Overview | Degree Requirements | Studio Requirements | Non-Studio Requirements | Sample Curriculum
Begin your path to architectural licensure in a collaborative, rigorous studio environment committed to human quality in the built environment.
Our Master of Architecture (MArch) Track I is an accredited, STEM‑designated professional degree designed for students who do not hold a prior professional or pre‑professional degree in architecture and are preparing to advance toward licensure. The program is grounded in a collaborative, rigorous studio culture and a strong commitment to human quality in the built environment.
Who Should Apply
This program is intended for applicants who:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited four‑year U.S. college or university, or
- Possess an equivalent credential from a qualifying international institution
Program Experience
The MArch Track I is three years plus one term (10 terms total) in length, begins in the summer, and is offered at the Eugene campus. It is a full‑time, studio‑based professional degree with a comprehensive sequence of design studios and professional coursework. Students develop foundational and advanced architectural knowledge while building skills necessary for contemporary practice. The curriculum allows students to explore areas of special academic or professional interest. Beyond the classroom, students benefit from:
- Community‑engaged design opportunities
- Internships in architectural offices
- Study abroad programs
- On‑ and off‑campus opportunities to work directly with communities
These experiences enrich academic learning, foster professional development, and connect students to real‑world architectural practice.
Locations and Learning Environment
The MArch Track I program is offered at two campus locations: Eugene and Portland, each providing a distinct academic and professional environment. Students at both the Eugene and Portland locations benefit from faculty research and creative practice, which can be explored through faculty profiles and the Guide to Research + Creative Practice.
Most graduate and undergraduate architecture students are based in Eugene, which offers a robust academic environment with:
- A wide diversity of faculty and courses
- Opportunities for concurrent degree programs
- Access to courses across other university departments
Eugene‑based programs emphasize areas such as sustainability, building technology, housing, and user‑centered design, allowing students to pursue focused academic and professional interests.
The Portland program is located on our northeast Portland campus in Highland Hall, the program is home to approximately 60 students, fostering a close‑knit and professionally engaged learning community. Students benefit from:
- Strong connections to the Portland architectural and design community
- Direct engagement with current architectural, urban, and environmental issues shaping the city
- Opportunities to connect academic work with professional practice in one of the nation’s most design‑forward urban contexts
Preparation for the Program
Prospective undergraduate students interested in applying to the MArch Track I may find the following University of Oregon courses helpful in preparing for the application and curriculum:
- ARCH 201 Introduction to Architecture
- Media courses, such as freehand sketching, drawing, watercolor, and related visual media
- ARH 314/315, History of World Architecture I and II, and other architecture‑related art history courses
- ARCH 430 Architectural Contexts
- Professional Coursework (Non-Studio): 80 credits
- Architectural Design (Studios): 64 credits
- Graduate Specializations: 15+ credits (can be integrated into other degree requirements)
Architectural Design (Studio) Requirements [Minimum 64 credits]
- ARCH 680 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 681 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 682 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [30 Credits, 5 terms with 6 Credits each term]
- ARCH 585 Architectural Design I [8 Credits]
- ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II [8 Credits]
Professional Coursework (Non-Studio) Requirements [Minimum 80 credits]
- ARCH 611 Graduate Design Process [3 Credits]
- ARCH 610 Introduction to Architectural Computing [2 Credits]
ARCH 523 Media for Design Development [3 Credits]
- ARCH 530 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture [4 Credits]
- ARCH 540 Human Context of Design [4 Credits]
ARCH 550 Spatial Composition [4 Credits]
- ARCH 561 Structural Behavior [6 Credits]
- ARCH 562 Structural Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 570 Building Construction [4 Credits]
- ARCH 571 Building Enclosure [4 Credits]
- ARCH 591 Environmental Control Systems I [4 Credits]
- ARCH 592 Environmental Control Systems II [4 Credits]
ARCH 517 Context of the Architectural Profession [4 Credits]
- ARCH 631 Global Modern Architecture [4 Credits]
- ARCH 500+ Architectural Art History [4 Credits]
- ARCH 500+ Architectural Art History [4 Credits]
- 2 approved 500-level elective courses in the architectural history subject area. May also include approved courses from the Historic Preservation program, the Department of Interior Architecture, or the Department of the History of Art and Architecture.
Graduate Specializations
The Department of Architecture offers graduate specializations in specific academic and professional subjects with a strong graduate-level curriculum.
This degree is typically completed in 10 terms. Most students graduate in spring of their third year. Portland can only accommodate spring degree completion. Students who have taken a design studio during the summer may be able to finish their degree in the winter term of their third year. General education and subject area electives can be taken any term and in any order.
Summer
- ARCH 680 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 610 20th Century Architecture History [4 Credits]
- ARCH 611 Graduate Design Process [3 Credits]
Year One
- ARCH 681 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 550 Spatial Composition [4 Credits]
- ARCH 570 Building Construction [4 Credits]
- ARCH 610 Introduction to Architectural Computing [2 Credits]
- ARCH 610: Introduction to Architectural Computing may be waived for students with an appropriate background in design computing.
- ARCH 682 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 540 Human Context of Design [4 Credits]
- ARCH 591 Environmental Control Systems I [4 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 530 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture [4 Credits]
- ARCH 592 Environmental Control Systems II [4 Credits]
Year Two
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 523 Media for Design Development [3 Credits]
- ARCH 561 Structural Behavior [6 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [3 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 562 Structural Design [6 Credits]
- Architectural History [4 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- Advanced Technology [4 Credits]
- Architectural History [4 Credits]
Year Three
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 571 Building Enclosure [4 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]
- ARCH 585 Architectural Design I [8 Credits]
- ARCH 517 Context of the Architectural Profession [4 Credits]
- Seminar [3 Credits]
- ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II [8 Credits]
- Seminar [3 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]