Master of Architecture

Design rendering of an indoor and outdoor mixed used space on a tree-lined city street

Design Studio 4, Class of 2025

Sketches of a person in a large space with floor to ceiling windows next to abstract artwork of people in different colored circles.

Design Studio 3, Class of 2025

Design rendering of a curved hallway with pink walls featuring students in a learning space

Design Studio 3, Class of 2025

Student working on a wooden structure in Morocco

Oculus: WPI’s entry for the 2019 Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Competition Ben Guerir, Morocco

Design rendering of a modern, large, predominantly white space with elegant recessed lighting

Major Qualifying Project (MQP), Class of 2025

The Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) is a professional degree program that prepares graduates for the practice of architecture. The program balances core disciplinary competency with design experimentation, to explore creative architectural and engineering solutions that address societal and environmental concerns and opportunities for the built environment and the making of buildings. Emphasis is placed on the completion of a design thesis where students learn to synthesize the social, environmental, and technical thinking through informed design practice. The thesis project is supported by coursework that emphasizes the broadening of technical and theoretical exploration of design and supporting topics. Students develop a tailored curriculum in close collaboration with a faculty advisor.

Integrate your Passions for Architecture and Engineering

The practice of architecture and engineering typically follow two distinct education pathways that lead to different forms of licensure in the US, however, there is substantial and increasing overlap in the knowledge base and skills essential to either discipline. Global challenges, such as climate change and growing energy dependencies are intensifying the need for professionals astute to both fields. The professional Master of Architecture program at WPI is designed for students seeking to embrace their passions for both architectural and engineering design.

Track 1:

This admission track is designed to work in conjunction with our existing 4-year undergraduate BS degree in Architectural Engineering. The combined BS-AREN/M. Arch program has a total expected residency of 5 years, which is on a par with traditional accredited undergraduate programs in architecture but offers the unique benefit of dual accreditation (see NAAB and ABET accreditation information). Upon graduation, you can decide to become a registered architect or engineer, or both, depending on your career goals and aspirations. WPI is the only institution in the US offering such integrated 5-year program. Admission to the M. Arch program is decided by the program committee during your 3rd year of the undergraduate program.

Undergraduate Course Requirements				Credit Hours
Mathematics, Sciences, and Supplemental Sciences	Mathematics	MA 1021	Calculus 1	3
		MA 1022	Calculus 2	3
		MA 1023	Calculus 3	3
		MA 1024	Calculus 4	3
		MA 2051	Ordinary differential equations	3
		MA 2071	Matrixes and Linear Algebra	3
		MA 2611	Applied Statistics	3
	Basic Science	CH 1010	Chemical Properies and Bonding	3
		PH 1110	Mechanics	3
		PH 1120	Electricity and Magnetism	3
	Supplemental Science	PH 2101	Thermodynamics	3
	Supplemental Science	ER 3004	Fluid Mechanics	3
Architectural and Engineering Design	Architectural Design Studios	AREN 2002	Architectural Design I	3
		AREN2004	Architectural Design II - Light and Lighting systems	3
		AREN 3002	Architectural Design III	3
		AREN 3020	Architectural Design IV - Building Energy Simulation	3
		AREN 3022	Architectural Design V - Building Envelope Design	3
	Major Qualifying Project (Undergraduate Capstone Design Project)	MQP	Major Qualifying Project	3
		MQP	Major Qualifying Project	3
		MQP	Major Qualifying Project	3
Building Engineering and Technology	Materials and Methods of Construction	AREN 2023	Introduction to Architectural Engineering Systems	3
	Building Structural Systems	CE 2000	Analytical Mechanics 1	3
		CE 2001	Analytical Mechanics 2	3
		CE 2002	Introduction to analysis and design	3
	Building Structural Systems (Students are required to select at least 2 additional courses from this list)	CE 3006	Design of steel structures	6
		CE 3008	Design or reinforced concrete structures
		CE 3010	Structural engineering
	Professional Practice (Students are required to select at least 2 courses from this list)	CE 3025	Project Evaluation	6
		CE 3020	Project Management
		CE 3022	Legal Aspects of Professional Practice
	Building Mechanical Systems	AREN 3024	Building Physics	3
		AREN 3003	Introduction to HVAC design	3
		AREN 3006	Advanced HVAC design	3
	Building Electrical and Lighting Systems	AREN 2025	Building Electrical Systems	3
History and Theory of Architecture Note: Undergraduate students can complete these courses as free electives, or as part of the general education requirements when completing their undergraduate BS degree in Architectural Engineering.	Required	AR 2114	Modern Architecture in the American Era, 1750-2001 and beyond	3
	Select at least 1	AR 2115	Topics in Architecture Since 1960	See Note
	Select at least 1	AR 3112	Modernism, Mass Culture, and the Avant-Garde
	Select at least 1	HI 1311	Introduction to American Urban History
		HI 2310	Topics in Urban History
		HI 331X	Urban Ecology and Environmental Justice
	Select at least 1	ENV 2201	Planning for Sustainable Communities
		ENV 2710	Designing for Climate Resilience and Justice
		ENV 3100	Adventures in Sustainable Urbanism
		IGS 501	Theorizing Place, Community, and Global Environmental Change
	Select at least 1	CE 3070	Urban and Environmental Planning
	Select at least 1	CE 4071	Land use Development and Controls
General Studies*	Humanities and Arts	HU 3900	Inquiry Seminar	3
			HUA electives	12
	Social Sciences		SS Electives	6
	Interactive Qualifying Project		Interactive Qualifying Project	9
	Physical Education			3
	Free Electives			9
UNDERGRADUATE Semester Credit Hours TOTAL				141

