MA in Architecture

The post-professional MA in Architecture is a research-based academic program for students interested in the study of architecture from an academic and scholarly perspective.  It requires 36 credit hours of course work, independent study, and research.  The program is designed for highly motivated students with well-defined interests who wish to pursue individualized plans of study that draw upon the diverse resources of the graduate faculty at the master level. The post-professional MA in Architecture offers two distinct programs:

Master of Arts in Architecture: Academic-Research Track

The research-based academic program is offered on the Lawrence campus. It is for the student who is interested in exploring various approaches in analyzing the built environment. A student with an undergraduate degree in architecture or a related discipline may enter this course of study. To receive the master’s degree, each student must complete an academic or design-related project or must take a comprehensive examination at the end of the plan of study.

This program is for the student who is interested in the study of architecture from an academic and scholarly perspective. A student who wishes to pursue graduate study in architecture at KU must submit a statement of intent detailing academic interests and career goals. Students from this program have established a strong academic tradition and won honors in national research competitions. The key to their success has been the careful selection of research topics and the ways these topics have paralleled the academic and professional interests of the architecture faculty.

For students admitted to the academic/research program at the master’s level in architecture in Lawrence, a total of 36 credit hours of course work is required. Each student must enroll in a 3-hour course dealing with research methods. In addition to the core courses, each student must complete a minimum of 15 graduate credit hours in a concentration. With the consent of the student’s advisor and the approval of the graduate studies committee, the student may take a maximum of 12 hours of graduate credit in course work outside the School of Architecture and Design. Six hours in the 36-hour course of study are composed of course work in which the student prepares a written project or thesis, or in additional course work in the student’s concentration to prepare for a final written examination.

Master of Arts in Architecture: Historic Preservation Technology Track

This program focuses on providing expertise on the preservation and curation of historic built environments. While, as an MA degree, the program provides a broader understanding of the discipline of historic preservation, it is also designed to provide a specific focus on historic preservation technology. The program is offered at the Lawrence campus and is designed to be completed in three semesters (fall, spring, and summer) within a year. A student with an undergraduate degree in architecture or a related discipline may enter this course of study. To receive the master’s degree, a total of 36 credit hours of course work is required. This includes: 06 credit hours in Foundation Courses (architectural theories and research methods); 12 credit hours in Major/Core Courses in historic preservation; 06 credit hours in Architectural Electives with technology focus; 06 credit hours in an Internship/Independent Study in historic preservation; and 06 credit hours in preservation workshop to complete the capstone MA Project.  Students have the opportunity to continue the MA degree to pursue the PhD degree offered at the school. This degree is open to students in Architecture, American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Engineering, Geography, Global Studies, Museum Studies, Urban Planning, and in other disciplines (as approved by the MA/PhD Program Director).