Masters in Architecture

3 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Idaho

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) at the University of Idaho is a professional, NAAB-accredited degree designed for students who want to develop the design, technical, research and professional skills needed to pursue architectural licensure and address complex built-environment challenges. The curriculum combines design studios with architectural history and theory, technical and environmental systems, professional practice and a self-directed graduate project, with a 3+ M.Arch. pathway available for students entering with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than architecture.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students in the 3+ M.Arch. pathway build their professional architecture foundation through ARCH 353 Architectural Design 3, ARCH 354 Architectural Design 4, ARCH 361 Structural Systems 1 and ARCH 362 Structural Systems 2, while ARCH 385/386 Global History of Architecture 1/2 develops their understanding of architectural history. ARCH 243 Media in Architecture also strengthens architectural representation and communication skills.

Year 2: Students progress into more advanced studio and building-system work through ARCH 454 Architectural Design: Vertical Studio, ARCH 463/464 ECS 1 + Lab/ECS 2 + Lab, and ARCH 461 Building Assemblies. They also study ARCH 483 Urban Theory & Issues and ARCH 388 Introduction to Theory, connecting architectural design with urban, theoretical and environmental considerations.

Year 3: The final stage focuses on professional-level integration and independent architectural work through ARCH 553 Integrated Architectural Design, ARCH 568 Technical Integration in Design, ARCH 510 Graduate Project Seminar, ARCH 556 Graduate Project and ARCH 575 Professional Practice. Students bring together design, structure, enclosure, services, site and interior systems before completing a self-directed graduate project and developing knowledge of construction documents, contracts, codes, ethics, project management and professional practice.

Focus areas: Architectural design, design media, architectural history and theory, structural and environmental systems, technical integration, urban theory, building assemblies, professional practice, sustainable design and independent architectural research.

Learning outcomes: Students develop advanced design-research and critical-thinking abilities, communicate through architectural drawings, diagrams and physical/digital models, integrate material, structural and environmental systems into comprehensive designs, and demonstrate professional knowledge of ethics, civic responsibility, project management and architectural practice.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The M.Arch. is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and is the University of Idaho’s professional architecture degree designed to prepare students for architectural licensure. The university lists both the seamless M.Arch. path and the 3+ M.Arch. path as NAAB-accredited options.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): The University of Idaho reports that 98% of College of Art and Architecture graduates are employed in their chosen field, across areas including architecture, design and urban planning. For the M.Arch., the university currently lists 2,959 job openings across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Hawaii, with potential mid-career salaries of $88,192 for architects, $91,843 for urban and regional planners and $82,845 for postsecondary architecture teachers, based on Lightcast career data.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Architecture at the University of Idaho is strongly studio-based, with students developing practical architectural skills through learning-by-making, collaborative design work, and close interaction with faculty. The program combines design studios with technical integration, professional practice, graduate projects, and access to fabrication, digital-design, research, and visualization facilities across the Moscow and Boise campuses. Students can also gain real-world experience through the university’s Design-Build opportunities, where graduate-level architecture students work with nonprofits and local businesses on projects that are actually constructed.

Studio and fabrication: Students can apply their ideas through the following program-specific facilities, technologies, and project opportunities:

Design studios: Graduate students spend substantial time in studio-based learning, including ARCH 5530 Integrated Architectural Design, ARCH 5540 Architectural Design: Vertical Studio, and ARCH 5560 Graduate Project, emphasizing learning through making and iterative design development.
Design-Build projects: Graduate-level design-build studios and seminars allow students to collaborate on real buildings and community projects with nonprofits and local businesses, producing completed work that can become part of their professional portfolios.
Technical Design Studio: This facility functions as a wood shop and digital fabrication lab, allowing architecture students to develop fabrication skills and turn their designs into physical prototypes and built work.
Design Resource Center: Students have access to cutting-edge design software, large-format printing, scanners, material libraries, equipment checkout and technical support, supporting both digital and physical design production.
Virtual Technology and Design Lab: The lab supports interdisciplinary research in simulation, virtualization and social-ecological systems, giving students opportunities to explore advanced digital approaches to understanding and designing complex environments.
Integrated Design Lab (IDL): Located in Boise, the IDL focuses on energy-efficient and high-performance buildings and provides opportunities for students to work with faculty on research and outreach related to the built environment.
Urban Design Center: The Boise-based UDC provides dedicated studio space where architecture students work alongside interior architecture and landscape architecture students on urban and regional projects, encouraging interdisciplinary design practice.
Research opportunities: Advanced architecture students can work alongside faculty through facilities such as the Integrated Design Lab, Urban Design Center and Center for Resilient Communities, with projects including daylighting studies, design competitions, community redevelopment and post-occupancy evaluations.
Field trips: The M.Arch. professional fee specifically supports studio resources, equipment and opportunities such as field trips, giving students opportunities to extend learning beyond the studio environment.
Professional practice: ARCH 5750 Professional Practice connects the graduate curriculum with the professional side of architecture, complementing students' studio and project experience.
Portfolio development: Design-Build projects provide students with a portfolio featuring architectural designs that have actually been built, adding tangible project experience to their professional profile.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture at the University of Idaho prepares graduates for professional architectural practice and the pathway toward becoming licensed architects through a NAAB-accredited professional degree. The program develops advanced capabilities in architectural design, technical integration, professional practice and graduate project work, while the university’s career resources and industry connections help students transition into architecture and related built-environment careers.

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

This career preparation is supported by University of Idaho resources and professional connections:

Career Services: Students receive career guidance, access to job and internship listings through Handshake, resume support, career fairs, employer networking, on-campus interviews and professional development opportunities.
CAA career support: The College of Art and Architecture provides dedicated advisors, faculty mentoring, alumni connections, internship support, job-search preparation, networking opportunities and career fairs.
Employment outcome: The College of Art and Architecture reports that 98% of CAA graduates are employed in their chosen field, across areas including architecture, design, urban planning and related disciplines.
Career demand: The M.Arch program currently lists 2,959 job openings across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Hawaii.
Salary potential: University of Idaho lists mid-career salaries of $88,192 for Architects, $91,843 for Urban and Regional Planners, and $82,845 for Postsecondary Architecture Teachers; these figures are provided by Lightcast.
Industry connections: CAA maintains professional connections that provide internship and networking opportunities, while its alumni network includes practicing professionals and architecture firms such as BRS Architects, HOK, DLR Group, ZGF Architects, NAC Architecture and WRNS.
Professional accreditation: The M.Arch is NAAB-accredited, an important long-term advantage because most U.S. registration boards require an accredited professional architecture degree as part of the pathway to architectural licensure. University of Idaho's next NAAB accreditation site visit is scheduled for 2032.
Professional preparation: The curriculum specifically includes ARCH 5750 Professional Practice, giving students academic preparation connected to the realities of professional architecture.
Graduation pathway: Graduates of the professional M.Arch are prepared to address complex built-environment problems and pursue the professional pathway toward becoming licensed architects.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.Arch, graduates can continue into advanced architectural research through University of Idaho’s graduate architecture offerings, including ARCH 5000 Master’s Research and Thesis, ARCH 5050 Architectural Research Methods, and directed-study or special-topic architecture courses. Students interested in professional development can also progress toward architectural licensure using the professional degree as the educational foundation.