Graduate Architecture Program Information
M.Arch.2 Admissions Requirements
Special Admissions Requirements for M.Arch.2 Program:
Applicants are evaluated on an individual basis for placement in the Master of Architecture Program. In order to be considered for admission, each applicant’s previous undergraduate transcript is reviewed for completion of a four-year pre-professional architecture or environmental design degree from a school with an NAAB-accredited B.Arch. or M.Arch. program or equivalent and for successful completion of studies equivalent to required professional courses within the M.Arch.3 curriculum at Virginia Tech. Previous coursework should include the following requirements:
1. A minimum of two semesters of coursework equivalent to the required Building Materials and Construction — ARCH 5565, 5566 (formerly ARCH 4765-66, Building Technology) — courses, including building assembly, materials and methods of construction, accessibility, life-safety, code compliance, and cost control issues.
2. Coursework equivalent to the required Building Environmental Systems (ARCH 4755) course.
3. A minimum of 2 semesters of coursework equivalent to the required Building Structures (ARCH 4775-76) courses, and corresponding prerequisites in Statics and Strengths of Materials, equivalent to Basic Principles of Structures (ESM 3704).
4. A survey course in Architectural History, covering relevant aspects of the content of the required Qualifying Design Seminar (ARCH 4705-4706) course.
Applicants should also have completed at least 114 total university-level semester credit hours, of which 45 semester credit hours must be outside architectural studies either as general studies or as electives with other than architectural content, prior to enrollment in the M.Arch.2 program.
Applicant portfolios are also reviewed for demonstration of the student’s aesthetic judgment, basic design ability, visual investigation skills, and abilities in architectural design, including site design, identification of building elements and materials and an understanding of their assembly, integration of building systems, a knowledge of building structure, and other evidence of awareness, understanding, and abilities conforming to NAAB student performance criteria.
Students who, in the judgment of the faculty, have adequate preparation are given advanced status. Where slight deficiencies in preparation exist, applicants may be admitted with the stipulation that they complete additional semesters of design studio work or additional supporting coursework. These prerequisites may not count toward the student’s required graduate Plan of Study. Applicants to the M.Arch.2 program who, in the judgment of the Graduate Architecture Program faculty, do not demonstrate sufficient preparation may instead be offered admission into the M.Arch.3 program.
Last Modified: November 13, 2009