Overview

We believe that sustainable development must be redefined using a regenerative system approach, which connects food, water, and energy use to the carrying capacity of a local ecosystem. The core curriculum of the Architecture - Sustainable Design program of the University of Minnesota unpacks this belief with foundational courses in sustainable design theory and history, energy and environmental equality, site and water, and material performance.

We aim to balance inquiry with application. Each course involves a project, where you will practice research to demonstrate theory. We challenge you to uncover how bettering peoples’ lives can act as a driver for addressing environmental issues in local and global settings. Through each project and your electives, you will develop a personal area of focus. Topics can address small or large-scale issues, from designing cities on water to examining healthier materials for wall systems. Once you have chosen a special topic, the remainder of your degree is devoted to self-driven research.

Degree Options

Students pursuing this degree have two separate degree plans to choose from.

Plan A is more thesis-focused and is considered preparatory for pursuing a PhD.
Plan B is project-based and aimed at career advancement.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Sustainable Design Theory and Practice

Site and Water Issues in Sustainable Design

Energy and Indoor Environmental Quality Issues in Sustainable Design

Materials Performance in Sustainable Building

Material Investigation: Concrete

Material Investigation: Steel and Glass

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-01-15 00:00:00

More details

The priority deadline for funding consideration is January 15.

Language

English

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Credits

34 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Disciplines

Architecture Design Sustainable Development View 298 other Masters in Architecture in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

IELTS

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PTE Academic

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Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Minnesota and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Other requirements

General requirements

To pursue an Architecture MS a bachelor of arts or science in humanities, sciences, environmental studies, or engineering is required, and a GPA greater than 3.0 is preferred. International applicants must be proficient in English

We also encourage individuals with professional degrees in architecture and landscape architecture, as well as current M.Arch or MLA students seeking a dual degree, to apply

Complete University of Minnesota Graduate School Application

Unofficial transcripts of all college or university coursework

A statement (up to 1,000 words), outlining sustainable design as an area of study

Three letters of recommendation

Portfolio

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores

Application fee of $75

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

31616 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 31616 USD per year during 24 months.
National

31616 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 31616 USD per year during 24 months.
In-State

31616 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 31616 USD per year during 24 months.

Living costs for Minneapolis

1130 - 2045 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Architecture - Sustainable Design.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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