Delivery
On-Campus
Architecture, M.Arch., and Architecture, M.S., Dual Degree
Program Overview
Accredited by the NAAB, this program meets all professional degree requirements for licensure as a registered architect. This combination links a professional design degree (M.Arch.) with a specialized degree (M.S. in Architecture) in one of three concentrations:
- M.Arch. / M.S. in Architecture (Critical Heritage Studies): This combination links a professional design degree with a specialized degree focused on exploring connections between the historic built environment, communities, and contemporary practice.
- M.Arch. / M.S. in Architecture (Design Computation): This combination links a professional design degree with a specialized degree focused on exploring connections between contemporary architectural practice and computational strategies such as AI, VR, AR, human computer interaction, ubiquitous computing, gaming, and visualization.
- M.Arch. / M.S. in Architecture (Sustainable Building Technology): This combination links a professional design degree with a specialized degree focused on exploring connections between contemporary architectural practice and sustainable strategies and technologies including performance-based design, innovative building systems integration, high performance building facades, air filtration systems, bio-inspired design, and new material technologies.
Program Contact
Plans of Study
Any of the three Master of Architecture tracks can be combined with any of the Master of Science in Architecture concentrations; however, this dual degree works best for students in the M.Arch. I or II tracks. Students must apply to each program separately and be admitted to both programs. Dual degree students must satisfy all individual degree requirements with the added benefit of sharing a limited number of credits between the two programs.
M.Arch. / M.S. in Architecture (Critical Heritage Studies)
M.Arch. I Track – 102 credits
When completed together, a specified 15 credits of the 96-credit MArch I and specified 9 credits of the 30-credit MS in Architecture are waived as per the UNC Charlotte catalog, for a 102-credit dual degree.
Fall 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5201 – Architectural History I (3)
- ARCH 5602 – Materials (3)
- ARCH 6602 – Representation I (3)
- ARCH 6101 – Design Studio Fundamentals (6)
Spring 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5202 – Architectural History II (3)
- ARCH 5603 – Environmental Systems (3)
- ARCH 6603 – Representation II (3)
- ARCH 6101 – Design Studio Fundamentals (6)
Summer 1 (6 credit hours)
- ARCH 6103 – Design Studio Options
Fall 2 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5203 – Architectural History III (3)
- ARCH 5604 – Computational Methods (3)
- ARCH 5303 – Structural Principles (3)
- ARCH 7101 – Topical Design Studio (6)
Spring 2 (13 Credit Hours)
- HIST 6320 – Historic Preservation (3)
- ARCH 5605 – Computational Practice (3)
- ARCH 5304 – Structural Systems (3)
- ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4)
Fall 3 (15 credit hours)
- ARCH 5600 – Critical Approaches to Heritage (3)
- ARCH 5305 – Building Systems Integration (3)
- ARCH 7201 – Research and Design Methods (3)
- ARCH 7103 – Integrated Studio (6)
Spring 3 (14 credit hours)
- ARCH 5206 – Professional Practice (3)
- ARCH 7104 – Diploma Studio (6)
- ARCH 6600 – Heritage Colloquium (2)
- Heritage elective from approved list (3)
Fall 4 (9 credit hours)
- Heritage electives from approved list (6)
- ARCH 6400 – Heritage Internship (3)
102 Total Credit Hours
M.Arch. II Track – 66 credits
When completed together, a specified 15 credits of the 60-credit MArch II and specified 9 credits of the 30-credit MS in Architecture are waived as per the UNC Charlotte catalog, for a 66-credit dual degree.
