Master of Architecture (MArch)
-
ARCH
- About Architecture
-
Degrees + Admissions
- Admissions
- Bachelor of Arts
- Minor in Environmental Design and Urbanism in Developing Countries
- Minor in the History of the Built Environment
- Minor in Social and Cultural Factors in Environmental Design
- Minor in Sustainable Design
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)
- Master of Science
- Ph.D.
- Concurrent Programs
- Courses
- People
- Gallery
- Advising
-
ARCH
- About Architecture
-
Degrees + Admissions
- Admissions
- Bachelor of Arts
- Minor in Environmental Design and Urbanism in Developing Countries
- Minor in the History of the Built Environment
- Minor in Social and Cultural Factors in Environmental Design
- Minor in Sustainable Design
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
- Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)
- Master of Science
- Ph.D.
- Concurrent Programs
- Courses
- People
- Gallery
- Advising
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 MArch:
- 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.
The Program
The MArch 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 Degree | Program | Required Units | Minimum Elective Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Architecture (five-year professional) degree | MAAD (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. | 24 | 14 |
| Four-year non-professional degree with a major in architecture. This advanced standing is at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. | MArch Program with Advanced Standing (two-year professional program) | 48 | 5 |
| BA or BS degree in any field | MArch Program (three-year professional program) | 72 | 13 |
MArch
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, MArch students work on developing an individual thesis. This also includes a required seminar component in the fall followed by a spring studio.
MArch 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 BA or BS 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.
Application Requirements
- Application Deadlines
- Prerequisites
- Application Materials
The application cycle for the Master of Architecture program opens on September 15. Admission is for the fall semester of the following year. We do not accept spring-semester admissions. Please see Graduate Admissions for application deadlines and procedures.
The deadline to submit an application for the Fall 2023 admission cycle is January 5, 2024, at 7 p.m. PST.
UPCOMING ADMISSIONS OFFICE HOURS
Please join us to learn more about the MArch program. (All times Pacific.)
November 29, 2023, 9-10 a.m.
Zoom link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/92489046287?pwd=OVVRUjY4WDNYY3JaUkpnbzdMRE1UZz09
Meeting ID: 924 8904 6287
Passcode: 101821
December 12, 2023, 1–2 p.m.
Zoom link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/93184894120?pwd=cnMzWDdaenFSaE9ock1sbDh1a3hWUT09
Meeting ID: 931 8489 4120
Passcode: 223480
- Bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution
- Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better (on a 4-point scale) in the last two years of undergraduate study (also known as your advanced G.P.A.)
- Please calculate your advanced G.P.A.
- Note that we do not require an uploaded GPA calculation worksheet.
- For those applicants whose undergraduate university does NOT use a 4-point scale, the calculation of an advanced GPA is NOT required.
- If this applies to your previous institution(s), please enter “N/A” in the GPA section.
- For those without an undergraduate degree in Architecture: completion of college-level or equivalent calculus and introductory physics, including mechanics (by the time of admission NOT at the time of application)
- Must pass course with a grade of at least C minus
- For those who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus or Physics in high school, the following scores will satisfy the prerequisites: 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam or at least a 3 on the AP Calculus BC exam; at least a 3 on the AP Physics B exam
- Evidence of English Language Proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL) (for applicants from countries in which the official language is not English)
- Deadline to complete exam November 30
Application materials are provided on the Graduate Admissions page.
All materials are to be submitted by the application deadline
Evaluation of Pre-Professional Degree
- Admissions Criteria
- Ranking System
- Review Committee Members
Applicants to the Master of Architecture degrees are evaluated in three main areas:
1. Statement and Letters (Evaluate applications in relation to: Diverse experiences, commitment to the discipline, potential for leadership)
2. Academic Record (Evaluate applications in relation to: Curricular choices, scholastic achievement, potential to succeed in required coursework)
3. Portfolio* (Evaluate application in relation to: Spatial sensibility, graphic clarity and creativity, potential as a designer) Relative weight given to the criteria: Each of the three is weighted equally. Approximate schedule of the review cycle: Deadline for submission for applications: Early January First phase review: End of January Second phase review: End of February Final Decisions: Early March All decisions to Graduate Division by March 15
*The portfolio provides you the opportunity to show your creative ability. It need not necessarily be all architecture-related. In fact, if you have no experience in this area you would be wise to confine the examples to your best work, regardless of the media. The best results will emerge if you think of your exhibit in its entirety as a design project. The reviewers hope to see your projects displayed in a well-thought-out format, carefully executed. Most importantly, leave yourself plenty of time to think about and develop your creative work.
First Phase: The M.Arch Admissions Committee members each review a portion of the applicant pool using the criteria listed above and ranking them from 1(weak) to 5(strong) and make a recommendation to either admit/review/deny. The cumulative scores are the basis of a ranking and about a third of the highest ranked applicants move on to the next phase where they are reviewed by additional members of the faculty.
