Welcome

It is a pleasure to present this handbook to new and continuing graduate students in the University of Minnesota School of Architecture. This manual articulates policies for the M.Arch, M.S., and M.HSPH programs, as both a set of parameters and a road map to receiving the Master’s degree. It is our hope that this handbook, coupled with a superb facility and a committed faculty, will provide a framework to a successful academic experience. The M.Arch curriculum’s design studio is at the core of architecture’s professional pedagogy, just as research methods and field-based training are fundamental components of the M.S. and M.HSPH degrees. These elements are accompanied by the many informal activities of the School: the lectures sponsored by the College of Design, ongoing exhibits in the HGA Gallery, design catalysts with visiting faculty, research endeavors in two nationally recognized research and design Centers, study abroad experiences, and the many opportunities presented by design firms and museums of this area.

Throughout your studies here, we expect that our mutual intellectual and professional pursuits of architecture’s rich heritage will be memorable and exceptionally rewarding.

Jennifer Yoos, Head of the School of Architecture <yoosx001@umn.edu>

Federico Garcia Lammers, Director of Graduate Studies <garc0157@umn.edu>

About this Handbook

This Graduate Program Handbook is designed to provide graduate students with information about the policies and procedures for graduate study in the Architecture Graduate Program. The Handbook describes the administration of the graduate program, lists the requirements for student progress, and includes resources for financial assistance.

The Handbook is supplemental to the information provided on the University of Minnesota Graduate School Website: http://www.grad.umn.edu

The information in this handbook and other University catalogs, publications, or announcements is subject to change without notice. University offices can provide current information about changes. Advisors and students are responsible for keeping current on updates to policies and procedures. Changes are indicated in the minutes of the meetings of the faculty, and are distributed to faculty and students via e-mail.

The Graduate School

The Graduate School at the University of Minnesota oversees all aspects of graduate education. All admissions, degree program administration, and graduation requirements are completed through the Graduate School. The Graduate School offices are located on the third floor of Johnston Hall on the East Bank of the Minneapolis Campus; Students Services is in 316 Johnston Hall. All Graduate School forms can be obtained at Johnston Hall or on the Graduate School website: http://www.grad.umn.edu

One Stop

The University of Minnesota’s One Stop student services website is a central information resource for students, faculty, and staff. Information related to registration, finances, and services is available at this site: http://onestop.umn.edu

University of Minnesota Policies Related to Conduct and Ethics

The Graduate School follows the standards of student conduct enforceable by University agencies, written for the University and available through Student Conduct and Academic Integrity. Student Conduct Code links directly to this policy. http://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf

Equal Opportunity Statement: The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Professional Accreditation

In the United States, most 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 professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year, three-year, or two-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 require a preprofessional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

University of Minnesota, College of Design, School of Architecture, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs: 

M. Arch. (preprofessional degree + 59 graduate credits) and M. Arch. (non-preprofessional degree + 90 credits)

Next accreditation visit: 2024