Architecture, M.S.: Ecological and Sustainable Design Concentration

About the Architecture Master’s Program

The Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.) is a research-based academic degree for students interested in advanced architectural studies. This degree does not prepare students to receive an architecture licensure. It is for students with an accredited professional B.Arch. or M.Arch. degree, or an approved bachelor’s degree in architecture or in a related discipline (e.g., art, interior design, engineering, archaeology). Students who have non-architecture degrees and wish to enter the program may be required to complete leveling work that will not accrue graduate credit toward their degree. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 28 credit hours of graduate study and write and defend a thesis (6 hours). Students requesting admission into the Master of Science in Architecture program must meet the entrance standards of the Graduate School and the Huckabee College of Architecture. The admission application includes a portfolio of creative work (writing, design, drawing, photography, etc.) that reflects the student’s level of design interest, intellectual inquiry, and communication skills, GRE scores, GPA, Statement of Intent/Purpose, and three letters of recommendation. International applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. 

There are four options for Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.) students:

• Master of Science in Architecture with concentration in Design, Computation and Fabrication
• Master of Science in Architecture with concentration in Design and Health
• Master of Science in Architecture with concentration in Urban and Community Design
• Master of Science in Architecture with concentration in Historic Preservation (El Paso)
• Master of Science in Architecture with concentration in Ecological and Sustainable Design

Academic requirements vary depending on the option chosen. Candidates for the Master of Science in Architecture must specify the option in which they are interested by selecting that option on the Graduate School admission application. After the first semester, students will be matched with a faculty member who will serve as their academic advisor and the chair of their thesis committee. The faculty advisor will be responsible for guiding the student concerning electives, developing a thesis proposal, and selecting thesis committee members. The student also has access to the HCOA graduate advisor for additional assistance. All students seeking a degree must complete the program in residency, including the thesis.

About the Ecological and Sustainable Design Concentration

The Ecological and Sustainable Design (ESD) concentration is tailored toward forward-thinking students eager to address the complex and wicked problems of climate change, social justice, and adaptation for innovative design in architecture. Through a carefully curated selection of elective and studio courses, explore current issues such as regenerative and carbon-neutral materials, ecologically-minded technologies and integration, and energy-efficient design. With 34 hours of approved coursework, students will gain invaluable knowledge and practical skills to advance ecological and environmental systems through architecture. Students will shape the future while making meaningful contributions to sustainable design and while advancing the field of architecture at the intersection of ecology, equity, and innovation.