Architecture (M.Arch)
About the Master of Architecture Graduate Program
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Master of Architecture Program Facts
Format
On campus (Bristol)
Schedule
Day and evening coursework
Credits Required
59-61
Students without a pre-professional degree will have additional requirements.
Time Commitment
1.5 to 3.5 years
Cost
Summer 2025 and Winter 2026
$1,392/credit
$1,951/credit (studio classes)
Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
$23,424/semester (12-19 credits)
$1,956/credit
Fees
2025-2026 Academic Year
$490/semester
Ways to Save
Scholarships available
Guaranteed paid assistantship or internship for all students
Apply By
Fall Deadlines: February 1 (Priority Deadline), June 15 (Final Deadline)
Spring Deadlines: November 1 (Priority Deadline), December 15 (Final Deadline)
Upcoming Events
Master of Architecture Program
The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program prepares students to enter and advance both the discipline and the profession of architecture. Students achieve a depth of understanding of the components of architectural practice and of the diverse nature and variety of roles for architects in relation to other fields. The program encourages the mastery and skillful integration of environmental, social, historical, artistic, technical and philosophical concerns into carefully developed designs that enhance their context through the region, the site, spaces, and detail. Our students and faculty embrace the opportunity to express human values through the design of the built environment.
Master of Architecture Program Highlights
- Career Investment Program - Available to all M.Arch students, the Career Investment Program provides a paid internship or assistantship each year you are in the program.
- Teaching Firms in Residence - Graduate architectural design studios are taught by a group of lead architects from a top firm each semester.
- Study Abroad Opportunities - Take advantage of an opportunity to study abroad in top destinations like Barcelona and Beijing as a graduate student all without losing time toward your degree.
- Women's Leadership Network - Â鶹ɫÇéƬ is committed to furthering the work of women in the architecture field with this innovative network that provides mentoring, guest lectures, and more.
- Samsung Design Studio - Studio space with individual Samsung flat-panel monitors for all students and access to more than 100 software packages in a state-of-the-art virtual environment called Virtual Labs complement a rich architecture curriculum at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ.
- Stand Out with an Embedded Certificate - Graduate students in the M. Architecture program have the opportunity to earn a graduate certificate in Preservation Practices, Real Estate, or Urban and Regional Planning—embedded within the M. Architecture curriculum—at no additional cost or coursework, providing a valuable credential to help differentiate themselves in the job market.
Degree Requirements
Powerful Combinations with Master of Architecture
Three paths provide a variety of opportunities with the Master of Architecture professional degree.
Path One provides a continuous sequence from undergraduate to graduate study leading to the Master of Architecture professional degree, for students who have completed Â鶹ɫÇéƬ's B.S. in Architecture program. Path One students normally complete this 181-credit sequence in 5-1/2 to 6 years from the beginning of their undergraduate studies.
Path Two provides advanced entry to the Master of Architecture professional degree for students from other universities who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in Architecture. Individualized placement occurs following an evaluation of the student's undergraduate transcript and portfolio for completion of NAAB Student Performance Criteria. Path Two students normally complete a 56-credit, full time sequence over four semesters of study. For degree requirements and elective offerings, refer to Path 3.
Path Three provides entry to the Master of Architecture professional degree for students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in fields other than architecture. Students normally finish this 91-credit full-time program in three years and one summer. Some additional prerequisites in math, physics, and drawing may also be required.
NAAB Accreditation Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture program is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). .
In the News: September 14, 2018: Â鶹ɫÇéƬ's Master of Architecture Program Reaccredited with Distinction
Â鶹ɫÇéƬ offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
M. Arch. (pre-professional degree + 38 graduate credits)
Next accreditation visit: 2026
STEM Designation Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) program at Â鶹ɫÇéƬ is a STEM-designated program in Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology eligible under the CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) Code 04.0902. The STEM designation allows F-1 international students who graduate from the Â鶹ɫÇéƬ M.Arch the ability to apply for a 24-month extension of post-completion employment authorization in the United States, up to 36 months in total. Architecture was officially recognized as a STEM subject by the U.S. Congress as part of the .
Master of Architecture Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Master of Architecture degree program, applicants must hold an earned Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university (Path 1 students must be enrolled and in good standing in an undergraduate program.)
To apply, submit the following:
- Completed online application form accompanied by the $50 application fee
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. The Office of Graduate Admission will obtain transcripts on behalf of Â鶹ɫÇéƬ students.
- Letter of Intent (two double-spaced pages maximum) describing your interest in the Master of Architecture program, relevant past experiences and career goals
- Two letters of recommendation attesting to your potential to succeed in graduate school
- Portfolio containing examples of your work (submitted as hard copy, emailed to the Office of Graduate Admission, or submitted electronically through )
- Senior final semester schedule - non-Â鶹ɫÇéƬ graduates only. To give you an accurate degree plan, you will need to submit a copy of your final semester schedule from your undergraduate studies if it is not represented on your transcript.
- If your first language is not English, an official report of TOEFL or IELTS results.
The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is not required for admission. International applicants should also read additional requirements for non-U.S. residents.
Where appropriate, documents should be submitted via email to gradadmit@rwu.edu. Any official documents that must be mailed (i.e. transcripts) should be sent directly to:
Office of Graduate Admission
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809
Have questions about the application process? Visit the from the Office of Graduate Admission.
M.Arch Scholarships and Institutional Aid
All accepted Master of Architecture students who completed their undergraduate degree with a 3.0 GPA or above will receive a merit scholarship, renewable annually while maintaining a 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework. In addition, each full-time graduate student will be awarded a $4,000 assistantship through the Career Investment Program.
Master of Architecture students are also eligible for several endowed scholarships, including the Raj Saksena Memorial Scholarship, the Kaestle Boos Associates Scholarship, and several scholarships endowed through the American Institute of Architects Rhode Island.
Designing a Positive Experience
Juan Osorio, Â鶹ɫÇéƬ Class of 2019, 2020MJuan Osorio ’19, ‘20M was inspired to enter the field of architecture by his grandfather and his Colombian roots. Now, he works as an architectural designer at Summit Design and Engineering Services in Cary, North Carolina.
Read full storyMaster of Architecture Design Studio Work
Architecture studios are at the center of the undergraduate and graduate programs in Architecture. Students explore architectural issues in a variety of ways led by full-time faculty, part-time practitioners, and Teaching Firms in Residence.
Select a studio to see examples of recent student work:
Cummings School of Architecture News and Events
Each semester the school hosts lectures and exhibitions featuring notable people and their work from the region, country and world. Free and open to the public. The link below will also take you to Â鶹ɫÇéƬ's published blog: a complete list of the latest news stories featuring the Cummings School of Architecture and its community. Stories range from accomplishments of our alumni to work being done by our current students. We also feature stories about our latest programs and more.