Second Phase: The applicants who move forward are then reviewed by two faculty reviewers using the same criteria and ranking method as above. Their cumulative scores create a numerical ranking which produce the final ranked list from which the M. Arch Admissions Committee selects the new students.
Third Phase: The M.Arch Admissions Committee reviews the top half of the list to fill the department spaces assigned by the Graduate Division. The Committee uses the numbers, recommendations, and written comments from faculty reviewers. Again, the committee reviews each applicant in the three areas above and in relation to all the top ranked applicants to make the final admission decisions. The committee also considers the background and strengths that each individual can contribute to their entering class. This process allows students with varied backgrounds and emphasis into the program to support and maintain the different areas of interests we provide.
For Graduate Division admissions ranking purposes, applicants will ultimately be in either: Group A: 1-A; 2-A; or 3-A which signifies Program and Admit, or Group D: 1-D; 2-D; or 3-D which signifies Program and Deny
The Admissions Committee is composed of members of the M.Arch Committee and includes the Chair of Graduate Advisors. It is a standing committee of approximately four to five members appointed by the Chair of the Department.
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
For a complete breakdown of student tuition, fees, and charges please visit the Office of the Registrar’s website: Graduate Professional – College of Environmental Design.
These figures may not be final; actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California or, as authorized, by the President of the University of California. Accordingly, final approved levels and charges may differ from the amounts shown.
Note there is a projected Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition (PDST) increase over the next 5 years (3.5%); however, the projected increase has not yet been approved by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). PDST is not covered by tuition remission associated with academic student employment (ASE) as a GSI, GSR, Reader or Tutor and departments are not able to provide aid to cover the PDST for all students each semester.
For an estimated Graduate Student Budget, which includes tuition/fees, books/supplies, room/board, personal costs, transportation and health insurance, please visit the Berkeley Financial Aid & Scholarships website: Cost of Attendance: Graduate Student Budget.
As noted by the Office of Register Fee Schedule (note: the 2021-22 Fee Schedule will be updated in late July 2021
In State Residents, per full-time academic year 1 $27,563.50
In State Residents, per full-time academic year 2 $27,468.50
TOTAL: IN STATE RESIDENTS, FULL-TIME, 2 YEARS $55,032.00
Out of State Residents, per full-time academic year 1 $39,808.50
Out of State Residents, per full-time academic year 2 $39,713.50
TOTAL: OUT OF STATE RESIDENTS, FULL-TIME, 2 YEARS
Architecture offers around twenty-five TA appointments per semester in undergraduate and graduate level courses. These appointments are made at 25% time for a full five months and typically include a partial fee remission in addition to a monthly salary. Applications are announced in mid-semester for the following semester, and students in CED apply via a Department Google Form. Qualified candidates must acquaint themselves with UC policies on GSI appointments.
The GSI Teaching and Resource Center provides more information on required courses, the first time GSI conference, and tracks eligibility.
For GSI appointments in the Department of Architecture, Ph.D. students receive priority appointments in the area they are researching. M.Arch students will receive priority appointments with primarily Studio courses. First semester M.Arch students are typically not hired as GSIs.
Faculty hire GSRs based on available research funding throughout the year. GSR appointments may be short term or up to a year in length, and may or may not include a fee remission. Salary is based on the complexity of assigned work, and skill-set of the student. As faculty grants are approved at various times during the year, we encourage students to contact faculty directly and to pay attention to email notices of new GSR appointments. More information on GSR appointments can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Some number of Student Assistant appointments are available during the academic year for the department. Students who have loans may convert part of their loans to Federal Work-Study thus reducing their loans by working.
Salaries will vary depending on complexity of work assigned and skill-set required. Some Student Assistant appointments may also be short term and do not offer a fee remission.
The Department of Architecture and UC Berkeley offer multiple types of graduate fellowships:
- Some fellowships are highly competitive and granted only to incoming PhD students. Ph.D. funding is made on a case-by-case basis and involves multi-year funding packages which include a combination of teaching appts and departmental fellowships.
- Some fellowships are awarded to incoming M.Arch students by The Department of Architecture based on merit, need, and/or diversity.
- Many students also successfully apply for external fellowships and grants.
- M.Arch Student awards range from the UC Graduate Opportunity Award (GOP) targeted specifically towards diversity applicants, to departmental awards such as Block Grants, PDST awards, named awards and other departmental fellowships.
- Incoming M.Arch Students awards are primarily based on merit, with a select few based on diversity (GOP). The departemental awards cover some part of tuition or fees for one or two semesters in the first year. Award levels vary, and are typically provided for just the first year of study.
