MS in Architecture at California Polytechnic State University
The Architecture Department in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design has been
offering graduate programs at the Master degree level since 1972.
The M.S. Arch. degree is a minimum one-year (individual students may take 18-24 months)
post-professional degree with a focus on advanced areas of specialization within the broader field
of Architecture and Environmental Design. It prepares graduates for:
• Entry into the design and construction professions at levels involving greater
responsibility and/or requiring advanced knowledge in a particular domain.
• Teaching positions requiring an area of specialization within the disciplines of
architecture, construction, architectural engineering and landscape architecture.
• Entry into the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry as a
consultant or specialist, serving in the capacity of innovator and facilitator to connect
the design disciplines with ancillary industry sectors. Please note that the M.S.Arch.
program is not a first professional degree for architectural licensing preparation, but
rather a research degree for purposes of specialization.
• Follow-on research and studies at the doctoral level.
• Professional renewal and mid-career changes to take advantage of new opportunities
in emerging industrial and professional domains.
By virtue of the polytechnic nature of the University, the areas of specialization that can be
supported in the M.S. Arch. program are largely technical. Three special study areas have been
consolidated into strong offerings over the past twelve years: Computer-Aided Design,
Architectural Science, and Facilities Management.
Each M.S. Arch. student selects a Thesis Committee of at least three professors. While the
committee chair must be a faculty member in the Architecture Department, most committees
include at least one faculty member from another department or an external professional. For
example, students undertaking the Computer-Aided Design special study area often have one
faculty member from the Computer Science Department on their Thesis Committee. The Thesis
Committee advises the student on all aspects of the selected research study. The Graduate
Coordinator advises all of the M.S. Arch. students on matters pertaining to progression through
the degree.
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