Nov 24, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Architecture, M.Arch.


In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette School of Architecture and Design offers the following NAAB- accredited degree programs: M.Arch (pre-professional degree + 45 credits).

Next accreditation visit for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette School of Architecture and Design is 2014.

Admissions


The following criteria are used for evaluation for regular admission: undergraduate overall grade point average of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), major grade point average of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), portfolio of architectural design work for candidates with previous architectural education or experience, satisfactory Graduate Record Examination general score, and three letters of recommendation.

Course Requirements


Candidates for the Master of Architecture will be placed in one of three tracks determined by the candidate’s undergraduate degree.

  1. Track A is for students with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree or equivalent from an institution with an accredited (NAAB) professional degree. Undergraduate transcripts will be reviewed to ensure candidates have completed coursework that meets the NAAB Student Performance Criteria. It may be necessary to complete preparatory coursework to ensure the Criteria have been completed. Students in track A must complete 45 credit hours as defined below.
  2. Track B is for students with a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than architecture, a degree from a non-accredited (NAAB) institution or for those who have coursework that does not meet the NAAB Student Performance Criteria. Additional undergraduate coursework may be required. Students in track B must complete a minimum of 87 credit hours as defined below.
  3. Track C is for students with a bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to architecture and from an accredited institution. It may be necessary for students to take preparatory or undergraduate coursework to meet specific course prerequisites to ensure the Student Performance Criteria have been completed. Students in track C must complete a minimum of 72 credit hours as defined below.

Track B and track C students will be required to submit a portfolio of work after the completion of ARCH 405G  

The Master of Architecture has a thesis or non-thesis option. Thesis’ option students must submit a Thesis Proposal to the Graduate Coordinator for approval prior to the regular semester before enrolling in ARCH 599 Thesis Research and Thesis . The thesis option requires a creative work or architectural design and a written thesis. The non-thesis Master’s Project option requires the completion of an architectural design with a written component.

Track A - Completion of Pre-Professional Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies


Required Courses


Total: 45 credits


Track B-Completed Bachelor’s Degree in Another Field


NOTE


*Undergraduate preparatory course - does not count toward graduate degree.

Total: 87 graduate and 6 undergraduate credits


Track C-Completed Bachelor’s Degree in Related Field


NOTE


*Undergraduate preparatory course - does not count toward graduate degree.

Total: 72 graduate and 6 undergraduate credits