Architectural Sciences (Concentration in Built Ecologies)

The program is offered to graduate architects and engineers, or others in comparable fields who are interested in researching architectural design in the context of emergent technologies moving built environments in the direction of clean, self-sustaining eco-systems. Students completing the M.S. will:

• Demonstrate general competence and base knowledge of the major principals governing dynamic bioclimatic design and the physics of energy and material science.
• Productively work within an inter-disciplinary design environment.
• Have acquired thorough knowledge of a chosen area of emergent technologies as it affects and informs design possibilities for the built environment.
• Demonstrate critical rigor and competence in the technical analysis of design problems.
• Possess the ability to apply such technical analysis to design problems and project new solutions based on the cross-referencing of information sets from multiple-disciplines.
• Display competence in the use of relevant computing platforms that facilitate the cross-referencing of such information across disciplines and scales.
• Be able to critically situate the above with an awareness of the broader socio-political implications, importance, and relevance of these efforts.

To foster an immediate intelligent and productive discourse in a concentrated one-year interdisciplinary program that joins students and faculty from a variety of backgrounds and expertise, a common reading list is issued upon admission to the program for critical evaluation and response to the material prior to start of the program. During the fall semester, each student develops a Plan of Study with his or her adviser for review and approval by the Graduate Program Director. The Plan must include the anticipated courses, concentration, and area of research interest for further development.

Fall

• ARCH 6310 - Environmental History and Theory Credit Hours: 3
• ARCH 6320 - Built Ecologies 1 Credit Hours: 3
• ARCH 6340 - Material Systems and Productions Credit Hours: 3
• ARCH 6350 - Design Research Studio Credit Hours: 4
• ARCH 6810 - Research Design Seminar Credit Hours: 2

Spring

• ARCH 6330 - Built Ecologies 2 Credit Hours: 3
• ARCH 6360 - Interdisciplinary Research Studio Credit Hours: 4

• (See footnote 1 below)

• ARCH 6900 - Graduate Thesis Seminar Credit Hours: 2
• ARCH 6980 - Master’s Project Credit Hours: 1 to 9

• (See footnote 2 below)

• or

• ARCH 6990 - Master's Thesis Credit Hours: 5-6

• (See footnote 2 below)

Summer

• Thesis/Project Completion + Presentation

The degree requires 30 credit hours.

Footnotes

1. The Interdisciplinary Research Studio is comprised of a design research investigation and may consist of a faculty led group project or be part of an ongoing interdisciplinary faculty research project approved by the program committee.
2. Both the Master’s Thesis and the Research Project are individual projects that will be conducted alongside or within current research streams at the School or Institute, however, the research project may also be conducted within a larger interdisciplinary research group or project.

Requirements

1. Nonrefundable application processing fee of $75.
2. Statement of Background and Goals
3. Resume or curriculum vitae.
4. Two letters of recommendation.
5. Writing samples, if required by department.
6. IT Background Evaluation form (IT only).
7. Copies of official test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE)
8. Copies of official transcripts and evidence of degrees earned, in English and in the native language, of all post-secondary education (including transcript keys)
9. Copy of your passport (international students only)
10. GRE general test
11. TOEFL score of 230 CBT/88 iBT/570 PBT (IELTS 6.5 or PTE 60)
12. M.S. - Portfolio of work or appropriate qualifications and experience in architecture or related fields

Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• Flexible study schedule
• Experienced teachers
• Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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Scholarships

Teaching Assistants

Students assist Rensselaer faculty in their classroom and laboratory activities, gaining valuable experience as researchers, scholars, and teachers. Departments provide stipends and full-tuition waivers. Master’s students may spend a maximum of one year with internal support; doctoral students may spend a maximum of two years with internal support. Continued support can then be provided by means of research assistantships.

Research Assistants

Students work with the faculty in research-related tasks that further the student’s own graduate career and development as a researcher, scholar, and professional. Research assistants are paid a stipend and are given a full waiver of tuition.

Graduate Fellowships

Outstanding students may be awarded a university-supported Rensselaer Graduate Fellowship Award, which carries a full-tuition and fees scholarship and a minimum stipend of $21,500 per academic year. Students are nominated by their departments for Rensselaer Graduate Fellowship consideration.

Graduate Education Program (Russia)

Selected GEP Scholarship students are eligible for a renewable scholarship in the amount of 1,38 mln. rubles per year. Students in science and engineering fields are eligible for GEP funding. For application details and deadlines, please visit http://educationglobal.ru/en/. Applicants must be admitted to Rensselaer prior to finalizing the application for the GEP program.