Master of Arts in Architecture

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Kansas

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Architecture at the University of Kansas is a 36-credit, research-based academic program designed for students who want to explore architecture from an advanced scholarly and analytical perspective, with the degree awarded as part of progress toward the Ph.D. Students develop expertise through architectural research, theory, inquiry methods, a self-directed major and minor area of study, and a research thesis or final project.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The first year establishes the research foundation through ARCH 930 – Doctoral Seminar I, ARCH 931 – Theories of Architectural Inquiry, and ARCH 951 – Methods of Inquiry in Architectural Research. Students also begin developing their individual major and minor areas of study, alongside an advanced methods course selected outside the department and ARCH 958 – Research Practicum Preparation.

Year 2: The second year moves toward applied research through ARCH 959 – Research Practicum, advanced major and minor coursework, and completion of the Comprehensive Oral Exam. Students consolidate their specialization through independent scholarly investigation and complete a research thesis or final project, preparing them for continued doctoral-level research.

Focus areas: Architectural research, theories of architectural inquiry, research methods, advanced architecture specialization, interdisciplinary study, scholarly investigation, and research documentation.

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop advanced research and analytical skills, gain deeper knowledge within a recognized architectural knowledge category, communicate architectural knowledge clearly, and acquire specialized skills for conducting rigorous architectural studies and contributing original research to the field.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The M.A. in Architecture is a post-professional academic/research degree and is not the NAAB-accredited professional pathway to architectural licensure; KU identifies the M.Arch. Track II (2-year) as its NAAB-accredited professional degree for students pursuing professional architectural practice.

Reputation (employability rankings): KU’s official architecture sources highlight strong engagement with the profession and report that the School collects annual graduate employment and salary data; however, a current QS/Guardian architecture employability ranking specific to the M.A. in Architecture is not stated on the official KU sources reviewed. KU also notes that its architecture courses are significantly influenced by practical input from major firms and that employers report KU graduates can contribute quickly and progress toward leadership positions.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Arts in Architecture at the University of Kansas is a research-oriented graduate pathway, giving students opportunities to investigate architectural questions through independent research, design inquiry, and access to specialized architecture facilities. The program is closely connected to KU’s broader architecture research environment, including the Center for Design Research, digital fabrication facilities, computer labs, robotics, and hands-on making spaces. KU identifies the M.A. in Architecture as a 36-credit academic/research track that forms part of the progression toward the Ph.D. in Architecture.

Research & thesis: Students develop advanced architectural research skills through academic inquiry and independent work, with KU’s M.A. in Architecture serving as a research-oriented degree that can lead into doctoral study.

Digital fabrication: Students have access to advanced digital fabrication environments where computer systems and automated tools are used to create prototypes, explore materials, and investigate innovative architectural applications.

Specialized facilities: KU provides architecture students with dedicated studios, fabrication workshops, computer laboratories, robotics facilities, and research spaces across the School of Architecture & Design:

Center for Design Research: A working laboratory and incubator that brings together KU students, faculty, and industry representatives for advanced design research and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
Marvin Studios: Provides studio and presentation spaces together with advanced digital fabrication facilities, including equipment for 3D prototyping and automated fabrication.
Robotics Lab: KU’s facilities directory specifically lists the Marvin Studios Robotics Lab, supporting experimentation with robotic fabrication and advanced making processes.
3D Printing: The Marvin Studios 3D Printer Lab gives students access to dedicated additive-manufacturing facilities for physical prototyping.
CNC Fabrication: The Chalmers Hall CNC Lab provides access to computer-controlled fabrication equipment within KU’s School of Architecture & Design facilities.
Construction & Making: The East Hills Construction & Innovation Lab, wood shops, metal shops, and furniture-design facilities support hands-on exploration of construction, materials, and fabrication.
Computer Labs: Architecture and design students can use dedicated computing spaces including the Center for Design Research Farmhouse and Barn Computer Labs, East Hills Computer Lab, Marvin Bridge Computer Lab, and Snow Hall Computer Lab.
Research applications: KU architecture researchers have used the Robotic Lab for research into environmental-economic design and construction through robotic fabrication, demonstrating how the university’s facilities can support advanced architectural investigation.
Interdisciplinary research: The Center for Design Research operates under the School of Architecture & Design and supports cross-disciplinary design research, allowing architectural research to connect with wider design and problem-solving disciplines.
Architecture studios: Marvin Hall and Snow Hall provide architecture studio and presentation environments where students can develop and communicate architectural work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Arts in Architecture at the University of Kansas is a research-based, post-professional degree designed for students interested in architecture from an academic and scholarly perspective. It develops advanced research and independent-study capabilities and is specifically structured as part of a student’s progression toward the Ph.D. in Architecture.

Typical job roles: Architectural Researcher, Architecture Educator, Architectural Historian, Design Researcher: the degree is particularly suited to students seeking research, scholarly, and academic pathways rather than professional architectural licensure.

Career support: KU provides access to internships, part-time and full-time employment opportunities, assistantships, fellowships, and Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant positions; the School of Architecture & Design also maintains employment resources and career-related connections for architecture students.
Employment stats and salary: The KU School of Architecture & Design collects annual employment data from graduating students and calculates median and mean salaries by major; however, a specific salary figure for the M.A. in Architecture is not stated on the official program page, so no unrelated figure is substituted.
University–industry connections: KU architecture students benefit from industry and community-engaged studios, lectures, workshops, portfolio reviews, career fairs, firm visits, networking events, and relationships with architecture firms and companies worldwide; these connections can provide internships and professional exposure.
Accreditation value: The M.A. in Architecture is a post-professional academic degree and is not the NAAB-accredited professional degree leading directly toward architectural registration. KU’s NAAB accreditation applies to its Master of Architecture professional tracks, which meet the educational requirements for architectural licensure.
Graduation outcomes: The program requires 36 credit hours of coursework, independent study, and research, including a comprehensive oral examination and research thesis or final project, giving graduates advanced preparation for scholarly and research-oriented architectural work.
Research progression: The M.A. is awarded as part of a student’s progress toward the Ph.D. in Architecture, making it particularly valuable for students who want to build an academic or research career.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.A. in Architecture, students can continue into KU’s Ph.D. in Architecture, a 49-credit terminal degree involving advanced coursework, independent research, and a dissertation. The Ph.D. provides a pathway for deeper scholarly inquiry and careers involving architectural research and academia; KU also notes that architecture graduates may pursue doctoral study in architecture and related areas such as urban planning, law, psychology, social welfare, public administration, or business.