MS in Architecture/MA in Design Criticism Joint Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the program requirements as listed below. See the School of Architecture website for the most up-to-date application requirements.

  • To be considered for direct admission to the joint program, students must apply to each of the individual degree programs separately, noting that they are applying to the joint program in each application. To be admitted to the joint program, students must meet the admission requirements for each individual degree program. 
  • Students who enter the MSArch program and later decide to transfer into the joint program may be considered for admission before their second semester of MSArch study if they meet the admission requirement of the MAD-Crit program and have taken ARCH 587 in the fall as an elective. Joint degree applicants who are already enrolled in one program will be evaluated by members of the School of Architecture admission committee. 
  • Students in the joint program will be advised by the School of Architecture graduate academic advisor, who will ensure each student understands and fulfills the program and course sequence requirements. The advisor will also provide guidance regarding elective selections.
  • If a student leaves the program before the requirements for the joint degree are complete, and the student has met the individual requirements for one of the two degrees, a single degree will be awarded.
  • The application deadline for this program is earlier than the Graduate College deadline; for information about current deadlines, please see the School of Architecture website. 

Degree Requirements

The joint degree combines the one-year post-professional Master of Science in Architecture (MSArch) with the two-year Master of Arts in Design Criticism's (MAD-Crit) academic specialization in written and graphic argumentation. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

  • Minimum Semester Hours Required 72 hours in two years of full-time study
Required Courses:
MSArch Core courses (16 semester hours)
ARCH 565
Topic Studio
ARCH 567
Research Studio
ARCH 522
Topics in Architectural Technology
MAD-Crit Core courses (40 semester hours)
ARCH 587
Pro-seminar I: Design Criticism
ARCH 588
Pro-seminar II: Publication and Graphic Argumentation
ARCH 589
Writing Tutorial I
ARCH 590
Writing Tutorial II
ARCH 520
Topics in Architectural Theory and History
ARCH 531
Architectural Theory and History I
ARCH 532
Architectural Theory and History II
400- to 500-level approved Art History Electives (12 hours)
Shared requirements for MSArch and MAD-Crit (16 semester hours)
ARCH 585
Architectural Theory and History III
ARCH 586
Architectural Theory and History IV
ARCH 566
Research Seminar
400- to 500-level Elective approved by the advisor
Portfolio Submission
An annual portfolio review occurs during the spring semester of each academic year. The submission of a satisfactory portfolio in each year is a degree requirement.
  • Comprehensive Examination None
  • Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only