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Master of Architecture (M.Arch)

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UC Berkeley's excellence as a research institution is indisputable, and the Berkeley Master of Architecture contributes to this stellar international reputation.

Three frameworks underpin the Berkeley M.Arch.:

  • An emerging position in the application of digital-design media.
  • Studios and seminars that embrace an international perspective.
  • A continued commitment to our emphasis on design and ecology.

These frameworks, together with our tradition of outstanding scholarship in architectural history and theory, offer new directions for architectural education that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Our faculty are leaders in the fields of design, theory, and building technologies, and are joined each year by endowed professors who teach design studios related to their professional interests. A sampling of their research is described in the Center for Environmental Design Research Projects list.

Fall 2022 Information Sessions
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The Program

The M.Arch. program provides students seeking their first accredited professional degree with a comprehensive and challenging education leading to the practice of architecture. Graduate students have the flexibility to choose a variety of paths within a two-to-three-year rigorous program, depending upon previous education and experience. The department makes no restriction as to the field of undergraduate preparation. However, the length of the required residence period, the number of required semester course units, and the specific list of required courses may vary depending upon undergraduate major, professional and other work experience, and previous graduate study, if any.

Undergraduate DegreeProgramRequired UnitsMaximum Elective Units
Bachelor of Architecture (five-year professional) degreeStudio One (one-year post-professional program). Students who complete the program will receive a Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD) degree beginning with the class of 2020-2021.2416
Four-year non-professional degree with a major in architecture. This advanced standing is at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.M.Arch Program with Advanced Standing (two-year professional program)4825
B.A. or B.S. degree in any fieldM.Arch Program (three-year professional program)7212

M.Arch

The three-year Master of Architecture program is designed for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a field other than architecture. The basic course leading to the Master of Architecture degree takes three academic years and requires the completion of at least 72 units in six semesters of enrollment. Design is the core of the basic curriculum, and students enroll in an architectural design studio each semester.

During the final year, M.Arch students work on developing an individual thesis. This also includes a required seminar component in the fall followed by a spring studio.

M.Arch with Advanced Standing

The opportunity to complete the Master of Architecture program with Advanced Standing in two years is granted to students with an exceptional undergraduate record in a focused pre-professional degree, including the B.A. or B.S. with a major in architecture. The advanced standing is at the discretion of the admissions committee, based on both studio work and academic achievement.

Special one-year Master of Advanced Architectural Design programs are available to persons holding the five-year, professional undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Architecture, from an accredited school, or comparable five-year degrees from foreign universities and technical institutes.

Each student’s undergraduate curriculum will be compared against the basic curriculum of the Master of Architecture program. Students who have completed many of the required courses or their equivalents in their undergraduate program will have extensive options for elective units in their graduate curriculum.

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Application Requirements

  • Application Deadlines
  • Prerequisites
  • Application Materials
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Evaluation of Pre-Professional Degree

  • Admissions Criteria
  • Ranking System
  • Review Committee Members
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Tuition + Financial Support

  • Student Tuition, Fees, Charges, and Budgeting
  • 2020-21 Tuition and Fees
  • Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Appointments
  • Graduate Student Research (GSR) Appointments
  • Student Assistant Appointments
  • Graduate Fellowships
  • Other Types of Financial Aid
  • Reporting + FAFSA
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Accreditation/Licensure

In 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 U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Department of Architecture, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

  • M.Arch (non-pre-professional degree + 72 credits)
  • M.Arch (pre-professional degree (120 credits) + 48 graduate credits)

The most recent NAAB accreditation visit for all programs was 2016.
Next accreditation visit: 2024

For licensing in California, our 2- and 3-year, NAAB-accredited Masters of Architecture degree has an experiential equivalent of 5 years (maximum credits allowed). Candidates eligible as of January 1, 2005 or after are subject to IDP/IAP requirements. Please see the California Architects Board website for more information about experience equivalents.

Additional Accreditation Information

FAQ

Eligibility

  • Am I eligible for the M.Arch program?
  • Can I transfer from another Masters program?
  • Am I eligible for the M.Arch Program with advanced standing (two-year professional program)?

Application

  • What should my statement of purpose include?
  • What should my personal history statement include?
  • What are the requirements for the portfolio?
  • What should I include in my portfolio?
  • Is the GRE required?
  • I am an international student. What standardized test do I need to take?
  • Did you receive my TOEFL/IELTS scores?
  • I have a question about my visa.

Program Details

  • Which programs are STEM Designated?
  • Is the Masters of Advanced Architectural Design Program accredited?
  • How many students are typically accepted into the programs?
  • Which program is best suited for me?

Financial Aid

  • What types of funding are available for students?
  • Where can I obtain more information on tuition and fees?

Careers + Internship Information

  • Where can I find information about career opportunities and internships?
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If you have any additional questions, please email our graduate advisors at archgrad@berkeley.edu. Feel free to reach out to us!

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