We recognize the cost of graduate education and the need for many students to seek out other types of aid during their studies, including obtaining loans. The UC Berkeley Financial Aid office works with students who need to learn of additional forms of funding
International students are eligible for most Department of Architecture and UC fellowships; however they have special requirements for obtaining visa and entry to the U.S. and must show proof of funding for a minimum of one year. The Berkeley International Office offers comprehensive services to international students on obtaining visas, financial aid, housing etc.
Incoming international students MUST ATTEND the International Graduate Students Orientation!
The Berkeley International Office calendar lists all events and webinars.
All U.S. citizens and residents who are in receipt of any type of financial aid or fellowships MUST file the FAFSA.
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.
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)?
The following are prerequisites for the M.Arch Program:
- REQUIRED Bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution
- REQUIRED Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better (on a 4-point scale) in the last two years of undergraduate study (also known as your advanced G.P.A.)
- Please calculate your GPA.
- Note that we do not require an uploaded GPA calculation worksheet.
- For those applicants whose undergraduate university does NOT use a 4-point scale, the calculation of an advanced GPA is NOT required. If this applies to your previous institution(s), please enter “N/A” in the GPA section.
- REQUIRED For those applying without an Architecture degree: completion of college-level or equivalent calculus and introductory physics, including mechanics (by the time of admission); Must pass course with a grade of at least C minus.
For those who have taken Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus or Physics in high school, the following scores will satisfy the prerequisites: 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam or at least a 3 on the AP Calculus BC exam; at least a 3 on the AP Physics B exam.
Physics + Calculus Requirements
- The requirement would need to be satisfied prior to the start of the Fall semester (August 2022).
- You may take a course from any accredited university or community college.
Physics courses must include topics of mechanics. If you are unsure you may send your syllabi via email to check. - If you plan to take the course at a California Community College, please consult assist.org in order to verify the course will satisfy the requirement.
- Third party vendor courses are not accepted (straighterline, chegg, coursera, etc).
- AP credit is accepted with an exam score of 4 or higher.
Official policy is that we are unable to accept transfer units for our M.Arch program. You may join our program as a new student however you would be required to complete the full number of units required for the program. Note Regarding Transferral of Units: Accepted students may apply to waive courses already taken in Undergraduate program. Waived courses must be replaced with advanced/alternative level of the same course. For example: if a student waives Introduction to structures, they must enroll in advanced structures.
Advanced standing is awarded at the discretion of the admissions committee during the time of application review. The admissions committee will determine advanced standing individually for each student during the admissions review. Please note that there is only one application for the M.Arch 2 and 3 year programs.
Application
- What should my statement of purpose include?
- What should my personal history statement include?
- What are the requirements for my 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.
Application Essay Part 1 (500 words). Write a short essay that responds to the following questions. What do you want to contribute to the field of architecture during your time at Berkeley and after? How will Berkeley contribute to these aspirations?
CONCURRENT APPLICANTS ONLY: Please include this essay in addition to the prompt listed in the Graduate Admissions section.
Application Essay Part 2 (500 words). Choose one of the following questions below to share more thoughts.
- What is at stake for the future of architecture?
- For whom do you want to design and why?
- What does your application not say about you?
CONCURRENT APPLICANTS ONLY: Please include this essay in addition to the prompt listed in the Graduate Admissions page.
Your portfolio may contain up to 10 MB of design content. The number of pages and projects is up to the applicant. Any dimensions may be used for the pages, but keep in mind that the portfolio will be viewed on a computer screen.
- Clearly indicate any collaborative/team projects, and describe your role in their production. Only include collaborative projects in which you played a significant role. Any drawings, models, or photographs included in the submitted portfolio must be exclusively your work or demonstrate your significant contribution to the project.
- Specify any projects made with AI (Artificial Intelligence) or similar production tools and cite all software, prompts, and processes. Clearly explain your role in the production of the work.
- Label each project as "academic" or "professional." Explicitly describe your role in each project. Any drawings, models, or photographs included in the submitted portfolio must be exclusively your contribution.
- Any drawings, diagrams, texts, or other intellectual content borrowed from others must be credited.
The digital portfolio should contain recent, high-quality work that showcases creative ability and design sensibility. It may contain a diverse range of work and will be judged on both content and overall design. Work included in the portfolio should primarily be cohesive projects that clearly show a capacity for design thinking, which includes the ability to see an idea through from conception to final design. Any material that is not entirely the applicant's own work must be clearly identified.
Applicants with prior experience in architecture should be sure to clearly demonstrate understanding of architectural conventions and proficiency in the softwares used by including a comprehensive set of drawings including, but not limited to, two-dimensional orthographic drawings such as plans, sections, and elevations, and three-dimensional representations such as axonometrics and obliques. Renderings and other media formats are also encouraged, but the absence of architectural drawings will be taken into account when the admissions committee determines if an applicant will be evaluated for advanced standing (2 year MArch).
