Graduate Program

Graduate Advisor
Miquela Ortiz Upston
miquela@unm.edu

Degrees Offered

Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.)

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering with a concentration in Architectural Engineering

This department participates with the Civil Engineering department with the Architectural Engineering concentration for the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering. See the Civil Engineering: Graduate Program section of this Catalog for information and requirements.

Admission Requirements

The following materials must be uploaded at the time of application submission:

Online application which is accessed from the Graduate Studies Web site.
$70 application fee. Note that the application fee must be paid by credit card in order to submit the online application.
Letter of intent. The applicant must explain why he or she is interested in architecture. Related experience, background, coursework may be mentioned, as well as professional and educational goals. The letter should not exceed two pages.
An unofficial transcript from each academic institution previously attended.
Portfolio of creative work. All Master of Architecture applicants are required to submit an electronic portfolio with the online application to the program. Portfolios should show evidence of interest in design. The portfolio should be carefully conceived, well designed, neatly prepared, and easily readable digitally. Applicants are encouraged to design portfolios for digital review, instead of submitting an electronic version of printed portfolios. Additionally, the portfolio should provide an indication of the applicant's aptitude for thinking critically and creatively through design. Examples include: photographs of executed artwork, pottery, sculpture, photographic essays, and weaving. Examples of evidence of an applicant’s interest and experience in dealing with design or aesthetic matters include prose, poetry, published writings, and illustrated reports. With the digital requirement, applicants may also embed links to online videos in portfolios or other creative work. Applicants are encouraged to think freely about the manner in which this application requirement is met.
Three letters of academic or professional recommendation. At least two letters should be from faculty members.
Resume. The resume should include education, employment, professional experience, publications, service and other accomplishments.
Course descriptions. Applicants who do not have a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from UNM must submit course descriptions of all architecture classes completed.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores are not required, but may be submitted with other materials.

Applicants must identify whether they are applying for the M.Arch. program (Track 2, Track 2.5, or Track 3) or the 1½-year M.S. in Architecture program.

Graduate Program Application Deadlines: Fall semester: See the School of Architecture and Planning Web site for further information.

Fees: A deposit of $300.00 is required of applicants who accept the School’s offer of admission to the Master of Architecture degree program. The deposit is applied toward tuition. The deposit is non-refundable for those applicants who accept the School’s offer of admission, but subsequently do not enroll in the program.

Early Admission to 2-year Graduate Program from B.A.A.: Following successful completion of their third year, students enrolled in the B.A.A. may apply by June 15 for early conditional admission to the graduate level of the professional degree program. If accepted under early admission, they must successfully complete the B.A.A. requirements in a timely manner.

In addition, UNM B.A.A. students with a 3.5 GPA for their studios and a 3.5 overall GPA can be automatically admitted to the M.Arch. program.

Master of Architecture

Entrance Requirements

The University of New Mexico offers three programs of study that lead to the nationally accredited first professional degree, Master of Architecture (M.Arch.).

Track 2: For students with a pre-professional undergraduate architecture degree (typically, a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Architecture) and sufficient coursework to fulfill the Track 2 prerequisites:

six architectural design studios (5-6 credit hours each).
three architectural history or architectural theory courses.
one or two courses addressing passive design or environmental systems.
one or two structures courses, addressing statics, mechanics of materials, structural analysis, and the design and behavior of basic structural elements and systems.
one course addressing construction materials and assembly and construction methods.

Track 2 requires four semesters to complete. UNM Bachelor of Arts in Architecture students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all coursework and in studio courses are automatically admitted to Track 2.

Track 2.5: For students with a pre-professional undergraduate architecture degree and sufficient coursework to fulfill the Track 2.5 prerequisites:

four architectural design studios (5-6 credit hours each).
two architectural history or architectural theory courses.
one course addressing passive design or environmental systems.
one structures course, addressing statics, mechanics of materials, structural analysis, and the design and behavior of basic structural elements and systems.
one course addressing construction materials and assembly and construction methods.

Track 2.5 requires two and one-half years to complete, or two academic years plus a summer session.

Track 3: For students that already hold an undergraduate degree in any discipline; and for those who have completed an undergraduate degree in architecture or environmental design, but without sufficient coursework to apply for the Track 2 or 2.5 programs. Track 3 students come from a variety of backgrounds, including art history, biology, economics, engineering, political science, etc.

Track 3 requires three years to complete, plus a summer session prior to the first year.

Degree Requirements

Master of Architecture- Track 2

NAAB accreditation requires students to have a minimum total of 45 credit hours in non-architectural coursework in their undergraduate and graduate education combined. If necessary, students complete electives to achieve this number.

		Credit Hours
First Year	Fall
ARCH 601	Masters Architectural Design I	6
ARCH 633	Sustainability II	3
ARCH 634	Systems Integration I	3
ARCH 652	Pre-Design and Architectural Programming	3
	Subtotal	15
	Spring
ARCH 602	Masters Architectural Design II	6
ARCH 621	Research Methodology	3
ARCH 624	Architectural Theory	3
ARCH 635	Systems Integration II	3
	Subtotal	15
	First Year Total	30
Second Year	Fall
ARCH 596 -or- ARCH 603	Project-Thesis Preparation Masters Architectural Design III	6
ARCH 651	Professional Practice	3
LA 556	Site-Environment	3
	Subtotal	12
	Spring
ARCH 597 -or- ARCH 599 -or- ARCH 604	Master's Project Master's Thesis Masters Architectural Design IV	6
	Elective: Architectural History or Architectural Theory (Plan II students may apply 3 credit hours of ARCH 596 to this elective.)	3
	Elective: any graduate-level course	3
	After the Master's review M.Arch. students are in one of three degree plans to graduate. Plan I* (thesis) requires 6 credit hours of ARCH 596 in the Fall, and ARCH 599 in the Spring.* Plan II* (project) requires 3 credit hours of ARCH 596 in the Fall, and ARCH 597 in the Spring.* Plan III (coursework) requires ARCH 603 in the Fall and ARCH 604 in the Spring.
	Subtotal	12
	Second Year Total	24
	Degree Total	54

Upon acceptance, the Department determines which, if any, of the above requirements have been met in a student's undergraduate curriculum.

The Architecture Department Chair may allow a program of study shorter than 54 credit hours, but not fewer than 45 credit hours.

Master of Architecture- Track 2.5

Track 2.5 may be completed in two years if the student takes a studio and other courses during the summer.

		Credit Hours
First Year	Fall
ARCH 601	Masters Architectural Design I	6
ARCH 633	Sustainability II	3
ARCH 634	Systems Integration I	3
ARCH 652	Pre-Design and Architectural Programming	3
	Subtotal	15
	Spring
ARCH 602	Masters Architectural Design II	6
ARCH 621	Research Methodology	3
ARCH 624	Architectural Theory	3
ARCH 635	Systems Integration II	3
	Subtotal	15
	First Year Total	30
Second Year	Fall
ARCH 603	Masters Architectural Design III	6
ARCH 651	Professional Practice	3
LA 556	Site-Environment	3
	Subtotal	12
	Spring
ARCH 596 -or- ARCH 604	Project-Thesis Preparation Masters Architectural Design IV	6
ARCH 596 -or-	Project-Thesis Preparation Electives	6
	Elective: Architectural History or Architectural Theory (Plan II students may apply 3 credit hours of ARCH 596 to this elective.)	3
	Subtotal	15
	Second Year Total	27
Third Year	Fall
ARCH 597 -or- ARCH 599 -or- ARCH 605	Master's Project Master's Thesis Masters Architectural Design V	6
	Elective: any graduate-level course	6
	After the Master's review, M.Arch. students are in one of three degree plans to graduate. Plan I (thesis) requires 6 credit hours of ARCH 596 in the Spring, and ARCH 599 in the Fall Plan II (project) requires 3 credit hours of ARCH 596 in the Spring, and ARCH 597 in the Fall. Plan III (coursework) requires ARCH 604 in the Spring and ARCH 605 in the Fall.
	Third Year Total	12
	Degree Total	69

Upon acceptance, the Department determines which, if any, of the above requirements have been met in a student's undergraduate curriculum.

The Architecture Department Chair may allow a program of study shorter than 69 credit hours, but not fewer than 60 credit hours.

Master of Architecture- Track 3

Track 3 students may take Design Visualization from among any of the 1 or 2 credit hour ARCH 572 options at any time during their curriculum.