Graduate Course Requirements				Credit Hours
Research Seminar		ARCH 500	Thesis Research Seminar	3
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (2 courses)		CE 501	Professional Practice	3
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (2 courses)			Required Professional Practice Elective	3
FOCUS ELECTIVES			Focus Elective	3
			Focus Elective	3
			Focus Elective	3
DESIGN THESIS		ARCH 599	Design Thesis	12
GRADUATE Semester Credit Hours TOTAL				30

TOTAL semester credit hours of combined undergraduate and graduate coursework				171

Portfolio Submission Guide

The portfolio provides an opportunity to gain insight into your creative abilities, design sensibility, and technical proficiency developed through your studies as well as through independent or extracurricular experiences. It should include a curated selection of your most recent and meaningful work, balancing technical proficiency with creativity and personal expression. Portfolios typically consist of 10–15 pieces that may include design studio projects, visual studies, research-based work, and independent creative explorations completed outside regular coursework, such as competition entries, professional work, or self-initiated projects. Select work that reflects your voice, perspective, and interests, showing both conceptual depth and technical understanding. We value portfolios that feature a range of media such as hand drawings, models, photography, fabrication work, or digital designs. Work derived from direct observation, such as sketches or life drawings, is particularly appreciated for demonstrating your ability to observe and interpret the built environment, while projects developed from imagination or research should reveal your creative and problem-solving process. The portfolio should communicate how your design thinking integrates aesthetic, technical, and contextual considerations, reflecting your readiness to engage in graduate-level architectural study.

Portfolio Format and Submission

Format: Portfolios must be uploaded as a single PDF and include your most important and representative visual arts, design, research, and/or professional work.

File Size: Maximum 40 MB.

Page Limit: Maximum 20 pages, excluding cover and table of contents. A cover page is required and must include your name as it appears on your application.

Resolution and Color: Maximum 150dpi; RGB color format is recommended.

Page Size: Portfolios should be designed and formatted for on-screen viewing

Curriculum

The Master of Architecture program offers a unique interdisciplinary experience, one that includes coursework in subjects including architectural and engineering design, the history and theory of architecture, and professional practice. The curriculum is designed to produce graduates that have sufficient breadth and depth in all aspects important to the practice of architecture. The program culminates in a graduate design thesis that entails creating and advancing a comprehensive architectural project that exhibits adequate scope and intricacy. Thesis topics are developed in close collaboration with a thesis committee, which is composed of a primary thesis advisor and an advisor in a focus area. The design thesis is underpinned by elective courses that are thematically aligned with a focus area, allowing students to broaden their skills and develop a meaningful grasp of a thematic area of interest. To ensure this depth, students complete at least three courses of thematically related work. Different focus areas are possible and currently include a focus on structures, and climate adaptation. Other focus areas can be developed, and students can propose alternative thematically related coursework with sponsorship from a thesis advisor and approval of the program committee.

