Masters in Architecture and Urban Design Path A

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Notre Dame

Program Overview

The Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (MADU) — Path A at the University of Notre Dame is a two-year post-professional program for students who already hold a professional architecture degree and want to deepen their design skills and critical understanding of classical architecture and traditional urbanism. The program combines foundational studies in South Bend, advanced studio work, a semester of study in Rome, and a final thesis, allowing students to explore architecture and urban design through both historical and contemporary perspectives.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with the foundational curriculum in South Bend, studying Elements & Principles of Classical Architecture & Traditional Urbanism, History of Rome, and Foundations & Theory. They then progress into an Upper Level Graduate Studio, supported by an upper-level theory course and elective study, developing more advanced approaches to architectural design and urbanism.

Year 2: The second year includes the program's distinctive Rome experience, with Rome Graduate Studio, Architectural & Urban History of Rome, and Italian Architectural & Urban Theory, giving students direct exposure to the architectural and urban traditions of Rome. Students complete the degree with Thesis Studio, developing and presenting an independent design thesis that demonstrates their advanced architectural and urban-design capabilities.

Focus areas: Classical architecture, traditional urbanism, architectural design, urban design, architectural history, architectural theory, Roman architecture and urbanism, design research, and thesis development.

Learning outcomes: Students develop advanced design and critical-thinking abilities through studio-based education, historical and theoretical study, Rome-based architectural investigation, and an independent terminal design thesis with presentation.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The MADU Path A is not a NAAB-accredited professional degree and does not satisfy the educational requirement for U.S. architectural licensure; it is a post-professional degree intended for students who already hold a professional architecture degree.

Reputation (employability rankings): Notre Dame reports that 92–97% of graduates across its architecture programs have secured employment in the field at or shortly after graduation over the past two decades. The School also reports that its annual Career Fair attracts approximately 50–80 firms seeking students for summer and full-time positions.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (MADU)—Path A at the University of Notre Dame is strongly studio-based, with students developing architectural and urban-design skills through sequential studios, a dedicated semester in Rome, and a final design thesis. The program combines design work with direct observation of historic urban environments, field drawing, architectural and urban history, and urban analysis, while Notre Dame’s Walsh Family Hall of Architecture provides graduate studios, a digital design lab, library, and furniture workshop.

Students also gain practical exposure through the Rome Studies Program, where graduate students spend a full semester studying in Rome and participate in faculty-guided field trips across Italy. The program encourages internships and provides career support, while teaching-assistant positions give MADU students additional hands-on experience supporting studio, lecture, and seminar courses.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Design Studios: Students progress through sequential studio courses and complete an Upper Level Graduate Studio, Rome Graduate Studio, and Thesis Studio, applying architectural and urban-design principles to substantial design projects.
Rome Immersion: One semester is spent at Notre Dame’s Rome campus, where students study architecture and urbanism within the historic built environment of Rome.
Field Trips: Faculty-guided trips extend across Lazio, Umbria, Toscana, Emilia Romagna, Veneto, Campania, and Sicily, allowing students to study different regional approaches to architecture, urbanism, building traditions, and landscape.
Field Drawing & Watercolor: ARCH 84012 Field Drawing & Watercolor develops observational and representational skills through direct engagement with architectural and urban environments in Rome.
Urban Design Projects: Notre Dame’s graduate urban-design studios have undertaken real planning and urban-design proposals for places including Chicago, Providence, Tulsa, Lafayette, Skaneateles, and the Chicago Midway Plaisance, giving students experience addressing urban-scale problems.
Digital Design: The School’s Digital Design Studio provides professionally supported workstations for digital design, while the library technology center functions as a makerspace supporting digital design, 3D modeling, and 3D printing.
Architecture Library: The Architecture Library provides specialized architectural resources and technology supporting research, design, and studio work.
Fabrication Facilities: Walsh Family Hall of Architecture includes a furniture workshop, supporting hands-on making and material exploration alongside architectural design.
Rome Facilities: The Notre Dame Rome facility includes two architectural studios, a computer lab, printers, scanners, group study rooms, a Rome library, and an exhibition space, supporting studio production, research, collaboration, and presentations during the Rome semester.
Teaching Experience: MADU students are required to serve as teaching assistants for three semesters on the main campus, supporting faculty in studio, lecture, and seminar courses.
Internships: An internship is not required for graduation, but Notre Dame explicitly encourages internships as part of the educational experience and provides a spring Career Fair and preparatory workshops for students seeking summer or full-time positions.
Design Thesis: Students conclude the program with a design thesis, including a formal presentation and submission of a thesis book, providing an opportunity to synthesize their architectural and urban-design training into a substantial independent project.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism (MADU)—Path A prepares graduates for advanced work across architecture, urban design, and related built-environment fields, with the program combining studio education, urbanism, a semester in Rome, and a final design thesis. Notre Dame reports that, across its School of Architecture graduate outcomes, 94% of graduates were employed in architecture or allied disciplines, including urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, planning, design firms, nonprofits, and related organizations.

Typical career roles: Architectural Designer, Urban Designer, Architectural Project Designer, Design/Planning Consultant.

Career Fair: Notre Dame’s School of Architecture hosts an annual Career Fair where students meet representatives of leading architecture firms and can interview for employment opportunities; the School states that 75 top architecture firms attend annually.
Career preparation: The School provides career preparation through professional events, thesis reviews, lectures, and interactions with practicing architects, architectural historians, preservationists, community leaders, and alumni. The Notre Dame Career Center also helps students prepare for professional activities, while IrishCompass provides an alumni professional network for career connections.
Employment & salary: Notre Dame reports a $70,000–$75,000 annual starting salary one year after completing an M.Arch degree in 2023. The School also reports that many students secure employment before receiving their diplomas, although this salary figure is specifically reported for the M.Arch rather than separately for MADU Path A.
Alumni & industry connections: The School maintains an extensive professional alumni network, with alumni participating in student design reviews and School events connected with organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
Internship opportunities: Internships are encouraged but are not required for MADU graduation, allowing students to pursue professional experience according to their career interests.
Teaching experience: MADU students serve as teaching assistants for three semesters on the main campus, supporting faculty in studio, lecture, and seminar courses while gaining experience in architectural education.
Accreditation and licensure value: MADU Path A is a post-professional degree and is not NAAB-accredited, so it does not itself satisfy the U.S. educational requirement for architectural licensure. Students whose long-term goal is U.S. architectural licensure may need to pursue an NAAB-accredited M.Arch or have their previous education evaluated by NCARB.
Graduation outcomes: Notre Dame’s School of Architecture reports that, in its 2023 graduate outcomes data, 94% of graduates were employed in architecture or allied disciplines and 2% were employed in academia; the School's definition of allied disciplines includes urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, planning, and related organizations.

Further Academic Progression: After MADU Path A, graduates can pursue doctoral or research-oriented study in architecture, urbanism, architectural history, or related built-environment disciplines, or undertake further professional architectural education where required for licensure. Students interested specifically in U.S. architectural licensure can consider an NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture because Notre Dame identifies its M.Arch programs as the School's NAAB-accredited professional degrees.