Master of Architecture (M.Arch)—Path B

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Notre Dame

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch)—Path B at the University of Notre Dame is a two-year professional degree designed for students who already hold a four-year pre-professional degree in architecture, combining studio-based architectural education with classical architecture and traditional urbanism. Students complete four semesters and at least 54 credits, including a semester of study in Rome, and finish with a design thesis that is publicly presented and defended.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build a strong foundation in Notre Dame’s approach to architecture and urbanism, studying areas such as Elements and Principles of Classical Architecture, History of Rome, and Urban Elements and Principles. Depending on their chosen direction, students then progress into Classical Architecture I or Urban Design I, developing design skills through intensive studio work and connecting architectural principles with historical and urban contexts.

Year 2: The second year deepens the selected focus through advanced studio and Rome-based study, with courses such as Classical Architecture II, Italian Classicism, Urban Design II, and Italian Urbanism. Students bring their architectural knowledge together in the Terminal Design Project, completing and publicly defending a substantial thesis project as the culmination of the professional degree.

Focus areas: Classical Architecture; Urban Design; Traditional Urbanism; Architectural History; Design; Rome and Italian Architecture.

Learning outcomes: Architectural design; classical architectural principles; urban design; architectural history; site and building design; professional architectural practice; independent design research and thesis development.

Professional alignment (accreditation): NAAB-accredited professional degree pathway that satisfies the NAAB educational requirement for U.S. architectural licensure; Notre Dame states that the M.Arch is part of its NAAB-accredited professional architecture offerings.

Reputation (employability rankings): Career outcomes: Notre Dame reports that 92–97% of its architecture graduates have secured employment in the field at or shortly after graduation over the past two decades; its School of Architecture also reports that 75 of the nation’s top architecture firms attend its Career Fair annually and lists a $70,000–$75,000 starting salary one year after completing the M.Arch degree (2023).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch)—Path B at the University of Notre Dame is strongly studio-based, giving students practical experience through sequential design studios, a required three-week summer intensive, a semester of study in Rome, and a final design thesis that students present and document in a thesis book. Students work within the School of Architecture’s Walsh Family Hall facilities, with access to digital design and fabrication resources, a dedicated Architecture Library, makerspace technology, and spaces designed for individual and collaborative architectural work.

The program also encourages professional exposure through internships, although internships are not required for graduation; students can use the annual Career Fair and preparatory workshops to pursue summer and full-time opportunities. Practical learning is supported by digital modelling, 3D printing, scanning, virtual-reality and mapping technologies, alongside traditional drawing and physical model-making:

Design studios: Students progress sequentially through studio courses and complete a design thesis, including a formal presentation and thesis book, providing substantial hands-on experience in developing and communicating architectural projects.
Rome study: One of the four semesters is spent studying in Rome, Italy, giving students direct exposure to architecture, urbanism and the built environment in a major historic architectural setting.
Digital fabrication: The Architecture Library’s 3D Makerspace provides multiple large- and small-format printers for producing physical architectural models and other project materials.
Digital tools: Students have access to 3D scanners, Oculus Rift virtual-reality equipment, cameras, and aerial photography and mapping tools for studying and presenting the built and planned environment.
Digital design studio: The School’s Digital Design Studio provides 41 professionally supported workstations for digital design and related architectural work.
Software & modelling: Notre Dame documents the use of digital modelling tools such as SketchUp in architecture student projects, including creating digital site and building models that can subsequently be fabricated through the library’s 3D printers.
Architecture Library: The dedicated Architecture Library contains more than 36,000 volumes covering architecture, architectural history, landscape architecture, urban design, historic preservation and related fields, with smart meeting rooms, digital conference technology, pin-up space, computers and scanners supporting individual and group work.
Makerspace & research resources: Students can combine library research with physical and digital production through the Makerspace, rare-book collections, architectural archives, 3D technologies and visual documentation equipment.
Internships: Internships are encouraged but not required; the School holds a Career Fair every spring and offers preparatory workshops to help students secure summer and full-time positions.
Teaching assistant experience: M.Arch students can work as teaching assistants, supporting faculty in studio, lecture and seminar courses, providing an additional opportunity to develop professional and communication skills.
Research opportunities: Although the graduate program does not require a research agenda, students can pursue individual research interests through independent studies and fellowships.
Collaborative learning spaces: Walsh Family Hall includes studios, laboratories, classrooms, a library and shared spaces designed to support the School’s studio culture and interaction among students and faculty.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture (M.Arch)—Path B at the University of Notre Dame is a professional degree designed to prepare graduates for architectural practice, with opportunities to build professional networks through the School’s strong connections with architecture firms and alumni. Graduates can pursue careers in architecture and allied disciplines, while the NAAB-accredited professional degree provides an important foundation toward U.S. architectural licensure.

Typical job roles: Architect, Architectural Designer, Urban Designer, Architectural Project Manager:

Career support: Notre Dame hosts an annual Career Fair attracting approximately 50–80 firms, with preparatory workshops covering portfolios, interview skills, and business etiquette; students can interview for summer and full-time positions, and many secure employment before graduation.
Employment statistics: Over the past two decades, 92–97% of Notre Dame architecture graduates have secured employment in the field at or shortly after graduation. The School also reports that 75 of the nation’s top architecture firms attend its Career Fair annually.
Salary: The School reports a $70,000–$75,000 starting salary one year after completing the M.Arch. (2023). Notre Dame also notes that architecture salaries typically increase substantially as graduates gain the experience required for professional licensure.
Industry partnerships: Students connect directly with leading national and international architecture firms through the annual Career Fair, interviews, lectures, thesis reviews, events, and the School’s extensive alumni network spanning architecture, urbanism, development, and academia.
Accreditation value: The M.Arch is NAAB-accredited, and Notre Dame states that most U.S. registration boards require an accredited professional architecture degree as a prerequisite for licensure. The School’s next accreditation visit is scheduled for 2032, reinforcing the long-term professional value of the qualification.
Graduation outcomes: Notre Dame’s published graduate outcomes show 94% employed in architecture or allied disciplines and a further 2% employed in academia in the reported 11-year outcomes dataset.
Professional preparation: The program includes a design thesis, a semester of study in Rome, Italy, and opportunities for teaching-assistant and independent research work, while internships are encouraged even though they are not required for graduation.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the M.Arch, graduates can pursue Notre Dame’s Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (MADU)—Path A, a two-year post-professional degree for students who already hold a B.Arch, M.Arch, or international equivalent. Graduates can also pursue advanced study and research in related architecture, urbanism, preservation, or other built-environment fields depending on their academic and professional goals.