Fall 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5203 – Architectural History III (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4203 may take ARCH 5204 – History Topics instead
- ARCH 5604 – Computational Methods (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4604 may take ARCH 6306 – Tech Topics instead
- ARCH 5600 – Critical Approaches to Heritage (3)
- ARCH 7101 – Topical Design Studio (6)
Spring 1 (13 Credit Hours)
- HIST 6320 – Historic Preservation (3)
- ARCH 5605 – Computational Practice (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4605 may take ARCH 6306 – Tech Topics instead
- ARCH 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4)
Summer 1 (0-3 credits)
- ARCH 6400 – Heritage Internship (3)
Fall 2 (15 credit hours)
- ARCH 5305 – Building Systems Integration (3)
- ARCH 7201 – Research and Design Methods (3)
- ARCH 7103 – Integrated Studio (6)
- Heritage Elective (3)
Spring 2 (14 credit hours)
- ARCH 5206 – Professional Practice (3)
- ARCH 7104 – Diploma Studio (6)
- ARCH 6600 – Heritage Colloquium (2)
- ARCH 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
Fall 3 (6-9 credit hours)
- Heritage electives (6)
- ARCH 6400 – Heritage Internship (3)
66 Total Credit Hours
M.Arch. / M.S. in Architecture (Design Computation)
M.Arch. I Track – 102 credits
When completed together, a specified 15 credits of the 96-credit MArch I and specified 9 credits of the 30-credit MS in Architecture are waived as per the UNC Charlotte catalog, for a 102-credit dual degree.
Fall 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5201 – Architectural History I (3)
- ARCH 5602 – Materials (3)
- ARCH 6602 – Representation I (3)
- ARCH 6101 – Design Studio (6)
Spring 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5202 – Architectural History II (3)
- ARCH 5603 – Environmental Systems (3)
- ARCH 6603 – Representation II (3)
- ARCH 6101 – Design Studio (6)
Summer 1 (6 credits)
- ARCH 6103 – Studio (6)
Fall 2 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5203 – Architectural History III (3)
- ARCH 5604 – Computational Methods (3)
- ARCH 5611 – Computational Research Methods (3)
- ARCH 7101 – Topical Design Studio (6)
Spring 2 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5204 – Architectural History Topic (3)
- ARCH 5605 – Computational Practice (3)
- ARCH 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4)
- GRAD 6302 – Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
Fall 3 (15 credit hours)
- HIST 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 5305 – Building Systems Integration (3)
- ARCH 7201 – Research and Design Methods (3)
- ARCH 7103 – Integrated Studio (6)
Spring 3 (15 credit hours)
- ARCH 5206 – Professional Practice (3)
- ARCH 7104 – Diploma Studio (6)
- Approved ARCH or DBSA Elective (3)
- ARCH 7800 – Thesis Prep (3)
Fall 4 (6 credits)
- ARCH 7900 – Thesis (6)
102 Total Credit Hours
M.Arch. II Track – 66 credits
When completed together, a specified 15 credits of the 96-credit MArch II and specified 9 credits of the 30-credit MS in Architecture are waived as per the UNC Charlotte catalog, for a 66-credit dual degree.
Fall 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5203 – Architectural History III (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4203 may take ARCH 5204 – History Topics instead
- ARCH 5604 – Computational Methods (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4604 may take ARCH 6306 – Tech Topics instead
- ARCH 5611 – Computational Research Methods (3)
- ARCH 7101 – Topical Design Studio (6)
Spring 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5204 – Architectural History Topic (3)
- ARCH 5605 – Computational Practice (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4605 may take ARCH 6306 – Tech Topics instead
- ARCH 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4)
- GRAD 6302 – Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
Fall 2 (15 credit hours)
- HIST 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 5305 – Building Systems Integration (3)
- ARCH 7201 – Research and Design Methods (3)
- ARCH 7103 – Integrated Studio (6)
Spring 2 (15 credit hours)
- ARCH 5206 – Professional Practice (3)
- ARCH 7104 – Diploma Studio (6)
- Approved ARCH or DBSA Elective (3)
- ARCH 7800 – Thesis Prep (3)
Fall 3 (6 credits)
- ARCH 7900 – Thesis (6)
66 Total Credit Hours
M.Arch. / M.S. in Architecture (Sustainable Building Technology)
M.Arch. I Track – 102 credits
When completed together, a specified 15 credits of the 96-credit MArch I and specified 9 credits of the 30-credit MS in Architecture are waived as per the UNC Charlotte catalog, for a 102-credit dual degree.
