Master of Architecture

Description

The School makes a strong commitment to a broad-based liberal arts education that prepares architects to understand the spectrum of human endeavors. The School intentionally keeps its enrollment small to maintain an identifiable relationship with individual students. The SACD advocates an open dialogue about architectural issues and philosophies, but searches for deeper architectural meaning than that offered by trend, fad, or style. The curriculum provides a foundation in design excellence, but also addresses contemporary issues, including a focus on urban revitalization, and issues of environmental justice and sustainability. This foundation is provided through both in-class and out-of-class experiences that develop a student's understanding of societal concerns. The School is actively involved in the life of the community. Through its design studios and Master of Community Development, and through the Detroit Collaborative Design Center—an out-reach arm of the School—the SACD serves the community of which it is a part. The ability to gain real world understanding is further enhanced through the mandatory cooperative education program and through the optional international studies programs.

Admission Requirements

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M.Arch Admissions Criteria, for SACD B.S.Arch students

Detroit Mercy SACD B.S.Arch students apply to the Master of Architecture program in Term I of their fourth year. To be considered for admission, a minimum overall GPA and Design Studio GPA of 3.0 is expected along with submission of a substantive design portfolio, as well as an admissions essay. The overall GPA, Design GPA and portfolio are considered equally in the decision-making process for admission. The portfolio must demonstrate the student's ability and potential for success in all aspects of graduate design work and other studies. A minimum grade of B- is also expected in the applicant's fourth year Integrative and Public Interest Design Studios. If the student is not accepted into the Master of Architecture program or chooses not to apply to the Master of Architecture program, he/she can earn a non-accredited, pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree upon successful completion of the four-year requirements.

Once accepted into the M.Arch program, all students are automatically enrolled in the required ARCH 4919: Thesis Prep course in Term II of their fourth year.

As part of the requirements for M.Arch degree, all students must complete a paid co-op / internship within the field of architecture and design. This typically happens during the summer preceding or following their thesis year.

GRE scores are not required for the admissions process.
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M.Arch 2+ Year Track, for applicants with a non-SACD degree in architecture

Prospective students with a previous degree in Architecture (B.S.Arch or B.Arch), have the possibility of direct admission into the 2+ year track M.Arch degree program. However, we must ensure that candidates have met all of the academic requirements to earn our accredited M.Arch degree. For most students this means a minimum of one year where they are technically classified as a “post-degree undergraduate transfer” student, and would receive a custom curriculum plan to make sure they have completed all the necessary classes for our accredited degree. They would join our M.Arch thesis students in their final year. An admitted 2+ year M.Arch student would not be required to re-submit a formal application to continue into the Thesis studio, but are required to be in good academic standing with a B average to move into the master's year.

As part of the requirements for M.Arch degree, all students must complete a paid co-op / internship within the field of architecture and design. This typically happens during the summer preceding or following their thesis year.

We do not require GRE scores for the admissions process, however applicants to the 2+ year track are required to submit a design portfolio.
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M.Arch 3+ Year Track, for non-architecture Bachelors degree holders

For transfer students with a degree in something other than Architecture, there is the possibility of admission into the 3+ year track M.Arch program. For most students, this means at least two years where they are technically classified as a “post-degree undergraduate transfer” student, before matriculating to the graduate program in their final year. All students receive a custom curriculum plan to make sure they have completed the necessary coursework for our accredited M.Arch degree. Depending on the applicant's previous coursework, it is possible that some of the requirements will have already been satisfied, thus reducing the number of courses they would need to fulfill towards their degree. This custom curriculum plan will be based on the applicant's transcripts and portfolio, if one was submitted in the application. An admitted 3+ year M.Arch student may be required to re-submit a formal application to continue into the Thesis studio, based on their initial portfolio submission, and are required to be in good academic standing with a B average to move into the master's year.

In some cases, it may be possible for a student to earn our non-accredited B.S.Arch degree before matriculating to the NAAB accredited M.Arch degree, if additional degree requirements are met.

As part of the requirements for M.Arch degree, all students must complete a paid co-op / internship within the field of architecture and design. This typically happens during the summer preceding or following their thesis year.

We do not require GRE scores for the admissions process. Applicants to the 3+ year track are encouraged to submit a design portfolio, if they have one.