Architecture

The Master of Architecture I (M.Arch.I), accredited by the NAAB, is the basic professional degree in architecture at UCLA. It is offered to students who want to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to practice architecture professionally. It consists of three years of study, including design studios, required course work, and electives.

1st Year

FALL

Introductory Design Studio - 6 units

Introduction to Computers - 2 units

Structures I - 4 units

Introduction to Building Construction - 2 units

WINTER

Building Design Studio - 6 units

Theories of Architecture - 4 units

Structures II - 4 units

SPRING

Technology Core - 6 units

Structures III - 4 units

Building Climatolog - 4 units

2nd Year

FALL

Building Design with Landscape Studio - 6 units

Theory of Architectural Programming - 4 units

Elective - 4 units

WINTER

Major Building Design Studio - 6 units

Environmental Controls - 4 units

Elective - 4 units

SPRING

Comprehensive Studio - 6 units

Building Construction - 4 units

Professional Practice - 4 units

3rd Year

FALL

Advanced Topics Studio - 6 units

Elective - 4 units

Research Studio Seminar - 2 units

WINTER

Advanced Topics Studio - 6 units

Elective - 4 units

Research Studio Seminar - 2 units

SPRING

Elective - 4 units

Elective - 4 units

Research Studio - 6 units

Academic Background

A.B., B.A., B.S. (including four-year B.A. or B.S. in Architecture)
Nonarchitecture undergraduate degree or, four-year nonprofessional degree in architecture.
Degree Objective on the Application for Graduate Admission (AGA): MAR

Admission Requirements

The M.Arch.I program accepts applications from those holding Bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) comparable in standards and content to a Bachelor's degree from the University of California.

Applications are accepted from students with diverse backgrounds. Although no formal training in architecture is required, first-year classes assume some familiarity with the history and culture of architecture, possession of basic graphic skills, and the understanding of fundamental concepts of mathematics and physics. Applicants are strongly advised to become familiar with basic works in the history and theory of architecture before entering the program.

Entry into the program is therefore conditional on having taken at least one college-level course in each of the following areas:

Newtonian Physics
One basic college-level Newtonian physics course covering light, heat and sound.
Minimum grade of “C”

Mathematics
One college-level math course covering algebra plus geometry or trigonometry, or pre-calculus or calculus.
Minimum grade of “C”

Drawing or Basic Design
Minimum grade of “B”

A Survey in the History of Architecture
Minimum 1 semester or 2 quarters that covers antiquity (i.e. Mesopotamia, Asyrian, Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Egytian) to the present. Note: Art History Courses do not satisfy this requirement.
Minimum grade of “B”

 If you are an international applicant and find that your university does not offer a course that fulfills our History of Architecture prerequisite, we suggest you contact a local community college in the spring prior to starting UCLA to organize taking a course in the U.S. before you enter.

Also an applicant must submit a digital portfolio as part of their application (no hard copy portfolios will be accepted).  The portfolio must be submitted using the UCLA Arts Graduate Departmental Application Upload System. Terms are: Your portfolio should be saved as a PDF, including a cover and rear cover that is 8 1/2" x 11" either landscape or portrait format. We suggest best practice would be to design your portfolio as single sheets. Please state your name clearly on the cover page. Image sizes should be at least 150 dpi and no more than 300 dpi for print. Your compressed file size should be no greater than 15 MB.