Master of Architecture II Degree Program

Post-Professional Degree

Joel Sanders, Director of Post-Professional Studies

The Master of Architecture II program is for students already holding a professional degree in architecture (B.Arch., or an equivalent first professional degree) who seek a second, master’s-level degree in this discipline and who are interested in developing a stronger theoretical basis for their understanding of the field. Since candidates for this program are expected to have received a professional degree prior to admittance, it should be understood that the degree awarded from this program will not fulfill the educational prerequisite for obtaining an architect’s license in the United States.

This program leads to a degree of Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) and typically requires two years of full-time residency. Because the program combines two years of studio-based activities with a variety of opportunities (both course-related and individually conceived) to extend their understanding of architectural design and its meaning within a broader cultural and social context, students in the M.Arch. II program are given considerable freedom and support to develop an increasingly reflexive, critical, and speculative relationship to their work.

With a number of courses available in the area of history and theory, and with access to a wide variety of Yale courses outside the School of Architecture, post-professional students are able to expand their understanding of the broader cultural context of architecture. Post-professional students are also given opportunities to organize symposia, exhibitions, publications, and seminars. Thus, to an exceptional degree, they are able to shape the curriculum to their own specific interests in collaboration with other students and faculty in the School.

Students take one advanced design studio, selected by lottery, in each of the first three terms; these are led by leading designers, urbanists, and theoreticians drawn from the architecture profession worldwide. Additionally, post-professional students are required to take one post-professional research seminar each term, culminating in a focused post-professional studio and symposium in the final term.

Students are encouraged to explore elective course options. Courses—falling into the broad categories of design and visualization, technology and practice, history and theory, and urbanism and landscape—support and augment the pivotal studio offerings. Courses offered by other schools and departments within the University may be taken for credit.

Course of Study

In course titles, a designates fall term, and b designates spring term. The School reserves the right to change the prescribed course of study as necessary.

M.Arch. II: Total Requirement: 72 credits

First Year (Fall)

First Year (Spring)

Second Year (Fall)

Second Year (Spring)

*Students not on academic warning or probation may substitute independent elective course work. (See the School’s Academic Rules and Regulations for procedures and restrictions.)

†This requirement is replaced by a fourth advanced design studio for M.Arch. II students in their final term of study during the spring 2021 term.

Summer Preparation Courses for Incoming M.Arch. II Students

In the five weeks before the beginning of the fall term, the School offers three preparation courses that are required for incoming M.Arch. II students. (These courses are offered online during the fall term for 2020–2021.)

1. Summer Shops Techniques Course. This one-week course introduces incoming students to the School’s fabrication equipment and shops. The course stresses good and safe shop techniques. Students are not allowed to use the School’s shops unless they have satisfactorily completed this course.
2. Summer Digital Media Orientation Course. This two-part course, which occurs during the same week as the Summer Shops Techniques Course, covers accessing the School’s servers, the use of the School’s equipment, and the School’s digital media policies and procedures.
3. Arts Library Research Methods Session. This ninety-minute session covers various strategies to answer research questions pertaining to course curricula and topics by using tools such as the Yale University online catalog, architecture databases, image resources, print resources, and archival resources.

School Portfolio

In addition to the 72 satisfactorily completed course credits, a student must satisfactorily complete the portfolio requirement (as described under Academic Regulations in the chapter Life at the School of Architecture) in order to receive an M.Arch. degree. The portfolio requirement is administered and periodically reviewed by the Design Committee.

Academic Rules and Regulations

Procedures and restrictions for the M.Arch. II program can be found in the School’s Academic Rules and Regulations section of the School of Architecture Handbook. This handbook is available online at http://architecture.yale.edu/academics/school-handbook.