Overview | Degree Requirements | Studio Requirements | Non-Studio Requirements | Sample Curriculum
Where advanced design education meets professional practice, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Our Master of Architecture (MArch) Track II is an an accredited, STEM-designated professional degree that prepares students for licensure within a rigorous and collaborative academic environment. Studio projects and coursework address real-world architectural problems, integrating state-of-the-art knowledge and tools to educate visionary leaders committed to quality in the built environment.
Who Should Apply
This program is intended for applicants who:
- Hold a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture from a qualified institution that is equivalent to a U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree
- Have completed a four-year degree from a school with an accredited graduate architecture program
- Possess an equivalent degree from a qualifying international institution
Exceptions may be considered for applicants with especially strong applications
Program Experience
The MArch Track II is a two-year, full-time, studio-based program that emphasizes advanced design thinking, technical rigor, and professional development through an integrated curriculum.
Students benefit from:
- Design studios focused on real projects and contemporary challenges
- Coursework supporting licensure preparation
- Exposure to cutting-edge tools, methods, and research
These experiences support the development of architectural leaders prepared to engage complex social, environmental, and technical systems.
Location and Learning Environment
The MArch Track II is offered at two campus locations: Eugene and Portland, each providing distinct advantages. Students at both locations benefit from close faculty mentorship and access to faculty research and creative practice. Learn more by exploring faculty profiles and the Guide to Research + Creative Practice.
Portland is a national leader in sustainable design, energy conservation, mass timber construction, equitable transportation planning, and innovative land-use models. Its position at the intersection of diverse regional ecologies makes it an exceptional urban laboratory for architectural study.
Through the Design for Spatial Justice Initiative, the Portland program emphasizes the idea that a green city must also be a just city. Major research themes include:
- Climate action and spatial justice
- Mobility and inclusion
- Housing and health
These efforts are supported by research centers such as the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory, the Institute for Health in the Built Environment, and UrbanismNext.
The UO Portland Architecture program houses approximately 60 students in studio and lab spaces in Highland Hall on our northeast Portland campus. Track II students study alongside Track I MArch and fifth-year BArch students.
- Architectural Design (Studios): minimum 40 credits
- Professional Coursework (Non-Studio): minimum 47 credits
- Graduate Specializations: 15+ credits (can be integrated into other degree requirements)
Architectural Design (Studio) Requirements [Minimum 64 credits]
- ARCH 683 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [18 Credits, 3 Terms x 6 Credits
- ARCH 585 Architectural Design I [8 Credits]
- ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II [8 Credits]
Professional Coursework (Non-Studio) Requirements [Minimum 47 credits]
- ARCH 611 Graduate Design Process [3 Credits]
- ARCH 622 Introduction to Architectural Computing [2 Credits]
- ARCH 523 Media for Design Development [3 Credits]
- ARCH 540 Human Context of Design [4 Credits]
- ARCH 561 Structural Behavior [4 Credits]
- ARCH 562 Structural Design [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]
Three 500-level courses covering areas:
- ancient (ARH)
- renaissance (ARH)
- modern (ARCH 610 20th Century Architecture History)
- Subject area electives include ARCH 607 Option II Seminar
- ARCH 530 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture (substitute ARCH 535 Principles of Urban Design) [4 Credits]
- ARCH 550 Spatial Composition [4 Credits]
- ARCH 570 Building Construction [4 Credits]
Graduate Specializations
The Department of Architecture offers graduate specializations in specific academic and professional subjects with a strong graduate-level curriculum.
Most required courses are only offered in certain terms as shown. Your core course requirements are determined by transcript evaluation.
Year One
- ARCH 683 Introductory Graduate Design [6 Credits]
- ARCH 633 Option II Seminar [3 Credits]
- Required Core Course [4 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- Required Core Course [4 Credits]
- Required Core Course [4 Credits]
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- Required Core Course [4 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]
Year Two
- ARCH 584 Architectural Design [6 Credits]
- Required Core Course [4 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]
- ARCH 585 Architectural Design I [8 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]
- ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II [8 Credits]
- ARCH 517 Context of the Architectural Profession [4 Credits]
- Subject Area Elective [4 Credits]
Note: Subject area electives can be taken any term and in any order.