Masters of Architecture

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

University at Buffalo SUNY

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) 3-Year Track at the University at Buffalo is a professional, NAAB-accredited degree designed for students from non-architecture undergraduate backgrounds who want to enter the architecture profession. Students develop strong foundations in architectural design, media, history, environmental systems, structures and construction before moving into focused research, advanced design and a final thesis or portfolio.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The first year establishes core architectural knowledge through design, representation and the built environment, with ARC 501 Design Studio 1, ARC 511 Architectural Media 1, and ARC 531 Architectural History 1, followed by ARC 502 Design Studio 2, ARC 512 Architectural Media 2, and ARC 534 Architectural History 2. Students also begin developing technical understanding through Environmental Systems and Structures courses.

Year 2: The second year advances students from foundational design into more integrated architectural and technical work through ARC 503 Design Studio 3, ARC 611 Architectural Media 3, and ARC 553 Structures 2. Students then strengthen their ability to connect design with building performance and professional practice through ARC 504 Design Studio 4, ARC 542 Construction Technology, and ARC 582 Professional Practice.

Year 3: The final year emphasizes independent inquiry, architectural theory and advanced research, with options including ARC 605/7 Research Studio or Directed Research, ARC 562 Architectural Theory, and ARC 697 Portfolio or Research Methods. Students complete the degree through ARC 606/8 Research Studio or ARC 699 Thesis, supported by electives, with a thesis or portfolio serving as the culminating experience.

Focus areas: Ecological Practices, Inclusive Design, Material Culture, Situated Technologies, Urban Design.

Learning outcomes: Architectural design and synthesis, architectural media and representation, architectural history and theory, structures, environmental systems, construction technology, professional practice, independent research and advanced architectural inquiry.

Professional alignment (accreditation): NAAB-accredited professional M.Arch.; UB's architecture programs have received the maximum eight-year continuing accreditation through December 31, 2031, and the university states that its 3-year M.Arch. is designed as a professional degree for students entering architecture without a qualifying undergraduate architecture background.

Reputation (employability rankings): QS World University Rankings 2026: University at Buffalo ranked No. 410 globally, No. 33 among U.S. public universities, and No. 31 among U.S. public universities for employment outcomes; UB was also ranked the No. 1 public university in New York State.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Architecture at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) gives students a strongly hands-on architectural education, combining design studios with opportunities to prototype, fabricate, test, and refine ideas at multiple scales. Students have access to the School of Architecture and Planning’s dedicated fabrication and digital facilities, including woodworking, metalworking, 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC milling, robotics, and advanced research spaces. The program’s learning-through-making approach allows students to move from digital concepts and physical models to full-scale prototypes and installations.

Fabrication Workshop: The 11,000-square-foot workshop is a major resource for architecture students, with dedicated spaces for coursework, experimentation, collaborative research, and full-scale fabrication. Graduate students can also use the advanced Fabrication Factory for research and scholarship.

Digital fabrication: Students can work with laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC routers, a CNC plasma cutter, a 5-axis waterjet cutter, and a robotic arm, supporting projects from architectural models to full-scale components.
3D printing: The Digital Fabrication Lab provides Prusa filament printers, Formlabs resin printers, and AnyCubic resin printers for prototypes and small architectural models.
CNC machining: Architecture students can use 3-axis CNC routers for models, site models, prototypes, and full-scale components; AutoCAD is specifically recommended for preparing files for the plasma cutter.
Advanced research: The Fabrication Factory is a 5,000-square-foot advanced digital fabrication and research space used primarily by graduate students and faculty, featuring a KUKA robotic arm, 5' × 8' 3-axis CNC milling machine, and 5-axis waterjet. Software resources include RhinoCAM, IntelliMAX, and RoboDK.
Hands-on studio work: The Fabrication Workshop regularly hosts entire studio classes, allowing students and faculty to develop physical projects using the workshop's equipment and materials.
Collaborative projects: Students can work with industry partners on material research and innovation; the Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop, for example, brings students together with industry teams to explore terra-cotta applications.
Industry-connected fabrication: UB's workshop works directly with local industries specializing in material research and innovation, extending students' fabrication opportunities beyond campus.
Architecture and Planning Library: The Architecture and Planning Library in Abbott Hall contains more than 31,000 books and 130 journal subscriptions, with a dedicated librarian, online resources, research guides, workshops, and a satellite Reading Room in Hayes Hall.
Digital labs: School facilities provide access to platforms for graphic design, 3D architectural modelling, GIS, multimedia printing, and AR/VR, supporting digital visualization and experimentation.
Materials and making: The workshop's material store provides paper, cardboard, wood, foam, and plastics for laser cutting, CNC milling, and model making, while the woodshop, metalshop, and assembly areas support physical construction and prototyping.
Full-scale experimentation: The Fabrication Workshop can accommodate full-scale built works, including graduate-level design research, allowing students to develop work beyond conventional architectural models.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) prepares graduates for professional architectural practice while developing strong capabilities in design, research, technology, and community-focused work. As a NAAB-accredited professional degree, the program provides a strong foundation for architectural careers and the professional licensure pathway, while its industry-connected studios and career support help students transition into practice.

Typical job roles: Architect, Project Designer, Architectural Designer, Design Consultant: Graduates can pursue roles across architectural practice, design, research, community development, and related built-environment fields.

Career services: UB provides architecture-specific career support through one-to-one mentoring, portfolio and résumé reviews, mock interviews, licensure advising, firm visits, employment referrals, networking events, alumni Q&As, and career fairs. The UB Career Design Center also provides a dedicated architecture career consultant, employer job postings through Handshake, and interview-practice resources.
Employment statistics: A specific current M.Arch employment percentage is not stated on the official UB sources reviewed. UB does document employment referrals, internship pathways, employer engagement, and graduate career support rather than publishing a single program-wide employment rate.
Salary figures: A specific current M.Arch graduate salary figure or median salary is not stated on the official UB sources reviewed, so no external salary estimate is substituted.
Industry partnerships: UB has a long-standing partnership with CannonDesign, including scholarships, internships, mentoring, guest critics, employment pathways, and research collaborations. More recently, Gensler has sponsored UB's Big Projects Studio, with firm professionals working directly with graduate students on large-scale projects and meeting with students throughout the semester.
Practical experience: The Big Projects Studio gives students experience working with professional firms on complex projects such as transit hubs, sporting arenas, and healthcare districts, while approximately half of UB architecture studios and other courses involve community or industry partners.
Accreditation value: The M.Arch is NAAB-accredited, and UB's architecture programs are reaccredited through December 31, 2031. UB explains that most U.S. registration boards require an accredited professional architecture degree as a prerequisite for licensure, giving the qualification important long-term professional value.
Licensure pathway: UB states that its M.Arch meets the educational requirements for licensure in New York State and, based on its good-faith review, meets educational requirements in all 50 states, although individual state licensing authorities make the final determination.
Graduation outcomes: UB architecture graduates have progressed into positions such as architectural designer and architect, while the university highlights career pathways across professional practice and allied fields. Recent graduate experiences also demonstrate progression from UB into firms and further architectural study.
International progression: The program is designated to enable eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension, allowing graduates to work for an additional 24 months beyond the initial OPT period.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can deepen their expertise through UB's Master of Science in Architecture, particularly if they want to pursue advanced architectural research and specialized study. Students interested in combining architecture with another built-environment discipline can also pursue UB's M.Arch + Master of Urban Planning or M.Arch + MBA pathways, while research-oriented graduates may consider doctoral-level study in architecture or related fields.