Master of Science in Architecture
Transformative applied research on architecture and the built environment.
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The Master of Science in Architecture is a STEM-designated graduate degree devoted to fundamental and applied research in the built environment with a flexible curriculum of three semesters.
CAPLA’s MS.Arch is the only graduate architecture program of its kind that allows you to move across and between concentration areas to form your own specialization in architectural research and practice.
Our dynamic program’s first semester includes a common foundation in research methods and a research studio, after which each student establishes an individual research project through a research seminar culminating in an original master’s project or thesis.
This program is open to students with degrees from disciplines other than architecture, as well as those holding professional and non-professional architecture degrees.
You may also complete the MS.Arch degree alongside the M.Arch degree. Read more about the dual degree.
Degree Concentrations
As a student in the MS Architecture, you have the option to specialize in the following concentration areas:
- Design and energy conservation
- Emerging building technologies
- Health and the built environment
- Heritage conservation
- Sustainable market transformation
- Urban design
Career Opportunities
Our graduates are readily placed in their areas of expertise, including:
- Architecture firms for unique design-research skills
- Building technology manufacturers for specialized design expertise
- General contracting firms for distinct sustainability expertise
- National and state or provincial parks for historic preservation practice
Compare MS.Arch and M.Arch
Not sure which architecture master's program is right for you? Compare our Master of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture by degree type, purpose, program length, curriculum, prerequisites, accreditation and career goals.
The MS.Arch program, with its flexible and comprehensive curriculum, emerged as the perfect avenue for me to not only engage with international architectural trends, but also to make a substantial contribution to the field.
Asif Zeshan '24 MS.Arch
The Master of Science in Architecture at the University of Arizona offers a rigorous, comprehensive, research-based curriculum with dynamic core and elective courses that prepare you for becoming a leader in architecture and the built environment.
Opportunities for leadership, scholarship, entrepreneurship and innovation across private, public and academic arenas grow from earning the MS Architecture. The ability to conduct in-depth research on the built environment distinguishes our graduates from those who have professional degrees in architecture.
The MS.Arch Student Experience
Studying architecture is unlike any other graduate program experience. You’ll find community not just with fellow students but also with faculty thanks to our proven research, studio and methods focus.
And studying in Tucson is unlike any other student experience, thanks to our Sonoran Desert laboratory, ecological sense of place and CAPLA’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Meet the MS.Arch Community
Asif Zeshan '24 MS.Arch
Masters of Science in Architecture graduate Asif Zeshan feels that the architecture community is due for a transformation to keep up with emerging technology. The MS.Arch program provided him the opportunity to dive into research on the topic, bringing his passions to life.
Montse Bover '25 MS.Arch
Inspired by stories shared by family in Spain, Montse Bover dreams of diving into the intricacies of the relationship between farmhouses and society. CAPLA’s Masters of Science in Architecture program gave her the flexibility and resources she needed to take her education to the next level.
Altaf Engineer, Associate Professor of Architecture
Professor Engineer, who chairs the MS.Arch program, has always felt a deep responsibility to apply his knowledge and skills to address critical health, social and environmental issues affecting humans worldwide.
Ready to transform architecture and the built environment?
Learn more about the Master of Science in Architecture by contacting us at capla-grad@arizona.edu or begin your application: