MArch I Degree Requirements

A candidate will be recommended for the Master in Architecture as a professional degree upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 140 units. MArch I students pursue the following seven semester course of study:

First Semester     

GSD 1101          First Semester Core Studio: 8 units
GSD 2121         Visual Studies: 2 units
GSD 2122         Projective Representation in Architecture: 2 units
GSD 4223          Buildings, Texts, and Contexts: 4 units
GSD 6121          Materials and Construction: 2 units
GSD 6122          Energy, Technology, and Building: 2 units

Second Semester

GSD 1102          Second Semester Core Studio: 8 units
GSD 4122          Buildings, Texts, and Contexts: 4 units
GSD 6123          Materials, Constructions, Processes: 4 units
GSD 6125          Environmental Technologies in Buildings: 4 units

Third Semester

GSD 1201          Third Semester Core Studio: 8 units
Digital Media       GSD 2223 or GSD 2224 4 units
GSD 4121          Buildings, Texts, and Contexts: 4 units
GSD 6227          Analysis and Design of Building Structures I: 4 units

Fourth Semester

GSD 1202         Fourth Semester Core Studio: 8 units
GSD 6229         Analysis and Design of Building Structures II: 4 units
GSD 7212         Issues in the Architectural Practice and Ethics: 4 units
Electives           Distributional or General Electives**   4 units

Fifth Semester

Studio Option*    8 units
GSD 6230            Building Technology: 4 units
Electives             Distributional or General Electives**     8 units

Sixth Semester

Studio Option*     8 units
Thesis Elective    Elective in Preparation of Thesis     4 units
Electives               Distributional or General Electives**     8 units

Seventh Semester

GSD 9301      Independent Design Thesis     12 units
Electives       Distributional or General Electives**     8 units

* A minimum of one studio option must be taken from those offered by the Department of Architecture.
** Students are required to fulfill the following distributional electives:

• 8 units of advanced history electives
• 4 units of non-Western electives
• 4 units of professional practice electives

An approved list of distributional electives is posted each term. Please note that some courses may count toward the satisfaction of two distributional electives. For example, an advanced history course may also fulfill a non-Western requirement.

General electives may be fulfilled through any course at the GSD or cross-registered courses at Harvard schools, MIT or the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts.