ARC:MARCH - Master of Architecture

Three-Year Path

A professional degree for students with a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science, or equivalent, from an accredited institution.

Two-Year Path

A professional track for students who have completed a 4-year pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture or Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree.

Admissions Requirements for all Professional Graduate Degree Paths in the Department of Architecture

All applicants must meet University graduate admissions requirements. Applicants to the Department of Architecture degree programs must also submit a portfolio of creative work for review.

The portfolio review examines evidence of creative ability, academic success, and professional achievement. It is an important component of the admissions process. Please contact the Department of Architecture for specific portfolio requirements. The deadline for portfolio submission is January 15th of each year. Portfolios submitted after this date will be considered if studio space is available.

Students who have successfully completed the portfolio review process must also meet the minimum requirements of an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or hold a graduate degree from an accredited institution or have completed the entirety of the pre-graduate component of the Department's Accelerated Master of Architecture degree to be fully admitted in the graduate program.

Additional Information for Applicants

Applicants to the school should plan for the financial aspects of a design education. These include the cost associated with required access to a laptop computer as well as the costs of software, travel and field trips, tools and equipment, and modeling supplies. Students in the program must have access to a laptop computer through purchase, lease or other arrangements. For further information contact the Department.

NAAB Statement

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 6-year, 3-year, or 2-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.

Florida International University, College of Architecture and The Arts, Department of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program paths:

--Master of Architecture (72 undergraduate credits + 102 graduate credits); see program requirements for Accelerated Path: program

--Master of Architecture (pre-professional degree + 60 graduate credits); see program requirements for Two-Year Path below.

--Master of Architecture (non-pre-professional degree + 105 graduate credits); see program requirements for Three-Year Path below.

Next accreditation visit for all program paths: 2026

Ownership of Student Work

Student work, submitted to the Department in satisfaction of course or degree requirements, becomes the physical property of the Department. However, students retain all rights to the intellectual property of such work. This work may include papers, drawings, models, and other materials. The Department assumes no responsibility for safeguarding such materials. At its discretion, the Department may retain, return, or discard such materials. The Department will not normally discard the materials of currently enrolled students without giving the student a chance to reclaim them.

Academic Travel

The Architecture Department values academic travel both nationally and abroad. Immersion in other cities and cultures provides our students with critical experiences that enhance learning. The firsthand interaction with exemplary completed buildings and sites, as well as those under construction, enrich learning throughout the curriculum. It is a requirement of the academic program in Architecture that each student participate in at least one of the department's travel options before graduation. The department offers three options for travel: 1-Residence abroad for a full semester through our Genoa, Italy, program; 2- International travel through one of the many study abroad programs offered each summer; and 3- Domestic travel outside Miami as part of a design studio. Students must hold a 3.0 or higher cumulative graduate GPA to participate in Study Abroad programs.

Academic Progression Requirements

(1) No grade below a ‘C’ will be accepted for graduation in required courses or professional electives.

(2) Student must achieve an overall cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 in order to apply for to graduation. Refer to Graduate Academic Standing on Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal.

Master’s Project/Thesis Requirement

Graduate students in all masters degree programs are required to undertake a master’s project or a master's thesis as part of their course of study in the Department of Architecture.

There are no majors associated with this program.