -15 hours

Curriculum Requirements


Total Minimum hours- 39 (post-professional)

  • Core hours- 30 hours
  • Research- 4 hours
  • Project - 5 hours

Note: for licensure a total of 108 hours is required

Required Research Courses (4 hours)


Additional Courses (15 hours)


Students entering with a non-professional post-bachelor’s will need to take additional coursework to meet the 108 hour requirement. All courses must be at the 5000 or 6000 level. Non-ARC courses must have prior approval of the faculty.

Comprehensive Exam


Successful completion of a the master’s project serves in lieu of the comprehensive exam.

Master’s Project (5 hours)


Other Requirements


GPA of 3.00 in Design


In addition  to the state-wide  requirement that  students  maintain an overall grade point  average(GPA) of 3.00 or better, the School also requires that students maintain a GPA of 3.00 or better in all design courses.

Portfolios


The faculty requires the submission of portfolios of academic work by each student at two formal portfolio reviews. Students must pass these portfolio reviews in order to advance in the major. The portfolio policy can be found on the School’s website. Students are advised to prepare their design work for inclusion in their portfolios at the end of each design semester, instead of waiting until just before the portfolio due dates. Some expense, varying widely according to reproduction technique and/or ambition, should be anticipated.

Field Trips


During the  fall  and spring semesters, studio  students  take trips  with  their  faculty  to  various  cities, foreign  and domestic.  Students are responsible for the costs of these trips.