Master of Architecture

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

Temple University

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture (MArch) at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture is a STEM-designated, professionally accredited degree that prepares students from a range of undergraduate backgrounds for architectural practice through intensive design, technology, theory, research and professional studies. The three-year 4+3 / 4+3 Intensive track, of up to 90 credits, is designed for students entering with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and combines design studios with building technology, history/theory, professional practice and electives.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students without a pre-professional architecture background begin with intensive foundations in architectural representation, design, history/theory and building technology, developing the visual and technical skills needed for advanced studio work. Courses such as Graduate Representation Intensive 1 (ARCH 5011) develop visual literacy, graphic techniques and 3D formal exploration, while the first-year design and technology sequence establishes the foundation for professional architectural study.

Year 2: Students progress into more advanced architectural investigation, using design studios to synthesize knowledge from technology, history, theory and research while working collaboratively on increasingly complex architectural problems. Architecture Research Seminars, Comprehensive Architectural Design and Professional Practice are among the core learning experiences identified by Temple for the MArch, with electives allowing students to develop focused interests.

Year 3: The final year emphasizes comprehensive architectural design, professional preparation and independent inquiry, with students having the opportunity to pursue a self-directed research and design thesis. Coursework in areas such as Professional Practice, Structural Design for Architects and Architecture Research Seminar connects design development with structural understanding, professional responsibilities and architectural research.

Focus areas: Architectural design, building technology, sustainability, urban issues, environmental design, sociocultural issues, architectural research, history and theory, professional practice, advocacy, technology and human health.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to synthesize architectural knowledge through design studios, apply building technology and research to design problems, communicate architectural ideas visually and technically, engage with urban/environmental/sociocultural challenges, and develop independent research and design investigations. The program also emphasizes collaboration, professional engagement and the integration of theory and practice.

Professional alignment: The Master of Architecture is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and satisfies the educational requirement for registration with all 55 U.S. licensing boards; Temple also prepares students to begin the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) while enrolled. The program's next NAAB accreditation visit is scheduled for 2031, providing a continuing professional-accreditation pathway for students pursuing architectural licensure.

Reputation: Temple's Tyler School of Art and Architecture identifies itself as Philadelphia's only art and architecture school at a public university, with faculty who are practicing professionals and researchers and strong connections to the city's design community. Temple's official sources do not state a current QS or Guardian employability ranking specifically for the MArch, so a program-specific ranking is not stated rather than using an unrelated ranking.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture gives students extensive opportunities to develop practical architectural skills through studio-based learning, physical model-making, digital design, fabrication, and collaborative critique. Students work in dedicated architecture studios and access digital and analog fabrication facilities, computer labs, and specialized software, while Philadelphia provides a strong real-world setting for architectural exploration and interdisciplinary work.

Students gain hands-on experience through these program-specific resources:

Architecture Studios: The 50,000-square-foot Architecture Building contains open-plan design studios, collaboration spaces, classrooms, critique areas, and exhibition spaces dedicated to architecture and related disciplines.
Digital Fabrication Lab: Students can use laser cutters, stereolithography and FDM 3D printers, and a 3-axis CNC router to transform digital designs into physical architectural models and prototypes. Trained consultants support students in using the equipment.
Architecture Woodshop: The dedicated woodshop provides table saws, band saws, miter saws, planers, jointers, drill presses, sanding machines, and power and hand tools, with technical staff available for equipment guidance and design/construction consultations.
Architecture Information Technology Center: Students have access to large-format plotters, scanners, cutting tables, cameras, projectors, a photography room, and a computer lab for architectural design, rendering, and project presentation.
Architecture Software: The architecture computer labs provide professional tools including Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Fusion, Rhino, SketchUp, Enscape, V-Ray for Rhino, Lumion, ClimateStudio, ArcGIS Pro, Solar Analysis, Total Carbon Analysis, KeyShot, and CAM for Rhino.
Digital and AR/VR Tools: Architecture facilities include AR/VR design stations, digital routers, 3D printers, laser cutters, plotters, and printers, allowing students to explore immersive and digitally fabricated architectural workflows.
Collaborative Research: Students can use the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio at Charles Library, which provides technologies for 3D spaces, geospatial technology, visualization, gaming, big-data analysis, VR, and specialized computing.
Research and Philadelphia Engagement: Tyler connects students with the wider Philadelphia environment through hands-on and collaborative opportunities involving architecture, landscape architecture, planning, community development, and related professional fields.
Model Making and Physical Prototyping: The combination of dedicated studios, woodshop facilities, digital fabrication equipment, and critique spaces allows students to move from drawings and digital models to physical prototypes and presented architectural work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture at Temple University is a professionally accredited, STEM-designated degree that prepares graduates for architectural practice while developing the design, technical, research and collaborative skills needed to respond to urban, environmental and sociocultural challenges. The program’s Philadelphia setting gives students direct exposure to the professional community through design critiques, mentorship, internships and career events, creating strong pathways into architecture and related built-environment careers.

Typical career roles include: Architect, Architectural Designer, Urban Designer, Sustainability Specialist.

Career development and employment opportunities:

Career services: Tyler’s career coaches provide one-to-one guidance on résumés, cover letters, interviews, internships and career planning, while Temple’s Career Center provides career coaching, professional development, networking events and access to thousands of job and internship opportunities through Handshake.
Industry networking: Tyler hosts an annual Architecture and Environmental Design Career Fair, connecting students with firms and organizations offering internships and full-time positions across architecture, planning, construction, government and NGOs.
Professional mentorship: Students benefit from Tyler’s network of alumni working in leading firms, agencies and organizations, as well as faculty members who work professionally in the field; these connections support mentorship, internships and professional development.
Employment statistics and salary: Temple’s official M.Arch sources do not state a program-specific graduate employment percentage or current salary figure, so no unsupported statistic is provided.
University–industry connections: The program emphasizes engagement with Philadelphia’s professional architecture community through design critiques, mentorship initiatives, field research and partnerships with professionals and organizations.
Long-term accreditation value: Temple’s M.Arch is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Temple states that the NAAB-accredited degree meets the educational requirement for registration with all 55 U.S. licensing boards, when combined with the required professional experience through AXP and successful completion of the ARE. The next accreditation visit is scheduled for 2031.
Graduation outcomes: Temple identifies the M.Arch as preparation for professional architectural practice, with graduates positioned for careers including architects, educators, facility managers, historic preservationists, landscape architects, sustainability experts and urban planners.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.Arch, students can pursue advanced study or research in related built-environment fields at Temple, including graduate-level opportunities in city and regional planning, landscape architecture, facilities management and related architectural research. Students interested in professional advancement can also continue toward architectural licensure by completing the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and Architect Registration Examination (ARE) alongside the NAAB-accredited educational pathway.