The UVA Master of Architecture program is a National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accredited and STEM-designated first professional degree focused on the production of innovative architecture in the context of the global city. The breadth and depth of our faculty expertise teaches students to push experimental boundaries while providing a strong connection to society, scholarship, practice, and technology.
The Master of Architecture program, rich in instrumental and methodological diversity, exposes students to a rigorous and inventive architectural education. We enjoy a collaborative community, comprised of internationally recognized faculty who are primarily in residence throughout the semester to engage an energetic and culturally diverse student body. The program prepares graduates as design leaders, global citizens, and critical scholars. Our students learn to actively shape the values, boundaries, and methodologies of architectural practice.
We welcome students from diverse scholarly and professional backgrounds who are interested in critically shaping the built environment. As a student here, you have the opportunity to take advantage of UVA's proud history as a renowned research university, with nationally and internationally ranked programs, distinguished faculty, and robust resources.
The Master of Architecture program welcomes applicants with any four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree consisting of a minimum of 120 credits from an accredited United States college or university or certified equivalent degree. Diverse scholarly and professional backgrounds enrich our educational environment in the first-professional graduate MArch program. Applicants with a previous architecture degree are eligible for advanced-placement.
Enrolled students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours of general studies (not related to architecture) during their undergraduate degree to complete the degree in the time allotted.
Courses taken at other institutions are not accepted for graduate credit in the MArch program. Under exceptional circumstances, a petition along with supporting academic materials (i.e. syllabus and work samples highlighting graduate-level content or equivalence) may be submitted to receive an exemption from taking a required course. Evidence of professional experience is not eligible for course exemption. Candidates are required to fulfill the total degree credit requirement regardless of course exemptions granted. Petitions are to be submitted to the department chair or graduate program director for consideration and final decision.