The MArch is the college’s accredited professional degree for students intending to seek licensure as architects. It is a three-and-one-half-year plan of study on the Denver campus that has been fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Prerequisites

• Students must complete the prerequisites of college-level trigonometry and physics before enrolling in ARCH 5310, Introduction to Building Technology. Since this class should be taken in the first semester in order to stay on track for graduation, students are strongly encouraged to complete the trigonometry and physics requirements before beginning the MArch program.
• ARCH 5000, Math and Physics for Architects, is offered in the summer on a pass/fail basis. This class meets the prerequisite requirements. This class does not count toward the number of credits required for the MArch degree.
• A graphics workshop is recommended for students who do not have a background in architectural drawing and model building. This class is offered each year before the beginning of the fall semester.
• Students are also expected to have achieved a basic level of computer literacy and should be familiar with PC or Mac operating systems.

Program Requirements

Students with a bachelor’s or master’s degree unrelated to architecture must complete a seven- or eight-semester sequence of course work and accumulate a minimum of 114 semester hours of credit. Students who have completed the University of Colorado at Boulder’s BEnvd or other preprofessional NAAB-accredited architecture degree, or non-NAAB-accredited professional architecture degree in another country, will be evaluated individually for advanced standing. These students will be advised and provided with an individualized plan of study commensurate with their previous degrees and experience, and will have to complete at least 60 semester hours of credit in residence within the College of Architecture and Planning.

Course Sequence

The MArch program is divided into five major components:

• studio design studies, 45 semester hours
• cultural studies, 12 semester hours
• technology studies, 18 semester hours
• professional studies, 6 semester hours
• electives, 33 semester hours

A wide array of electives in these areas allows students to tailor their graduate studies to their own interests.