Masters in Architecture

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

Kent State University

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) at Kent State University is a STEM-designated, NAAB-accredited professional degree designed for students seeking to develop advanced architectural design, technical knowledge, research, and professional practice skills. The three-year Full-Path Track is particularly suited to students who are new to design or hold a non-design-related degree, combining design studios with building sciences, digital technology, architectural history, professional practice, and research.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The first year establishes the foundations needed for professional architectural study through courses such as Graduate Design Foundations Studio, Graduate Design Architecture Studio, and Tools of Representation. Students also begin developing technical knowledge through Structural Systems I, Methods and Materials I, and Environmental Technology I, connecting design thinking with construction, materials, structures, and environmental performance.

Year 2: The second year advances students into more contextual and systems-based architectural thinking through Graduate Design Context Studio and Graduate Design Systems Studio, supported by Structural Systems II, Methods and Materials II, and Environmental Technology II. Students also develop their digital and analytical capabilities through Tools of Simulation and Tools of Coding, while continuing their understanding of architectural history through Graduate Global History of Architecture II.

Year 3: The final stage brings together advanced design, professional practice, research, and specialization, including Graduate Design Studio III, Project Programming, and Methods of Inquiry in Architectural Studies. Students also study Professional Practice: Real Estate and Development, Professional Practice: Contract and Planning Law, and Professional Practice: Leadership, Ethics and Office Management, preparing them to address the business, regulatory, ethical, and leadership dimensions of architectural practice.

Focus areas: architectural design and creativity, built and natural environments, ecological design, building performance, emerging technologies, digital representation, fabrication, simulation, coding, architectural history and theory, professional practice, research through design, and equitable environments.

Learning outcomes: graduates develop the ability to design across architectural scales, integrate multiple design factors, apply ecological and advanced building-performance principles, use emerging technologies, create equitable environments for diverse populations, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, address professional and regulatory contexts, and conduct architectural research that tests and applies innovation.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): the Master of Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the professional accreditation pathway associated with architectural education and licensure in the United States. Kent State states that the program is designed to prepare graduates to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio.

Reputation (Employability Rankings) : Kent State reports that its architecture students ranked 16th most-hired in their size category nationally in the DesignIntelligence survey America’s Top-Ranked Architecture & Design Schools. The university also highlights that employers evaluated schools on areas including design theory and practice, design technology, and communication skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Kent State University’s Master of Architecture develop practical architectural skills through project-based learning, advanced design studios, research, fabrication, simulation and professional practice. The program combines studio-based inquiry with digital technology, building sciences and hands-on making, while the John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design provides dedicated studios, computer labs, lighting facilities, research labs, an Architecture Library, fabrication spaces and digital production resources. Graduate students can also participate in travel-study opportunities and work with industry professionals, giving them opportunities to connect architectural concepts with real-world projects and professional practice.

Students can build their practical and technical expertise through the following resources and activities:

