Masters of Architecture with Master of Urban Design

2 Years On Campus Dual-masters Program

Kent State University

Program Overview

Kent State University’s Master of Architecture + Master of Urban Design (M.Arch./M.U.D.) Dual Degree combines professional architectural education with advanced urban design, preparing students to address complex built-environment and city-scale challenges through design, research and professional practice. Designed for students with a pre-professional architecture bachelor’s degree from a NAAB-accredited 4+1 or 4+2 program, the two-year program integrates architecture studios, urban design, urban systems, community development and professional practice.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced architectural design and urban-design capabilities through ARCH 60101 Graduate Design Studio I, ARCH 60150 Project Programming, and UD 55102 Urban Systems, while developing theoretical and analytical perspectives through ARCH 60301 Theories of Architecture and ARCH 60922 Methods of Inquiry in Architectural Studies. The curriculum also introduces city-scale concerns through UD 55705 Forces That Shape Cities, connecting architectural design with urban systems and development.

Year 2: The second year advances students into ARCH 60102 Graduate Design Studio II, UD 60701 Urban Design Studio I, and UD 60703 Urban Design Studio III, alongside UD 65101 Community Development Process and UD 65632 Urban Ecological Systems. Students also develop professional knowledge through ARCH 65001 Professional Practice: Real Estate and Development, ARCH 65002 Professional Practice: Contract and Planning Law, and ARCH 65003 Professional Practice: Leadership, Ethics and Office Management, culminating in an Urban Design Practicum Project and a year-long capstone experience at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative.

Focus areas: architectural design, urban design, urban systems, community development, urban ecology, real estate and development, planning law, professional practice, urban research, public-space design, geographic information science, spatial programming, transportation and landscape architecture.

Learning outcomes: advanced architectural design, urban-scale design thinking, research through design, analysis of urban systems, community engagement, understanding of urban development processes, technical and professional knowledge, collaborative practice, ethical leadership and development of design solutions for complex urban problems.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The M.Arch. is NAAB-accredited, with Kent State reporting continuous professional architecture accreditation since 1962; the dual-degree M.U.D. component provides additional specialization in urban design.

Reputation (employability rankings): Kent State reported that its architecture students ranked 16th nationally in their size category for programs from which firms hire, according to DesignIntelligence’s America’s Top-Ranked Architecture & Design Schools survey.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Kent State University’s Master of Architecture + Master of Urban Design Dual Degree gain practical experience through project-based studios, real-world urban design projects, collaborative charrettes and field experiences. The program’s Cleveland studios place students directly in an urban setting, where they work on projects involving Cleveland and other regional cities and collaborate with CUDC staff, faculty, public and private stakeholders, and Master of Landscape Architecture students. Students also have access to advanced digital design, fabrication and research facilities, including robotic fabrication technologies and specialized labs.

Program-specific experiential opportunities include:

Urban design projects: Students work on projects of significance within Cleveland and other regional cities, addressing relevant urban problems and developing proposals intended to have real-world impact.
Collaborative charrettes: Students have opportunities to collaborate with CUDC staff, faculty, public and private stakeholders, and landscape architecture students on charrette projects.
Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative: The dual degree culminates in a year-long capstone experience at the CUDC facility, producing substantial research similar to a thesis project.
International field experiences: Through the INDEX Studio, M.Arch. and M.U.D. students undertake comparative urban analysis and travel internationally to study selected cities firsthand; previous destinations have included Beirut, Medellín, Havana and Querétaro.
Design software: Students use Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Adobe Creative Cloud and Rhino 8 as part of Kent State CAED’s current software environment, with additional software available for certain electives.
Digital fabrication: The CAED FabLAB supports design and fabrication research with CNC routers, a six-axis KUKA robotic arm, 3D printers, laser/plasma cutting equipment, woodworking tools and metalworking equipment.
Robotic fabrication research: The Robotic Fabrication Lab (RFAB) provides a six-axis robotic arm and several 3D printers and investigates robotic fabrication applications for the built environment, including full-scale 3D-printed structures.
Architecture facilities: The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design includes studio spaces, computer labs, a robotics lab, lighting lab, specialized research labs, maker spaces, a materials library, gallery, lecture hall and library reading room.
Interdisciplinary learning: The CAED building’s studio environment is designed to encourage interdisciplinary engagement and peer-to-peer learning, supporting collaboration across architecture and environmental design disciplines.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.Arch. + M.U.D. Dual Degree at Kent State combines professional architectural training with advanced urban-design knowledge, preparing graduates to work across buildings, neighborhoods, public spaces, and larger urban systems. The M.Arch. is NAAB-accredited and STEM-designated, while the M.U.D. develops expertise in sustainable design, social equity, community engagement, and urban environments.

Career opportunities: Licensed architect, urban designer, architectural/engineering manager, urban and regional planner.

Career services: Kent State's Career Exploration and Development provides resume and cover-letter reviews, job-search strategies, internship and shadowing searches, mock interviews, LinkedIn and networking support, and professional headshots.
Job and internship platform: Handshake gives students access to jobs, internships, co-op opportunities, career fairs, and employer events; students receive a Handshake account after admission.
Architecture internships: CAED has a dedicated Architecture internship contact, while internships can be posted through Handshake and may qualify for academic credit when approved by the department.
Industry opportunities: CAED's community job postings have included employers and organizations such as AECOM, Ballinger, CPL, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, DesignGroup, Domokur Architects, and RSH Architects, providing examples of professional opportunities available through the college's network.
Employment and salary data: Kent State reports BLS-based figures including $96,690 median annual earnings for architects, $167,740 for architectural and engineering managers, and $83,720 for urban and regional planners. These are U.S. occupational figures rather than guaranteed graduate salaries.
Professional licensure: The NAAB accreditation of the M.Arch. satisfies the education component for the architectural licensure pathway; students can continue through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and Architect Registration Examination (ARE), subject to the requirements of their licensing jurisdiction.
Licensure support: CAED has an Architect Licensing Advisor who supports students and alumni with the AXP process and NCARB Record.
Graduation outcomes: The M.Arch. learning outcomes emphasize designing across architectural scales, integrating built and natural environments, using emerging technologies, creating equitable environments, and collaborating within multidisciplinary teams—skills aligned with professional architecture and urban-design practice.
Long-term professional value: The combination of a NAAB-accredited professional architecture degree and a specialized urban-design qualification can support progression toward architectural licensure while adding preparation for urban-scale design and planning work.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the dual degree, graduates can pursue doctoral-level study and research in architecture, urban design, urban planning, or related built-environment fields, or continue through professional licensure by completing the required AXP experience and ARE examinations. Kent State also provides an established pathway for students interested in further graduate-level study through its College of Architecture and Environmental Design.