Fall 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5201 – Architectural History I (3)
- ARCH 5602 – Materials (3)
- ARCH 6602 – Representation I (3)
- ARCH 6101 – Design Studio (6)
Spring 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5202 – Architectural History II (3)
- ARCH 5603 – Environmental Systems (3)
- ARCH 6603 – Representation II (3)
- ARCH 6101 – Design Studio (6)
Summer 1 (6 credits)
- ARCH 6103 – Studio (6)
Fall 2 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5203 – Architectural History III (3)
- ARCH 5604 – Computational Methods (3)
- ARCH 6050 – Sustainability Research Methods (3)
- ARCH 7101 – Topical Design Studio (6)
Spring 2 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5204 – Architectural History Topic (3)
- ARCH 5605 – Computational Practice (3)
- ARCH 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4)
- GRAD 6302 – Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
Fall 3 (15 credit hours)
- HIST 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 5305 – Building Systems Integration (3)
- ARCH 7201 – Research and Design Methods (3)
- ARCH 7103 – Integrated Studio (6)
Spring 3 (15 credit hours)
- ARCH 5206 – Professional Practice (3)
- ARCH 7104 – Diploma Studio (6)
- Approved ARCH Elective (3)
- ARCH 7800 – Thesis Prep (3)
Fall 3 (6 credits)
- ARCH 7900 – Thesis (6)
102 Total Credit Hours
M.Arch. II Track – 66 credits
When completed together, a specified 15 credits of the 60-credit MArch II and specified 9 credits of the 30-credit MS in Architecture are waived as per the UNC Charlotte catalog, for a 66-credit dual degree.
Fall 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5203 – Architectural History III (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4203 may take ARCH 5204 – History Topics instead
- ARCH 5604 – Computational Methods (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4604 may take ARCH 6306 – Tech Topics instead
- ARCH 6050 – Sustainability Research Methods (3)
- ARCH 7101 – Topical Design Studio (6)
Spring 1 (15 Credit Hours)
- ARCH 5204 – Architectural History Topic (3)
- ARCH 5605 – Computational Practice (3)
- students with a BA in Architecture from UNC Charlotte that have taken ARCH 4605 may take ARCH 6306 – Tech Topics instead
- ARCH 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4)
- GRAD 6302 – Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
Fall 2 (15 credit hours)
- HIST 6306 – Technology Topic (3)
- ARCH 5305 – Building Systems Integration (3)
- ARCH 7201 – Research and Design Methods (3)
- ARCH 7103 – Integrated Studio (6)
Spring 2 (15 credit hours)
- ARCH 5206 – Professional Practice (3)
- ARCH 7104 – Diploma Studio (6)
- Approved ARCH Elective (3)
- ARCH 7800 – Thesis Prep (3)
Fall 3 (6 credits)
- ARCH 7900 – Thesis (6)
66 Total Credit Hours
Visit UNC Charlotte
We invite applicants and prospective applicants to learn more about our programs by attending our Open Houses and Facility Tours, both of which may be done in person or virtually. These events are opportunities to meet current faculty, staff, and students, and to ask questions about the program.
“My favorite thing about the School of Architecture is the sense of community. There is an environment of inspiration – and not competitiveness – that drives the school. I know if I am struggling with a concept or design technique, I can reach out to my peers or I can go to a professor to get the assistance I need.”
Joel Fudge
Master of Architecture
Admissions Details
See our Graduate Admissions page for more information about graduate admissions to the School of Architecture, including specifics for international students and answers to frequently asked questions.
Master of Architecture
The M.Arch. is a NAAB-accredited professional degree that prepares students to become licensed architects and leaders in the built environment.
M.S. in Architecture
The M.S. in Architecture focuses on emerging research critical to the architectural profession and offers an opportunity for specialized and focused coursework and investigation in three areas of concentration: Critical Heritage Studies, Design Computation, and Sustainable Building Technology.