Design studios: Graduate students undertake Graduate Design Studio I & II, with the Full-Path Track progressing through Graduate Design Foundations Studio, Graduate Design Architecture Studio, Graduate Design Context Studio and Graduate Design Systems Studio. These studios develop architectural design across different scales and contexts.
Digital design tools: The curriculum includes Tools of Representation, Tools of Fabrication, Tools of Simulation and Tools of Coding, giving students structured experience with digital representation, physical fabrication, simulation and computational approaches to architecture.
Architecture software: Students have access to Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit 2025, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign), Rhino 8 and Microsoft Office. Kent State identifies Rhino 8 as the primary 3D modeling software used in Architecture.
FabLAB: The CAED FabLAB supports design and fabrication research and includes a wood shop, metal lab, CNC equipment, 3D printers, laser cutting equipment, welding equipment, plasma cutting and vacuum forming.
Robotic fabrication: The Robotic Fabrication Lab (RFAB) features a six-axis KUKA robotic arm and several 3D printers, supporting research and experimentation in robotic fabrication for the built environment.
Digital production: The CAED Digital Lab provides large-format color plotting, self-service printing, computer labs, digital archiving and cloud rendering, supported by Dell Precision workstations, large-format plotters and scanners.
Simulation and research: Students can engage with CAED research areas including high-performance and sustainable design, construction methods and materials, digital design and fabrication, historic preservation and forensics, and design theories. Faculty-led research laboratories include RFAB and the Novel Ecology Design Lab (NEDLab).
Lighting and environmental study: The John Elliot Center includes a dedicated Lighting Lab and specialized research laboratories, supporting investigation of environmental and building-performance considerations in architectural design.
Travel study: Travel study opportunities are incorporated into the architecture experience, with graduate studios and courses involving scheduled trips to local, national and international sites.
Professional practice: Students study Professional Practice: Real Estate and Development, Professional Practice: Contract and Planning Law, and Professional Practice: Leadership, Ethics and Office Management, connecting design education with the realities of architectural practice.
Collaborative learning: The CAED building’s cascading studio loft is specifically designed to encourage interdisciplinary engagement and peer-to-peer learning, while the M.Arch. learning outcomes include the ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
Architecture Library and materials resources: The John Elliot Center provides an Architecture Library, materials library and reading room, giving students dedicated resources for architectural research, material exploration and design development.
Exhibitions and workshops: The program provides access to lectures, exhibitions, symposia and workshops, creating opportunities to engage with contemporary architectural ideas and professional perspectives.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Kent State University’s Master of Architecture prepares graduates for professional practice through project-based learning, technical development, and exposure to real-world architectural practice. The program is NAAB-accredited and STEM-designated, supporting students who want to progress toward architectural licensure and leadership roles in architecture and related fields.

Career outcomes: Graduates can pursue roles such as architects, architectural and engineering managers, designers, and architecture educators, with the degree also supporting progression into areas such as urban design and sustainability consulting.

Career and professional opportunities include:

Career services: Kent State’s Career Exploration and Development provides résumé and cover-letter reviews, job-search strategies, internship or shadowing searches, mock interviews, networking support, LinkedIn guidance and professional development resources.
Architecture career support: The College of Architecture and Environmental Design recommends portfolio preparation, Career Fair Preparation Workshops and the annual CAED Career Fair, giving architecture students targeted opportunities to prepare for employment.
Employer connections: Kent State’s CAED has a strong connection with architecture employers; university-published alumni information highlights graduates working at DS Architecture on projects involving Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth.
Job-search platform: Students can use Handshake to search for jobs, connect with employers, register for career events and access résumé, cover-letter and other career resources.
Employment and salary: Kent State lists architects at $96,690 potential earnings, architectural and engineering managers at $167,740, architecture teachers at $101,480, and designers at $66,220; these figures are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation-level median wage data cited by the university.
Professional experience: The Architectural Experience Program (AXP) provides a structured framework for recording professional experience under a registered architect and is a key step toward licensure. Kent State has an AXP Licensing Advisor available to support students and alumni.
Professional accreditation: The M.Arch is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Kent State states that its professional architecture program has been continuously accredited since 1962, providing important long-term value for students pursuing architectural licensure.
Licensure pathway: A Kent State M.Arch satisfies the education component for the architectural licensure pathway, while students must also complete the required professional experience and Architect Registration Examination (ARE) requirements applicable to their jurisdiction.
Graduation outcomes: Kent State reports architecture student outcomes through Architect Registration Examination (ARE) pass-rate data, including areas such as Practice Management, Programming & Analysis, Project Management and Project Planning & Design.
Professional flexibility: The program can also be combined with Kent State’s Master of Urban Design or Master of Business Administration through available dual-degree options, expanding opportunities into urban design and business leadership.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.Arch, students can continue toward professional architectural licensure through AXP and the ARE, or pursue further graduate-level study and research in architecture, urban design, design technology, building sciences or related fields. Kent State also offers the option of combining the M.Arch with a Master of Urban Design or Master of Business Administration through its dual-degree pathways.