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M of Architecture

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Master of Architecture Degree

The Master of Architecture is an accredited first professional degree in architecture in preparation for becoming a licensed architect. It consists of a two-year sequence of courses that must be preceded by a preprofessional four-year degree such as the undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Architecture offered at UTSA or its equivalent. The Master of Architecture degree received its initial accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) effective January 2001. The program gives students a thorough background in the principles and techniques of architectural design and theory related to contemporary practice and focused on continued expansion of the profession’s knowledge base.

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure.

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Students may select one of three specializations: Architectural Design, International Practice, or Historic Preservation. The specialization in Architectural Design broadens students’ understanding and appreciation of the fundamentals of design programming, conceptualization, and developmental processes within regional and urban contexts. The specialization in International Practice focuses on the unique characteristics of international design and urban development traditions and conventions by addressing sustainable design and practice from a global perspective. The specialization in Historic Preservation acquaints students with preservation theory and techniques, including new construction which is sensitive to historic context and adaptive use approaches to utilizing sound and significant architecture in meeting contemporary spatial needs. Each specialization places particular emphasis on the architecture of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley on both sides of the river.

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Program Admission Requirements

In addition to University-wide admission requirements, applicants must

  1. Submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores by the semester deadline. These scores will be considered in comparison with scores from applicants of similar socioeconomic background.
  2. Have completed a preprofessional architecture curriculum with a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies and 3.0 in architecture courses
  3. Submit a portfolio, two letters of recommendations, and a personal statement as described in the next section.
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Admission determinations are based on the above criteria.

Students lacking required undergraduate courses or possessing a Bachelor’s degree unrelated to a preprofessional architecture degree may be offered conditional admission with the stipulation that they undertake additional undergraduate coursework before preceding with graduate study. Applicants must maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 in this coursework.

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Application Materials

Each applicant must submit a portfolio, two letters of recommendation from persons knowledgeable about the applicant’s ability to undertake graduate work, and a personal statement of professional goals discussing areas of special interest. The portfolio should demonstrate the applicant’s creative and communication skills through samples of past work and projects (do not include slides nor original work). The portfolio, letters of recommendation, and statement of professional goals should be sent directly to the Graduate Advisor of the Architecture Program by the University’s admission deadlines. The application form, transcripts, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and fees should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies.

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Contact the School of Architecture at (210) 458-4299 or http://www.utsa.edu/architecture for information regarding application materials.

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Degree Requirements. The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree, exclusive of coursework or other study required to remove admission deficiencies, is 48. Credit toward the program is earned only for the grades "A," "B," and "C." Students must also maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 with a maximum of 6 semester credit hours with the grade of "C."

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Students admitted to the program must consult the Graduate Advisor of Record for specific program requirements for their individual study sequence. The program does not require proficiency in a foreign language, although proficiency in Spanish will enhance the student’s ability to participate in the international aspects of the program.

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Candidates for the degree must complete

A. 24 semester credit hours of required courses:

ARC Professional Practice Elective (3 credit hours)
ARC Systems Elective (3 credit hours)
ARC 5173 Architectural Theory and Criticism
ARC 5613 Architecture of the Americas
ARC 6146 Advanced Design Studio (two semesters equaling 12 hours)

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B. 9 semester credit hours of prescribed coursework depending upon specialization in either of the following areas:

Architectural Design

ARC Topics Design Studio Elective (6 credit hours)
ARC Architectural History/Theory Elective (3 credit hours)

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Historic Preservation

ARC 5203 History and Theory of Preservation
ARC 5233 Architectural Surveys and Measured Drawings
ARC 6413 Preservation Technology

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International Practice

ARC 5303 International Practice Seminar
ARC 6123 Morphology of South Texas and the Borderlands
ARC 6233 Design and Development of Multicultural Communities

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C. 9 semester credit hours of electives. Students interested in emphasizing construction management may take selected courses in architecture, civil engineering, finance, and management of technology. Elective courses must constitute a coherent program of scholarship, and the student’s elective program must be prepared in consultation with the Graduate Advisor of Record.

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D. 6 semester credit hours of ARC 6983 Master’s Thesis

Upon completion of 24 semester credit hours toward the Architecture degree, the student must meet with the Graduate Advisor to draw up a program of study.

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Comprehensive Examination. A candidate for the Master of Architecture degree must, in addition to other requirements, pass a written comprehensive examination. Students must be registered for ARC 6961 Comprehensive Examination during the semester in which they are taking the Comprehensive Examination.

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Comprehensive Examinations are given only to students who:

  1. have satisfied all admission conditions
  2. are in good academic standing
  3. have an approved program of study
  4. have selected a supervising professor and thesis committee with an approved thesis topic
  5. are enrolled in ARC 6961 Comprehensive Examination. Note: credit earned for ARC 6961 will not count toward the 48 semester credit hours required for the degree.
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The Comprehensive Examination tests the student’s knowledge in architectural theory and design and in the student’s specialization. It is normally taken after the completion of the required coursework listed in part A above and at least two of the specialization courses listed in part B above.

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