Architecture Degrees Online

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.

The course offers study organised to ensure:
an understanding of the key knowledge and skills needed for the specialism
a critical appreciation of the ideas, theories and debates that inform that area, and their application
the opportunity for personal development and specialisation through a dissertation or major project

The course encourages students to develop
the social, political, economic and professional context that guides building construction.
briefs and how to critically appraise them to ensure that the design response is appropriate to site and context, and for reasons such as sustainability and budget.
the regulatory requirements, including the needs of the disabled, health and safety legislation and building regulations and development control, that guide building construction.
an appropriate philosophical approach which reveals an understanding of theory in a cultural context.
building technologies, environmental design and construction methods in relation to: human well-being, the welfare of future generations, the natural world, the consideration of a sustainable environment.
the impact on design of legislation, codes of practices and health and safety both during the construction and occupation of a project.
the influences on the contemporary built environment of individual buildings, the design of cities, past and present societies and wider global issues.
the histories and theories of architecture and urban design, the history of ideas, and the related disciplines of art, cultural studies and landscape studies and its application in critical debate.
the inter-relationship between people, buildings and the environment and an understanding of the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and scale.
the relationship between design process, cultural context, theory, technology, and professional issues, and the design of environments

Skill Development
The ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

The ability to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional or equivalent level.

Teaching Methods
Teaching methods include: design studios, design based tutorials, seminars, lectures, design workshops, demonstrations, case studies. Contributions from visiting tutors who are practicing architects, designers or construction based professionals.

Course Content

This modular course is structured into design projects and subject groups in an increasing level of complexity.
Level Four (first year of full-time study) is a foundation which introduces students to the subjects of architectural history, design theory, environmental design and technology, communication skills and design practice.
Level Five explores and develops wider issues and emphasises design process and design through history, theory, technology and professional practice studies.
Level Six includes design projects which emphasise independent judgement to define issues and set and resolve problems with competence and conviction. It also includes the Special Study which is a major illustrated piece of research into an architectural subject. Architectural history, theory and technology studies inform the design studio.

The majority of learning is through project work and assignments, supported by lectures, seminars, independent study, visits and specialist events. A wide variety of study visits are offered in course programmes.

Study Commitment (Part-Time)
Attendance is on one day with one evening per week. Transfer to or from the full-time mode is possible at any point in the course by negotiation.

Assessment
There are assignments and course work in subjects. Project work is assessed by portfolio review both periodically and in summary at each year end.

Entry Requirements
An average tarriff point offer is likely to be 230, including a minimum of two subjects at A2 or equivalent.

Mature students without formal qualifications will be considered individually.

Applicants for this course will be invited to present a portfolio to demonstrate their design ability.

Careers
The course is fully recognised and accredited by The Landscape Institute. Landscape architects are employed in a wide range of national, private and public practices in this country and abroad. Successful candidates can also pursue environmental design based careers in related fields, such as landscape management or landscape planning.

Students who graduate from the course at the appropriate level have access to Birmingham City University’s Postgraduate Diploma course in Landscape Architecture, which provides access to graduate membership of The Landscape Institute, the profession’s governing body.

This 5 year part-time programme belongs to a suite of four closely related undergraduate programmes, which also includes Building Design Management, Building Project Management and Construction Management. The professional identity of the Architectural Technology programme is maintained throughout its curriculum, but opportunities exist to transfer to other programmes within the suite.

In recent years, changes to building materials and processes have affected the whole of the building industry. The Architectural Technologist functions at the interface between design and construction to ensure optimum building performance and efficiency.

Architectural Technologists translate conceptual building designs into detailed technical solutions. The practice of Architectural Technology includes the ability to analyse, synthesise and evaluate building design factors in order to produce efficient and effective technical design solutions which satisfy performance, production and procurement criteria. Key competences for Architectural Technologists include building design procedures and practice, environmental design, technical specification and presentation.

The programme is structured around these key areas and aims to develop students from a range of professional and industrial backgrounds to develop careers in a management role.

As a professional Architectural Technologist, you will be able to apply technological solutions to the design and building process. You will have the ability to support both the designers and the contractor in the implementation of novel concepts driven by client demands for energy efficient, durable, low maintenance, and cost-effective buildings.

The learning and teaching programme will enable you to develop an understanding of the design process, contractual issues, and professional obligations. It will teach you the skills to translate design into construction, maximising efficiency and satisfaction and to demonstrate a high level of CAD and associated ICT skills.

Morgan’s Architecture and Environmental Design program prepares students to become critical thinkers about the forces that affect their daily lives (private sphere) and the urban environment (public sphere), thereby, equipping them with the tools to solve the design challenges of the built environment.

The mission, therefore, is to introduce critical analysis by which students can visualize and represent, graphically and verbally, detailed evaluation and assessment of architecture and the built environment. Design choices need to be informed — learning to think critically is one of the ways that students can make informed design decisions.

At the end of their matriculation students will have a foundation of critical thinking regarding architecture, city and regional planning, landscape architecture, and construction management. Graduates will have the knowledge, skills and ability to solve complex problems in the professional world. In addition, students will be prepared for enrollment in any academic program at the graduate level.

The Bachelor of Science in Architecture & Environmental Design (BSAED) program is an important and meaningful part of the Institute of Architecture & Planning (IAP). The BSAED is a four-year pre-professional degree program structured to integrate planning and design elements of the built and natural environment with the professional ability to produce a meaningful response to the changing needs of urban society patterned by a wide cultural background. The program content is based on a comprehensive examination of issues in design and the built environment.

In an effort to fulfill the mission of the undergraduate program, the BSAED has required 125 credit hours for completion of core, concentration, and general education courses. The first four (4) semesters of courses offered in the undergraduate program define two years of knowledge attainment and skills building in environmental history, visual graphics, design and planning theory, research and problem solving, report writing, and public presentation techniques and general education studies. The final four (4) semesters are an advanced exploration of design and planning primarily through lecture and studio courses and on-site field work.