Graduate Curriculum

The graduate curriculum is composed of 2 professional practice courses (6 credits), a thesis research seminar (3 credits), 3 concentration courses (9 credits), and a design thesis (12 credits):

CE 501. Professional Practice (required - 3 credits)
CE 580. Advanced Project Management
CE 584. Advanced Cost Estimating Procedures
CE 583. Contracts and Law for Civil Engineers

This seminar prepares students to conceive and develop a graduate thesis project proposal that is rooted in the originality and innovation of research and design practice. The course is structured with seminars of invited speakers, discussions of readings, workshops, student presentations, and thesis proposal development. The seminar may include a travel component. The topics vary each year with the focus on research methodologies and broad issues relevant to the discipline of architecture.

The graduate design thesis involves creating and advancing a comprehensive architectural project that exhibits adequate scope and intricacy. Thesis design topics are developed in close collaboration with a thesis committee, which is composed of a primary thesis advisor and an advisor in a focus area. A formal thesis rational and plan is developed during the thesis research seminar. The design thesis is required of all graduate students in the Master of Architecture program. Students register for 6 credits during the fall semester and 6 credits during the spring semester of their master’s year.

The design thesis is underpinned by elective courses that are thematically aligned with a focus area, allowing students to broaden their skills and develop a meaningful grasp of a thematic area of interest. To ensure this depth, students complete at least three courses of thematically related work. Different focus areas are possible and currently include a focus on (1) structures, and (2) climate adaptation. Other focus areas can be developed, and students can propose alternative thematically related coursework with sponsorship from a thesis advisor and approval of the M. Arch program committee. The focus area is seen as an important mechanism to connect the graduate program with faculty from other research domains and programs across campus. A list of recommended courses for two exemplary focus areas is included below:

Focus Area: Structures

CE 524: Finite Element Method and Applications
CE 510: Structural Mechanics
CE 511: Structural Dynamics
CE 514/ME 5383: Continuum Mechanics
CE 519: Advanced Structural Analysis
CE 531: Advanced Design of Steel Structures
CE 532: Advanced Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures
CE 534: Structural Design for Fire Conditions
CE/ME 5303: Applied Finite Element Methods in Engineering

Focus Area: Climate Adaptation

IGS 501: Theorizing Place, Community, and Global Environmental Change
IGS 505: Qualitative Methods for Community-Engaged Research
IGS 510: Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
IGS 545: Climate Change: Vulnerability and Mitigation
IGS 590: Capstone Seminar: Comparative Climate Action

Faculty Profiles

Shichao Liu

Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Prof. Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering with an affiliation in Fire Protection Engineering. His long-term goal is to advance and disseminate knowledge at the intersection of indoor air quality, building science, [...]

Soroush Farzin

Assistant Professor of Teaching, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

I am a designer, researcher, and educator working at the interface of Architecture and engineering. I am currently an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Architectural Engineering program at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where I teach Design Studio and Great Project Semina [...]

Navneet Anand

Adjunct Instructor/Lecturer, Architectural Engineering

Navneet Magon Anand is a design strategist, consultant and researcher with a background in Architecture and Sustainability. She is the founder of Design Veritas, a design strategy consultancy and creative studio advocating for human and environmental sustainability and wellbeing. [...]

Clyde Robinson

Adjunct Instructor/Lecturer, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Steven Van Dessel

Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

My research and teaching activities are in the area of sustainable building design and building technology, with a special focus on the study of adaptive building enclosure systems. One of the goals of this research is to develop smart materials that can alter their thermal prope [...]

Joseph Cullon

Professor of Teaching, Humanities & Arts

One of Professor Cullon's students recently called him "strangely fascinating." He knew that he was strange but he was happy to learn that a student found his approach to teaching fascinating. He likes to encourage students to see history not as a mass of dead facts but as a vita [...]

