Architecture

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

The department offers an accredited professional Master of Architecture (MArch), a post-professional Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD), Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Master of Architecture (MArch)

The Master of Architecture program is designed to provide 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. The placement into the program (two year or three year) will be decided by the Master of Architecture Committee upon reviewing the application.

Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD) 

STUDIO ONE is a one-year post-professional design studio intended for those who have a professional (Bachelor or Master of Architecture) degree, and who wish to continue to explore current design issues in a stimulating, rigorous, and experimental studio setting. Students who complete the program will receive a non-accredited Master of Advanced Architectural Design degree. The two-semester studio course is at the core of the program and is integrated with required seminars, lectures, and workshops in design theory, history, urbanism, digital applications, and building technology.

Master of Science (MS)

This researched-based, non-professional degree program offers the opportunity for advanced research in specialized areas within the increasingly complex subfields within architecture, preparing students for a range of careers. The degree emphasizes coursework and supervised independent research in one of the following areas of study: Building Science, Technology and Sustainability or History, Theory and Society. The undergraduate degrees of our entering M.S. students are diverse, including architecture, history, engineering, environmental sciences, or a range of other disciplines related to the built environment.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This advanced research-based degree prepares students with outstanding academic records for careers in teaching and scholarship in architecture and its related areas, or in roles in government or private companies and organizations that require specialization and experience in research. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach of both depth and breadth as part of the student’s formal coursework and original research. The student defines their specialty (the basis for the dissertation), in one of the following areas of study: Building Science, Technology and Sustainability or History, Theory and Society.

Visit Department Website

Admissions

Admission to the Department

For specific admission requirements and deadlines for Architecture programs MArch, MAAD, MS and PhD, please go to the department website: http://ced.berkeley.edu/admissions/graduate/programs-deadlines/

Admission to the University

Applying for Graduate Admission

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Graduate Division hosts a complete list of graduate academic programs, departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application and steps to take to apply can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

  2. A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

  3. Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. in Architecture is a research degree appropriate for those seeking careers in teaching and scholarship in architecture and its related areas, or in roles in government or professional consultation that require depth in specialization and experience in research. Berkeley’s Ph.D. program in architecture is interdisciplinary in outlook, reaching into the various disciplines related to architecture and incorporating substantial knowledge from outside fields. Students admitted to this program carry out a program of advanced study and research, both on the basis of formal class work and of individual investigation. Work centers on related fields of study, the major field (the basis for the dissertation), and one-to-two minor fields, at least one of which must be from a discipline outside architecture, a minimum of 48 units, two-year academic residency, passing the qualifying exam and submission of a dissertation.

Curriculum: 48 Units

Methods Course, depending on concentration:
Building Science, Technology & Sustainability - Arch 241, 3 units
History, Theory & Society - Arch 281, 4 units
Inside Field (Speciality):
Minimum of 3 courses per approved individualized study in one of the concentrations (3-4 unit graduate classes for a letter grade)
Outside Field(s) Two Options:
One outside field (not in department), minimum four courses (3-4 unit graduate classes for a letter grade)
Two outside fields, minimum two courses each (for students without a degree in Architecture, one must be within the Department. Considered Architectural Breadth.) BSTS: the courses must be taken outside their speciality and may come from other Architecture program areas such as History, Theory or Society. HTS: the courses must be offered by instructors other than those with whom the student has taken coursework for the Inside Field. (3-4 unit graduate classes for a letter grade)
Language (applies only to students in History, Theory & Society): one language, high proficiency or two languages, low proficiency
Written qualifying examination, followed by an oral qualifying examination
Dissertation submission with approval of the dissertation committee

Master's Degree Requirements (MS)

Curriculum: 36 Units

The last two decades have seen rapid growth in the complexity of buildings and the development of specialized knowledge for their design and operation. The building profession now requires a wider range of expertise in design, operation, and management than was required in the past, and new types of professional specialists have emerged to provide this expertise. Often these experts are educated outside of traditional architectural programs, frequently through studies in other disciplines.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Architecture is an academic, nonprofessional degree program that offers the opportunity for advanced research in the ever-broadening and increasingly complex subfields within architecture. Some students enter with a degree in architecture, or occasionally while here, will get an additional Master of Architecture degree (the professional degree accredited for the practice of architecture).  But neither is required, and the undergraduate degrees of our entering M.S. students are diverse.

