Overview

Program Overview

The Architecture curriculum at Temple University is centered on design studios that require the synthesis and application of knowledge from other coursework. Seminars in building technology, history/theory, professional practice, and research address questions in tandem with design studios. Elective courses allow students to pursue specializations with focus and intent. Together, the architecture courses satisfy professional accreditation requirements. During the final year of study, students have the opportunity to pursue a self-directed research and design thesis. The Department of Architecture and Environmental Design offers three tracks for the M.Arch.: a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year program depending on a student's educational background upon entry to the degree.

The 1-year track is a +1 accelerated undergraduate-graduate program that enables eligible students to complete the 60-credit M.Arch. degree within 15 months after receiving Temple's Bachelor of Science in Architecture (B.S.Arch.) pre-professional degree. Eligible undergraduate students use up to 12 specified graduate credits to fulfill requirements for their undergraduate degree. Upon graduation from their undergraduate program, students move seamlessly into their graduate program. At the end of the contiguous fifth year, students receive a Master of Architecture degree. To be eligible for the program, students must be declared as an Architecture major; have a minimum of 3.25 cumulative GPA in at least 45 credits of coursework taken at Temple; be able to complete their undergraduate degree in four full-time terms (beginning with their first term taking a graduate course as an undergraduate); and be able to complete the graduate degree in one additional year, including the two summer terms of graduate coursework.

The 2-year track is a 60-credit degree program for students who earn Temple University’s Bachelor of Science in Architecture (B.S.Arch.) degree and for students from other four-year pre-professional degree programs with equivalent course content.

The 3-year track provides a curriculum of up to 90 credits for students without a pre-professional degree in architecture. The first year of this program provides a rigorous introduction to architectural design that consists of up to 30 credits of pre-professional studies, including building technology courses, design studios, and history and theory seminars. Each student’s prior academic record is evaluated to determine program and course placement. The number of credits students need to take varies depending on the amount of pre-professional architectural course content previously satisfied by the candidate. Students who have little or no architectural content at the undergraduate level will be required to take the full 30 credits of pre-professional studies in architecture. Students who have degrees in architectural studies may receive advanced standing within the 3-year track.