Master of Architecture II

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Harvard University

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture II (MArch II) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design is a two-year post-professional architecture degree designed for students who have completed a comprehensive five-year professional Bachelor of Architecture or equivalent and demonstrated strong achievement in design. The program expands students’ theoretical, analytical and disciplinary knowledge with a strong emphasis on advanced architectural design, combining option studios, professional and visualization/fabrication electives, and opportunities for an independent design thesis.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with an Option Studio, ADV 9601 Proseminar, and distributional or general electives, building a deeper foundation in architectural design, theory and professional practice. In the second term, students continue with another Option Studio while using electives to develop their interests across areas such as discourse, techniques, professional practice, and technologies of visualization and fabrication.

Year 2: Students can follow Track A: Option Studios, completing two further studios alongside advanced electives, or apply for Track B: Independent Thesis, which includes preparation for the thesis followed by ADV 9301 Independent Design Thesis. The curriculum also allows eligible students to cross-register for courses at other Harvard schools, MIT, or the Fletcher School at Tufts, while at least half of the electives must be taken through the GSD.

Focus areas:

Advanced architectural design, design theory, analytical thinking, architectural discourse, professional practice, visualization and fabrication technologies, interdisciplinary study, independent design research.

Learning outcomes:

Students advance their theoretical and analytical skills, strengthen architectural disciplinary knowledge, develop sophisticated design capabilities, and build the capacity to pursue independent design investigation through advanced studios or a thesis.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The MArch II is a post-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited. Harvard specifically states that it does not fulfill the education requirement for architectural licensure in jurisdictions following NCARB requirements; students normally enter the program after already completing the professional architecture education required for their intended pathway.

Reputation (employability rankings):

Harvard GSD describes its Architecture Department as providing an educational experience focused on creative design approaches and taught by an international faculty prominent across the field. The program also offers access to Harvard's wider academic environment through cross-registration, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary study beyond architecture.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Architecture II (MArch II) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) is strongly studio- and project-based, giving students opportunities to develop advanced architectural ideas through design exploration, research, prototyping, critique and real-world site investigation. Students work in collaborative studio environments, receive feedback through reviews and critiques, and can pursue advanced research through option studios, design labs and faculty-led projects.

The program's practical experience is strengthened by Harvard GSD’s dedicated production, research and library facilities:

Advanced design studios: Studio-based learning is central to the GSD experience, with students presenting work through desk critiques, pinups, midterm reviews and final reviews.
Option studios: Advanced students can undertake Option Studios, where small groups investigate real-world sites and develop design projects addressing contemporary built-environment challenges. Some studios include on-site study and international fieldwork.
Collaborative projects: Option Studios are conducted in small groups under faculty guidance, requiring students to research site conditions and develop final design proposals with potential real-world impact.
Fabrication Lab: Students have access to CNC routers and milling machines, 3D printers and scanners, laser cutters, Zünd cutters, wood and metal shops, project rooms and associated software for turning architectural concepts into physical models and prototypes.
Physical prototyping: The Fabrication Lab supports material experimentation, prototyping, testing, physical mock-ups and new fabrication processes, from detailed scale models to full-size prototypes.
Digital fabrication: Students can use 3D printing, 3D scanning, CNC fabrication and laser cutting, supported by professional fabrication staff and student employees.
Research and Design Labs: Harvard GSD's research environment includes design labs where master's students can participate in lab projects, pro-seminars, shared databases, public forums and publications, working with faculty around shared research interests.
Research opportunities: GSD research centres, initiatives and faculty-led projects provide opportunities for students to collaborate across architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and design studies.
Frances Loeb Library: The Frances Loeb Library supports design research, teaching and learning, including individual and group workspaces, reading rooms, research assistance, computing and GIS/geospatial resources.
Gund Hall design environment: Students work within the distinctive Gund Hall “trays,” a collaborative environment shared across Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning and Design, encouraging interdisciplinary interaction and design exchange.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture II (MArch II) at Harvard Graduate School of Design is a post-professional degree designed for architects who already hold a five-year professional architecture degree and want to deepen their design, theoretical and analytical expertise. Its advanced studio-based education can prepare graduates for senior architectural practice as well as opportunities spanning design research, academia, consulting, government, real estate and related creative industries.

Typical career opportunities include:

Architect / Senior Architectural Designer
Design Researcher
Architectural Consultant
Architecture Educator / Academic

Career progression is supported through:

Career Services: Harvard GSD provides architecture students with career advising, career events and CREATE, while encouraging students to build professional relationships with alumni, faculty, visiting speakers and the wider GSD community.
Internships and professional experience: Students can supplement their studies through summer internships and the Community Service Fellowship, helping them develop experience alongside their graduate education.
Global employer network: Harvard GSD identifies employers of its architecture graduates and interns including AECOM, Gensler, Herzog & de Meuron, HOK, NBBJ Design, Perkins Eastman, SOM, Snøhetta and Studio Gang.
Transferable career opportunities: Harvard notes that architectural training develops skills applicable beyond conventional architecture practice, including consulting, digital media, government, nonprofits and real estate.
Graduate project portfolio: The program features student projects developed through the MArch II studio curriculum, giving graduates substantial advanced design work to demonstrate their ideas and capabilities professionally.
Professional development and networking: Students can build long-term connections through GSD alumni networks, mentorship, networking events and the GSD Alumni Council, supporting continued professional development after graduation.
Employment and salary statistics: Harvard GSD's official MArch II career resources do not publish a program-specific employment rate or salary figure on the cited page, so no unsupported employment or salary statistic is provided here.
Accreditation and professional value: The MArch II is explicitly a post-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited; it does not fulfill the education requirement for architectural licensure in jurisdictions following NCARB requirements. Its value is therefore primarily advanced design, research and professional development for applicants who have already completed a professional architecture degree.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can progress into advanced research and doctoral study, academic teaching, design research or other specialised postgraduate pathways. The MArch II can also serve as a platform for continued professional development through architectural practice, research collaborations and teaching within the broader Harvard GSD community. Harvard's program structure includes an Independent Thesis option for MArch II students, providing an especially strong foundation for research-oriented progression.