Master of Science in Architecture – Concentration in Sustainable Design

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Houston

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Architecture – Concentration in Sustainable Design at the University of Houston is a one-year, post-professional, design-based program for students who already hold a professional degree in architecture, urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, or a related design field. Students explore sustainable design across multiple scales, from energy-efficient buildings to neighborhoods and smart growth, integrating building science, design technology, architectural history and precedent, urban design, planning, and environmental thinking through an intensive studio-based curriculum.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The two-semester program comprises 36 academic credits and is organized around advanced design inquiry. Students undertake Topical Design Studio (7600) and Master Project Prep (6393) in the fall, developing a focused sustainable-design investigation, before progressing to Advanced Master Project Studio (7602) in the spring, where they develop their culminating design research project alongside approved electives.

Focus areas: Sustainable design, energy-efficient buildings, passive design, building science, design technology, environmental thinking, urban design, planning, smart growth, architectural history and precedent, and sustainable development.

Learning outcomes: Students develop design-based research capabilities and new methodologies for sustainable design, integrating environmental, technological, architectural, and urban considerations into design proposals across multiple scales. The program also prepares graduates for professional practice involving sustainable design and the creation of a better built environment.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The University of Houston identifies the MS in Architecture as a post-professional degree intended for students who already possess a professional architecture or related design degree. The official program page does not state that the MS Architecture – Sustainable Design concentration itself is a professional licensure degree or NAAB-accredited program.

Reputation (employability rankings): The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design reports that it was ranked #14 “Most Hired From Architecture Schools” in the United States in the 2019–2020 DesignIntelligence survey. The College also reports 8 centers and labs advancing research and community outreach and describes itself as having more than 30 years of leadership in design/build education.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The MS in Architecture – Sustainable Design at the University of Houston is strongly studio- and research-oriented, allowing students to investigate sustainable design at scales ranging from energy-efficient buildings to neighborhoods and smart growth. Students work with building science, design technology, environmental thinking, and sustainability while benefiting from Houston’s position as an energy and design laboratory and from collaboration with the UH Energy research group and industry partners. The college’s BASE Laboratory further supports sustainable-design research through computational analytics, specialized sensing equipment, and performance-based investigations that can inform studio and thesis projects.

Sustainable Design Studio: The two-semester, 36-credit program is centered on a design studio where students integrate sustainability, building science, design technology, architectural history and precedent, urban design, planning, and environmental thinking into design-based research.
BASE Laboratory: The Building Analytics and Sustainable Environments (BASE) Lab supports research at building and urban scales and is specifically designed to assist studio and thesis projects through computational analytics and performance-based research.
Environmental Performance Tools: Students can work with mobile measuring and data-logging equipment, weather stations, specialized light sensors, thermal-comfort toolkits, and aerial infrared imaging through the BASE Lab.
Building Analytics: Graduate environmental-technology classes use computational simulation tools to evaluate designs and develop more human-centered and less energy-intensive built environments.
UH Energy Collaboration: The Sustainable Design concentration works closely with the UH Energy research group, where academics collaborate with industry partners on multidisciplinary projects focused on improving the built environment.
Computing & Digital Design: The Architecture and Design Computer Lab provides more than 40 computers, scanners, printers, and plotters, with software including Adobe Creative Suite, ArchiCAD, AutoCAD Building Design Suite, KeyShot, Rhino, Grasshopper, V-Ray, SolidWorks, and Vectorworks.
Materials Research: The Materials Research Collaborative (MRC) is an in-house resource available to graduate students and supports material investigations and applied research within the College.
Design + Fabrication: Graduate students have access to the Burdette Keeland, Jr. Design Exploration Lab, which provides traditional and advanced digital fabrication equipment for hands-on design development.
Architecture & Art Library: The College’s William R. Jenkins Architecture & Art Library provides a dedicated academic resource for architecture and design research.
Project-Based Learning: The Hines College describes its studios as open, project-based environments where coursework is connected to material investigations and applied research, allowing students to develop ideas through making and testing.
Houston as a Living Laboratory: The College uses Houston’s hot, humid climate, Gulf Coast geography, energy industry, and urban conditions as an environment for investigating contemporary architectural and environmental challenges.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The MS in Architecture – Sustainable Design prepares graduates for advanced design-based research and professional work focused on energy-efficient buildings, sustainable design, building science, and better neighborhood and urban environments. Because the program works closely with the UH Energy research group and industry partners on multidisciplinary projects, graduates can apply their architectural expertise to sustainability-focused challenges across the built environment.

Career opportunities: Graduates can pursue roles such as Sustainable Design Specialist, Architectural Designer, Building Performance Consultant, and Environmental Design Researcher.

Career services: The Hines College of Architecture and Design provides career-development opportunities and employer engagement through its architecture and design career activities, including career fairs where employers recruit for internships and full-time positions. The 2026 career-fair employer list included Gensler, HDR Engineering, HKS, BSA, and Cosmati Architects, with roles ranging from architectural internships to full-time architectural design positions.
Industry collaboration: The Sustainable Design concentration works closely with UH Energy, where academics collaborate with industry partners on multidisciplinary projects focused on improving the built environment. This gives students a direct connection to Houston's energy and sustainability ecosystem.
Houston professional environment: The program specifically uses Houston's position as the world's energy capital as a context for sustainable-design research, connecting architectural research with energy, environmental, and built-environment challenges.
Employment statistics: The University of Houston does not publish a specific employment rate or salary figure for graduates of the MS in Architecture – Sustainable Design on the official program page. Therefore, a program-specific employment percentage or salary should not be assumed from unrelated UH programs.
Salary information: UH does not state a specific graduate salary or median salary for this Sustainable Design concentration on its official program materials. The available UH employment statistics for other degrees should not be treated as representative of this program.
Professional value: This is a post-professional degree intended for students who already hold a professional degree in architecture, urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, or a related design field. Its emphasis on sustainable design research, building science, design technology, environmental thinking, and professional practice can support continued specialization in sustainability-focused architectural work.
Graduation outcomes: Students complete a 36-credit, two-semester program centered on sustainable design and studio-based research, preparing them for design-based research and professional practice in advanced sustainable design.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into doctoral-level research in architecture, environmental design, sustainability, urban systems, or related fields, depending on the receiving institution's admission requirements. Within the University of Houston's Hines College, related graduate pathways include the broader Master of Science in Architecture, including concentrations in Sustainable Urban Systems and Urban Design, while the university also offers other advanced architecture and design graduate programs.