Melissa Belz

Associate Teaching Professor, The Global School

I am a geographer with a focus on the cultural landscape, meaning landscapes that are shaped by people. I am interested in development, how and why places change, and why certain traditions endure. I study this mainly through vernacular architecture (traditional regional design). [...]

Katherine Foo

Assistant Professor of Teaching, The Global School

Katherine Foo, PhD MLA, is co-director of the Berlin Project Center and an assistant teaching professor in the Integrative and Global Studies Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Her research focuses on urban environmental governance and landscape visualization for soci [...]

Elisabeth Stoddard

Associate Professor of Teaching, The Global School

Prof Stoddard is a human-environment geographer who is interested in the intersection of nature, society, and justice, particularly in the context of climate change. She looks at the ways in which we can design for climate resilience, in terms of infrastructure, location specific [...]

William San Martín

Assistant Professor, The Global School

William San Martín (He/Him/El) is Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Science, Technology, and Governance in the Department of Integrative and Global Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is also a Scholar affiliated with the Climate Social Science Network (CS [...]

Stephen McCauley

Associate Professor of Teaching, The Global School

Stephen McCauley is a geographer whose work focuses on exploring how cities change and how urban futures can be inclusive, green and resilient. His broad substantive interests include climate change preparedness, urban resilience, energy system innovation, community participation [...]

Derren Rosbach

Associate Professor of Teaching, The Global School

The overarching goal of my teaching and research is to contribute to an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental governance and policy. More specifically, I focus on the building of individual, organizational and institutional capacities to participate in collaborative [...]

Sarah Strauss

Professor, The Global School

Sarah Strauss was born and raised on the east coast. During high school and college, she was deeply involved in biomedical research, and expected her career path to lie in this direction. She enjoyed the philosophical traditions, though, and so although she worked in molecular bi [...]

Laureen Elgert

Professor & Department Head, The Global School

I joined WPI in 2011 as a scholar and teacher with training in public health, environmental policy, and international development studies. My research and teaching interests focused on the environment-development nexus, where tensions between sustainability and livelihoods often [...]

Tahar El-Korchi

Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

I enjoy my interactions with students at all levels of education, research, and mentoring, whether it be in the classroom, the lab, or in project work. I especially enjoy taking them to the Morocco Project Center and sharing with them the places where I grew up. Challenging the s [...]

Jessica Rosewitz

Assistant Teaching Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Dr. Jessica Rosewitz brings to WPI a wealth of past WPI experiences, teaching and project advising, industry and community engagement, a passion for WPI’s project-based education, and focus on continual improvement of engineering education at all levels. Her P.E. license and expe [...]

Leonard Albano

Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

I enjoy teaching civil engineering fundamentals in 1000 and 2000-level courses, and then revisiting those fundamentals in upper level and graduate courses as a base for presenting advanced topics and fostering deeper learning. This emphasis on fundamentals can be challenging to u [...]

Mingjiang Tao

Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

I teach geotechnical and pavement engineering courses at WPI. My favorite teaching activities are helping students develop critical thinking skills and become independent learners and problem solvers for their future career in civil engineering. My areas of research are in the in [...]

Nima Rahbar

White Family Distinguished Professor & Department Head, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Suzanne LePage

Senior Instructor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Having initially graduated from WPI with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in 1995, I returned to teach part-time and pursue graduate studies in 2007. While the intervening years as a professional planner provided me with a wide variety of experience assisting towns and re [...]

Aaron Sakulich

Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

Replacing our crumbling national infrastructure with conventional materials would be only a temporary solution to a critical problem. My research focuses on developing new, more durable materials for use in infrastructure, which will lead to a lowered maintenance burden, improved [...]

Accreditation Information

NAAB: The Master of Architecture Program has been accepted as eligible for candidacy and is currently pursuing NAAB accreditation. The initial candidacy visit is scheduled for fall 2024.

Learn more about the Master of Architecture program's eligibility for candidacy.

ABET: The 4-year BS in Architectural Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Learn more about the BS in Architectural Engineering program's ABET Accreditation.

Master of Architecture