Applicants without academic or professional training in architecture may submit work that shows other evidence of creativity (studio art, construction/renovation, furniture design, etc.) and clearly demonstrates interest in the proposed subject field.
The reviewers hope to see your projects displayed in a well-thought-out format, carefully executed, so think of the composition of the portfolio as another design project that will be taken into consideration.
The GRE is not required.
Applicants from countries where English is not the official language must submit official evidence of English language proficiency. For the English language proficiency requirement you have the option between two tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). You can find more information about an exemption on the Berkeley Graduate Division website.
Once your application is submitted, you may check the status of your scores on your online application status page.
For questions about your visa documents, contact the Berkeley International Office at internationaloffice@berkeley.edu or visit their website.
Program Details
- Which programs are STEM Designated?
- How many students are typically accepted into the programs?
- Which program is best suited for me?
- What Is the MArch Waiver and Substitution Process?
The following programs are STEM Designated:
MAAD (one-year post-professional Master of Advanced Architectural Design)
M.Arch Program with Advanced Standing (two-year professional program)
M.Arch Program (three-year professional program)
Concurrent Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture
Concurrent Master of Architecture and Master of City and Regional Planning
Concurrent Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Engineering
On average, (30) Students for the MAAD program, (40) Students for M.Arch Program with Advanced Standing (two-year professional program), and (100) Students for M.Arch Program (three-year professional program) are accepted.
You can find more information on the Master of Architecture page about program paths depending upon previous education and experience.
Course substitutions for required courses are possible after consultation with a graduate student affairs officer and faculty advisor and after the successful completion and submission of the Course Substitution Application Form. Please note that students will need to replace substituted courses with an advanced level of the same course unless otherwise stated.
Option 2 (Advanced Standing)
Course substitution applications for Option 2 requirements must be submitted at the beginning of the fall semester of your first year of enrollment. If a required course is waived, you must still take an advanced course in the same area.
Option 2 Advanced Course Options
- If waived out of ARCH 230, students must take an advanced course in design theory and criticism, such as ARCH 238 Dialectic of Poetics and Technology, ARCH 239 Special Topics in Architecture Design Theory and Criticism.
- If waived out of ARCH 240, students must take an advanced course in energy and environment, such as ARCH 243 Natural Cooling, ARCH 249 Special Topics in the Physical Environment in Buildings.
- If waived out of ARCH 250, students must take an advanced course in structures, such as ARCH 259 Special Topics in Building Structures.
- If waived out of ARCH 260, students are required to take an advanced course, in construction, such as ARCH 269 Special Topics in Construction and Materials.
- If waived out of ARCH 270, students must take an advanced course in history, such as ARCH 279 Special Topics in Architectural History.
- If waived out of ARCH 207D, students are NOT required to take an advanced course in cultures of practice.
Option 3
Course substitution applications for Option 3 requirements must be submitted at the beginning of the fall semester of your first year of enrollment. If a required course is waived, you must still take a 3- to 4-unit advanced course in the same area with (with the exception of ARCH 207D).
Option 3 Advanced Course Options
- If waived out of ARCH 230, students must take an advanced course in design theory and criticism, such as ARCH 238 Dialectic of Poetics and Technology, ARCH 239 Special Topics in Architecture Design Theory and Criticism.
- If waived out of ARCH 240, students must take an advanced course in energy and environment, such as ARCH 249 Special Topics in Energy and Environment
- If waived out of ARCH 250, students must take an advanced course in structures, such as ARCH 259 Special Topics in Building Structures.
- If waived out of ARCH 260, students are required to take an advanced course, in construction, such as ARCH 269 Special Topics in Construction and Materials
- If waived out of ARCH 207D, students are NOT required to take an advanced course in cultures of practice.
Financial Aid
- What types of funding are available for students?
- Where can I obtain more information on tuition and fees?
M.Arch students fund their education in a variety of ways including the following:
Departmental Awards (no separate application required)
Graduate Fellowships
Prizes & Awards
Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) appointments
Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions
External fellowships and grants
You can find more information regarding funding higher on this page.
For up-to-date information about tuition and fees, please visit the UC Berkeley's Registrar’s Website: Fee Schedule - Graduate: Professional - College of Environmental Design. We also encourage you to view the Graduate Cost of Attendance and available financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
Careers + Internship Information
- Where can I find information about career opportunities and internships?
First, visit our career opportunities and internships page, which pulls directly from Handshake.
As a student in the program, you would have access to appointments with a CED career counselor. To book an appointment with a career counselor you would use Handshake. Handshake uses cutting edge technology to help you more easily connect with employers and source jobs, internships, event information, and On-Campus Recruiting (OCR) opportunities.
If you have any additional questions, please email our graduate advisors at archgrad@berkeley.edu. Feel free to reach out to us!