Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) and Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.) dual degree at New Jersey Institute of Technology combines professional architectural education with advanced urban design, giving students a broader foundation for working across buildings, neighborhoods, and urban systems. It suits students seeking an interdisciplinary design education, with study spanning architecture studios, urban design, GIS, sustainable urbanism, development, professional practice, building systems, structures, and architectural history.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their architectural foundation through Architecture Studio I, Architecture Studio II, and Tools and Techniques I, developing design, technical, and digital skills alongside architectural history and building-related studies. The curriculum introduces the core methods needed for progressively more complex architectural work.

Year 2: Students advance through Architecture Studio III, Architecture Studio IV, and Construction I, while also studying areas such as structures and environmental control systems. This stage strengthens the connection between architectural design, construction technology, environmental performance, and professional practice.

Year 3: Advanced architectural study includes Advanced Architecture Studio I, Advanced Architecture Studio II, and Landscape and Urbanism, allowing students to address larger-scale design relationships between buildings, landscapes, and cities. The program also develops professional capabilities through Professional Practice I and Professional Practice II.

Final stage: The urban-design component adds Urban Design Studio I, Urban Design Studio II, Geographic Information Systems, Topics of Sustainable Urbanism, and Public and Private Development. The Urban Design Studios use collaborative teams working on realistic urban projects with analytical, financial, and design components, simulating professional practice.

Focus areas: Architectural design, urban design, landscape and urbanism, sustainable urbanism, GIS, construction, structures, environmental control systems, professional practice, public and private development, architectural history and theory.

Learning outcomes: Students develop capabilities in architectural design, urban-scale analysis, collaborative project development, digital and technical methods, sustainable urbanism, GIS, construction systems, professional practice, and the coordination of analytical, financial, and design considerations in complex projects.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The M.Arch. is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and is a professional degree leading toward architectural licensure; the M.U.D. is an interdisciplinary post-professional urban design program.

Reputation (employability): NJIT is classified as an R1 research university, and the Hillier College of Architecture and Design highlights its proximity to New York City for cultural resources and employment opportunities, while its Newark location exposes students to a city undergoing significant urban transformation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology gain practical experience through the Hillier College of Architecture and Design’s studio-based and technology-focused environment. The program benefits from NJIT’s architecture and design infrastructure, where students can develop projects using advanced digital modeling, computation, fabrication and visualization resources. The college’s facilities allow students to move from digital concepts to physical prototypes while also supporting research into emerging technologies and the built environment.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Design studios and project-based learning: Architecture education at HCAD is built around a studio model and project-based learning, giving students opportunities to develop design proposals and test architectural ideas through iterative production.
Digital modeling and fabrication: Students can use Rhinoceros 3D and RhinoCAM for advanced 3D modeling and preparation of designs for CNC fabrication; HCAD's documented fabrication teaching also includes full-scale assemblies produced individually and in teams.
Laser Lab: The facility contains laser cutters, vinyl cutters and resin 3D printers, allowing students to produce physical models and prototypes from digital designs.
DigiFab Lab: Students have access to three CNC mills, a vacuum-forming machine, spot welder, machining shear, manual brake, chop saw, bench grinder and other equipment for digitally supported fabrication and prototyping.
Woodshop: The HCAD Woodshop provides CNC equipment, table saws, band saws, routers, drill presses and other power tools for physical model and prototype development.
Computational design and research: The Design Computation Lab investigates architectural computing, data-driven design, computer-aided design, computer graphics, AI, IoT and human-computer interaction, with research focused on reshaping buildings and cities through computational technologies.
Digital design infrastructure: HCAD’s Imaging Laboratory supports digital design studios and specialized facilities including architecture teaching labs, physical computing, animation and digital fabrication resources. Students receive access to software through the HCAD/Imaging Laboratory network.
Digital documentation: The Kepler Review System provides a digital record of student work, supporting the documentation and sharing of design projects through digital and print media.
Materials research: The HCAD Materials Library supports materials research and their application in studio and related courses, giving students a dedicated resource for investigating material choices.
Research and prototyping: HCAD's facilities also include 3D Printing, Electronics, Physical Computing, Animation and Game Labs, with equipment such as 3D scanners, sensors, motion-capture equipment and video-production technology.
Architecture and design library: The Barbara and Leonard Littman Architecture and Design Library, located in Weston Hall, serves as HCAD's dedicated architecture and design library and supports students and faculty with research resources.
Collaborative design exposure: HCAD's annual Design Showcase gives students an opportunity to exhibit their work and connect with members of the college community, alumni and other design professionals.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture + Master of Urban Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology combines professional architectural education with advanced urban-scale design, preparing graduates to work across buildings, districts, infrastructure and broader urban environments. The dual degree can support careers spanning architecture, urban design, planning and development, while NJIT’s interdisciplinary research environment connects design education with technology, infrastructure and community-focused work.

Typical career roles: Architect, Architectural Designer, Urban Designer, Urban and Regional Planner.

Career progression and opportunities include:

Career development: NJIT’s Career Development Services provides students with career advising, employer connections, recruiting activities and employment resources; the university also publishes graduate outcomes through its annual Career Development Services Outcomes Report.
Employment and salary data: NJIT’s Class of 2024 outcomes report records an average salary of $83,494 for master’s graduates across all majors. Within the Hillier College of Architecture & Design, the report lists an average salary of $55,819 for master’s Architecture graduates, based on 14 reported salaries. NJIT does not publish a separate salary figure specifically for the M.Arch.+M.U.D. dual degree.
Architecture employers: NJIT identifies Gensler, Perkins Eastman, AECOM, Perkins+Will and Turner Construction among employers associated with architecture graduates.
Urban design employers: NJIT identifies AECOM Technology Corp., Emerson Electric Co. and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. among employers for its urban design/infrastructure-related graduates.
Industry-connected learning: The M.U.D. curriculum develops practical capabilities in urban analysis and visualization, stakeholder and community engagement, small-scale urban interventions, master planning, legacy planning and strategic visioning, connecting design work to real urban conditions.
Research partnerships and interdisciplinary opportunities: Hillier College is part of a comprehensive research university where faculty conduct funded research ranging from nanomaterials to sustainable and resilient design, including work through NJIT’s Center for Building Knowledge.
Professional accreditation value: The M.Arch. is a NAAB-accredited professional degree. NJIT notes that most U.S. state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional architecture program as a prerequisite for licensure, giving the M.Arch. an important long-term professional value for students pursuing architectural licensure.
Dual-degree advantage: Students can complete the M.Arch. and M.U.D. in substantially less time than pursuing the degrees separately, with up to 15 credits permitted to satisfy requirements of both degrees.
Professional network: NJIT’s Hillier College offers opportunities for interdisciplinary interaction across a research university, including cross-pollination with other professional schools and colleges and access to a wider design and technology environment.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced research through NJIT’s Ph.D. in Urban Systems, a joint research program with Rutgers University–Newark. Students interested in deeper architectural research can also pursue NJIT’s Master of Science in Architecture or related graduate study, while the M.Arch. itself provides the professional degree pathway toward architectural licensure.