Master of Architecture

5 Years On Campus Accelerated-masters Program

Howard University

Program Overview

Howard University’s Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) is a five-year, 171-credit professional degree that combines undergraduate and graduate study in a continuous sequence, preparing students for architectural practice through design, research, technical application, sustainability, environmental justice, and professional practice. The program suits students seeking a rigorous architecture education with a strong emphasis on community design and planning, architectural inquiry, and socially responsive design, rooted in Howard’s long-standing architectural tradition.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their design and architectural foundations through ARCH 160 Foundations in Design I, ARCH 161 Foundations in Design II, and ARCH 210 Survey of Architectural History I, developing skills in architectural representation, drawing, model making, rendering, and architectural history.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into core architectural design through ARCH 261 Architecture Design I, ARCH 200 Architecture Design II, and ARCH 270 Digital Tools in Architecture I. Students also study Building Materials and Methods I & II, Architecture Pre-Design, and Physics for Architecture, connecting design thinking with materials, construction, technology, and building performance.

Year 3: Students develop more advanced architectural and environmental knowledge through ARCH 364 Architecture Design III, ARCH 365 Architecture Design IV, and ARCH 342/343 Environmental Systems in Architecture I & II. Architectural Structures I & II and ARCH 354 Urban Design Principles further connect architectural design with structural, environmental, and urban considerations.

Year 4: Advanced integrated design is developed through ARCH 466 Architecture Design V and ARCH 467 Architecture Design VI (Integrated Design), alongside ARCH 438 Architecture Research Methods and ARCH 478 Architecture, Public Issues & Environmental Justice. Students also study ARCH 273 Digital Tools in Architecture III and ARCH 446 Construction Representation, while a summer Professional Internship provides exposure to professional practice.

Year 5: The graduate-level stage centers on ARCH 868 Architecture Thesis I, ARCH 869 Architecture Thesis II, ARCH 828 Advanced Theories of Architecture, and ARCH 885 Architecture Graduate Seminar I. Students complete their advanced research and design work while studying ARCH 882 Professional Practice and additional professional electives, culminating in the professional M.Arch. degree.

Focus Areas

Design, inquiry/research, architectural history and theory, sustainability, environmental justice, technical systems, digital technology, professional practice, community design and planning.

Learning Outcomes

Architectural design, research and inquiry, visual communication, technical application, sustainability, environmental justice, digital technology, architectural theory, professional practice, problem-solving.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

NAAB accreditation: Howard University identifies the M.Arch. as a fully accredited five-year professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB); the program underwent its next accreditation-cycle evaluation in April 2026.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Official employment data: Howard University publishes university-level graduate employment and post-graduation outcome data through its Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, while the Architecture Department reports that its graduates have entered public and private architecture, planning, development, and construction settings worldwide.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Howard University’s five-year Master of Architecture gain practical experience through an intensive sequence of design studios, digital design courses, physical making, fabrication, and architectural research. The program’s dedicated studio spaces give students a place to develop and present design work, while the Mackey Building provides specialized facilities for fabrication, advanced graphics, exhibitions, presentations, and collaborative study. Students also build professional skills through the curriculum’s summer professional internship, while the program’s Washington, D.C. setting supports engagement with architectural, urban, and community-focused design issues.

Key experiential learning opportunities include:

Design studios: Students progress through a continuous studio sequence culminating in Architecture Thesis I and II, developing design solutions through investigation, representation, making, and critique.
Professional internship: The five-year advising scheme includes a Summer Professional Internship, providing an opportunity to gain practical experience before entering the final graduate year.
Digital design tools: Students study Digital Tools in Architecture, and Howard identifies SketchUp, Rhino, and Adobe Creative Cloud among the software used for architectural work.
Fabrication Lab: The dedicated Fabrication Lab includes a woodshop and metal shop, CNC router, laser cutters, 3D printing equipment, and photography lab, allowing students to transform digital and conceptual designs into physical work.
Advanced Graphics Lab: Students have access to high-powered computers specifically intended to support architectural animations and renderings.
AI and digital fabrication makerspace: Howard’s new 3,400-square-foot makerspace includes digital fabrication and advanced manufacturing facilities, a computer and design lab, collaboration space, and AI-powered tools and environments supporting interdisciplinary learning.
Collaborative design: The architecture studios and Mackey Building provide spaces for group discussions, presentations, seminars, workshops, and collaborative study, while the Contours Student Lounge supports individual and group work.
Design exhibitions and juries: The George T. Silcott Gallery provides dedicated space for student exhibitions and final design jury presentations, giving students opportunities to publicly present and receive feedback on their work.
Architecture research: Students can develop research skills through Architecture Research Methods, while the program’s Community Design and Planning concentration connects design education with community and urban issues.
Travel learning: Howard’s architecture advising scheme includes a Summer Architecture Travel Enrichment component, providing an additional opportunity for learning through architectural travel.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Howard University’s Master of Architecture is a five-year professional degree designed to prepare graduates for architectural production, leadership, and a range of public and private-sector settings in architecture, planning, development, and construction. The program’s continuous professional sequence and emphasis on design inquiry, technical application, and community design and planning provide a foundation for entering architectural practice or pursuing further academic and research opportunities.

Typical career roles: Architect, architectural designer, urban planner, architectural project professional

Career development and graduate outcomes include:

Career services: Howard’s Office of Career Services serves as a university-wide resource for internship and employment opportunities, with employers posting positions through Handshake.
Architecture career support: The College of Engineering and Architecture provides support for internships, career opportunities, company engagement, career fairs, and career advising, while architecture students receive dedicated academic advising throughout the program.
Professional networking: The Howard chapter of NOMAS connects students with architecture professionals through the annual NOMA National Conference, while student design competitions provide opportunities to have work reviewed by professionals.
Industry exposure: Howard architecture students have participated in competitions including NOMA, AIA Washington, D.C., and Walt Disney Imagineering; Howard reports that members of a Disney competition finalist team received summer internships with Disney.
Employment outcomes: Howard publishes university-wide post-graduation plans and employment information through its Student Achievement reporting. A current M.Arch.-specific employment percentage is not stated on the university’s public architecture pages, so no program-specific employment rate is provided here.
Salary outcomes: Howard’s official M.Arch. pages do not publish a program-specific graduate salary figure; therefore, no salary figure is stated rather than using an external estimate.
Graduation progression: Howard reports that architecture graduates have entered public and private architecture, planning, development, and construction settings worldwide, while many alumni have continued into graduate study at other institutions.
Professional accreditation: The M.Arch. is a NAAB-accredited professional degree. Howard notes that most U.S. registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional architecture program as a prerequisite for licensure, giving the degree continuing relevance for students pursuing architectural registration.
Licensure preparation: Howard explicitly connects its NAAB-accredited professional education with the Education, Experience, and Examination components of the U.S. architectural licensure pathway and provides information on NCARB and Architecture Registration Examination performance.
Professional community: Student organizations including AIAS and NOMAS provide opportunities to connect with national architecture organizations and professionals, strengthening exposure to the wider profession.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.Arch., students can pursue additional graduate or research-based study according to their interests. Howard offers doctoral programs across several disciplines, although it does not currently list a Ph.D. in Architecture among its graduate offerings; graduates interested in advanced architectural research can therefore explore relevant doctoral or research programs at Howard or other institutions.