		Credit Hours
First Year	Summer
ARCH 500	Graduate Architectural Design I	6
ARCH 570	Introduction to Visualization	1
	Subtotal	7
	Fall
ARCH 501	Graduate Architectural Design II	6
ARCH 523	World Architecture I: History of the Built Environment From Prehistory to 1800 CE	3
ARCH 532	Architectural Structures I	3
ARCH 572	T: Design Visualization	1
ARCH 623	Architectural Analysis	3
	Subtotal	16
	Spring
ARCH 502	Graduate Architectural Design III	6
ARCH 524	World Architecture II: History of the Built Environment from 1800 CE to the Present	3
ARCH 531	Graduate Construction I	3
ARCH 533	Architectural Structures II	3
ARCH 572	T: Design Visualization	1
	Subtotal	16
	First Year Total	39
Second Year	Fall
ARCH 601	Masters Architectural Design I	6
ARCH 633	Sustainability II	3
ARCH 634	Systems Integration I	3
ARCH 652	Pre-Design and Architectural Programming	3
	Subtotal	15
	Spring
ARCH 602	Masters Architectural Design II	6
ARCH 621	Research Methodology	3
ARCH 624	Architectural Theory	3
ARCH 635	Systems Integration II	3
	Subtotal	15
	Second Year Total	30
Third Year	Fall
ARCH 596 -or- ARCH 603	Project-Thesis Preparation Masters Architectural Design III	6
ARCH 651	Professional Practice	3
LA 556	Site-Environment	3
	Elective: Architectural History or Architectural Theory (Plan II students may apply three credit in ARCH 596 to count for this elective.)	3
	Subtotal	15
	Spring
ARCH 597 -or- ARCH 599 -or- ARCH 604	Master's Project Master's Thesis Masters Architectural Design IV	6
	Elective: any graduate-level courses	9
	After the Master's review, M.Arch. students are in one of three degree plans to graduate. Plan I (thesis) requires 6 credit hours of ARCH 596 in the Fall, and ARCH 599 in the Spring. Plan II (project) requires 3 credit hours of ARCH 596 in the Fall, and ARCH 597 in the Spring. Plan III (coursework) students take ARCH 603 in the Fall, and ARCH 604 in the Spring.
	Subtotal	15
	Third Year Total	30
	Degree Total	99

The Architecture Department Chair may allow a program of study shorter than 99 credit hours, but not fewer than 90 credit hours.

Master of Science in Architecture

The Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.) is a non-professional, research-based graduate degree for students who have already completed a Bachelor's degree and wish to obtain an advanced degree. The degree is offered through a one and one-half year plan of study that facilitates advanced research, in which students are expected to take advantage of the special opportunities offered by this program and the program's unique physical and social settings to pursue individualized educational goals. The M.S. in Architecture is not accredited by the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB).

Students are required to apply for a specific research area of focus supported by a group of faculty:

Computational Ecologies is an investigation of how complex data sets and advanced computational methods can inform the analysis and design of architectural and urban systems. The Computational Ecologies area of focus is committed to the development of tools and methods that better understand and optimize how spaces, buildings and cities perform environmentally, infrastructurally and socially. Our research investigates how both produced and residual data sets can act as engines for parametric design software and how they can be digitally and physically represented. These data sets can range from social media to traffic patterns, atmospheric analysis to neurological activity, all intertwined in an ecological relationship. Our goal is to elevate architectural and urban performance and experience through the analysis of behaviors and patterns, leveraging computational processes to produce new understandings of the relationships of the built environment to the human condition. Area of Focus Chair: Alex Webb.

Public Health and the Built Environment area of focus asks, how can designers and planners address health disparities and positively impact population health in communities? One’s zip code is a better predictor of health outcomes than almost any other factor, and the planned and built environment is a powerful determinant of community health. This area of focus allows advanced students to develop a line of research about how the composition of the built environment shapes public health. Specific lines of inquiry are described in the list of faculty. Graduates will have learned about contemporary issues in urban/rural/community design, along with best practices in policy and design, including health impact assessments, context-sensitive design, smart growth principles and community engagement strategies. Area of Focus Chair: Michaele Pride.

Entrance Requirements

Completion of a Bachelor's degree or equivalent collegiate program as approved by the faculty.

Requirements

		Credit Hours
ARCH 596	Project-Thesis Preparation	3
ARCH 597 -or- ARCH 599	Master's Project Master's Thesis	6
ARCH 621	Research Methodology	3
ARCH 696	Master's Project or Thesis Documentation and Dissemination	3
	Approved graduate electives	18
	Total	33

Curriculum Design and Advisement

The faculty advisor assists the student in planning a program of studies, which is recorded in the student’s file. Each student is responsible for the adequacy of his or her own curriculum and is free to alter it in process with the consent of their faculty advisor. The Program of Study must be confirmed by the graduate advisor. Successful completion of a Program of Studies is the basis for attaining a degree.

Master’s Examination

The Master’s examination is divided into two parts. The first part is the Graduate Review. The second part of the Master’s Examination occurs with approval by faculty of the Master’s Project, or Master’s Studio, or Master’s Thesis. Graduate Review Guidelines are available in the Architecture office.

The Architecture Director may allow a program of study shorter than 33 credit hours, but not fewer than 30 credit hours. The degree must be completed within three academic years.

Keys and Symbols Reference