Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
Learn to integrate sustainability through a deeper understanding of building systems, envelope, and energy modeling.
Our program is at the forefront of teaching sustainability in design. In 2022, we were part of the 1st cohort in the World to be awarded Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) by the U.S. Department of Energy. Before that, our history has been filled with many ‘firsts’ – from the 1st cohort of accredited interior design programs, to the 1st online PhD program, and from the 1st to use what is now known as design with digital media, to the 1st public institution in the State of Missouri with an accredited* master of architecture degree. Looking to the future, our mission is to make communities better through the thoughtful design of buildings and spaces available to all people.
So if you want to be a part of a storied architecture program at the forefront of sustainability and wellness, with visions of inclusive environments in cities around the world, inspiring sustainable spaces accessible to anyone, and applied research for bettering the places our society occupies – then we’d love to welcome you to our program!
The strength of our Masters of Architecture program is centered around:
- Design theory and application
- Building envelopes and systems
- BIM and integrated project delivery
- Building energy and green building design
- Energy modeling and the understanding of green buildings, net zero and beyond zero initiatives.
Accreditation
The M.Arch program is designed to prepare future architects to work in the field as licensed architects. Our program is not currently National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited and may not be accepted as meeting licensure requirements in many U.S. states. We are actively pursuing candidacy status with the NAAB for the Master of Architecture degree.
In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
Curriculum
The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) is a project based professional terminal degree in architecture that prepares students for professional practice. Our students are encouraged to use their creative and technical skills to bring incredible ideas to life by working with real world clients to ensure they can address a broad range of project types through internships, partnerships with community members, and national and international competitions.
Integrating all aspects
Students continue to evolve their project processes into a realistic representation of the professional practice. They’re polishing their individual skills and gaining creative confidence in their own personal approach to the design process. At this stage, students learn how to pull it all together by applying all they’ve learned to this point by translating the creative design into ready to build construction documents and communicating the vision to those tasked with building it.
This approach exposes students to real constraints of a project – from budget to sourcing, while working through the final steps of the process for construction, documentation, and project delivery, including consideration of the rules, regulations, codes, and zoning of the municipality where the project is being built.
Students are mastering:
- Project parameters
- Sourcing
- Construction requirements
- Divergent and convergent thinking
- Community responsibility
- Efficient processes
- Communication