The following list applies to both concentrations.

Methods Course, depending on concentration:
Building Science, Technology & Sustainability - Arch 241, 3 units
History, Theory & Society - Arch 281, 4 units
Inside Field (Speciality)
Minimum of three courses per approved individualized study in one of the concentrations (3-4 unit graduate classes for a letter grade)
Architecture Breadth Area: for those without an architecture degree
Minimum two courses within the department but from faculty members different than those with whom the student had taken courses for the Inside Field (3-4 unit graduate classes for a letter grade)
Thesis submission
Arch 299 (independent study) course sponsored by your thesis chair

Master's Degree Requirements

Curriculum

Requirements for One-Year Master of Advanced Architectural Design: 24 Units 

Post-professional degree students with a professional undergraduate Architecture degree.

ARCH 205AStudio One, Fall5
ARCH 205BStudio One, Spring5
Required Seminar in Humanities - 3 units
Required Seminar in Technology - 3 units

Requirements for the Two-Year Master of Architecture: 48 Units

Students with a pre-professional BA or BS in Architecture. Placement will be determined by the Master of Architecture Committee.

ARCH 201Architecture & Urbanism Design Studio6
ARCH 202Graduate Option Studio5
ARCH 203Integrated Design Studio6
ARCH 204AThesis Seminar3
ARCH 204BThesis Studio5
ARCH 207BArchitecture Research Colloquium1
ARCH 207CProfessional Practice Colloquium1
ARCH 207DThe Cultures of Practice *3
ARCH 230Advanced Architectural Design Theory and Criticism *3
ARCH 240Advanced Study of Energy and Environment *3
ARCH 250Introduction to Structures *3
ARCH 260Introduction to Construction, Graduate Level *3
ARCH 270History of Modern Architecture *3
Courses marked * may possibly be waived based on previous coursework. To be considered for a waiver, submit waiver form, equivalent undergraduate course description and syllabus, and transcript before the first semester. If a required course is waived, an advanced course in the same area will need to be taken.

Requirements for the Three-Year Master of Architecture: 72 Units

Students without a pre-professional BA or BS in Architecture. Placement will be determined by the Master of Architecture Committee.

ARCH 200AIntroduction to Architecture Studio 15
ARCH 200BIntroduction to Architecture Studio 25
ARCH 200CRepresentational Practice in Architectural Design3
ARCH 200DRepresentational Practice in Architectural Design II2
ARCH 201Architecture & Urbanism Design Studio6
ARCH 202Graduate Option Studio5
ARCH 203Integrated Design Studio6
ARCH 204AThesis Seminar3
ARCH 204BThesis Studio5
ARCH 207AArchitecture Lectures Colloquium1
ARCH 207BArchitecture Research Colloquium1
ARCH 207CProfessional Practice Colloquium1
ARCH 207DThe Cultures of Practice *3
ARCH 230Advanced Architectural Design Theory and Criticism *3
ARCH 240Advanced Study of Energy and Environment *3
ARCH 250Introduction to Structures *3
ARCH 260Introduction to Construction, Graduate Level *3
ARCH 270History of Modern Architecture3
Courses marked * may possibly be waived based on previous coursework. To be considered for a waiver, submit a waiver form, equivalent undergraduate course description and syllabus, and transcript before the first semester. If the required course is waived, an advanced course in the same area will need to be taken.

Courses

Architecture

Contact Information

Department of Architecture

232 Bauer Wurster Hall

Phone: 510-642-4942

archgrad@berkeley.edu

Visit Department Website

Chair

Lisa Iwamoto

232 Bauer Wurster Hall

Phone: 510 642-4942

archchair@berkeley.edu

GSAO

TBD

232 Bauer Wurster Hall

Phone: 510 642-5577

archgrad@berkeley.edu

Back to Top