Master of Architecture Track I

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Oregon

Program Overview

The Master of Architecture Track I at the University of Oregon is a three-year-plus-one-term, STEM-designated professional degree for students without a prior professional or pre-professional architecture degree, combining rigorous studio work with professional coursework and opportunities to explore specialized interests. Students develop expertise in architectural design, building technology, sustainability, architectural history, computational design, and professional practice while preparing for a pathway toward architectural licensure.

Curriculum Structure

Summer Before Year One: Students begin with ARCH 680 Introductory Graduate Design I, ARCH 631 Global Modern Architecture, and ARCH 611 Graduate Design Process, establishing foundations in architectural design, architectural history, and the design process.

Year One: The first full year develops core design and technical abilities through ARCH 681 Introductory Graduate Design II, ARCH 550 Spatial Composition, ARCH 570 Building Construction, ARCH 540 Human Context of Design, and ARCH 591 Environmental Control Systems I. Students also study ARCH 622 Computational Design, ARCH 530 Architectural Contexts: Place and Culture, and Environmental Control Systems II, connecting spatial design with computation, human experience, construction, and building performance.

Year Two: Students progress into more advanced architectural design while strengthening structural, environmental, media, and sustainability knowledge through ARCH 683 Architectural Design IV, ARCH 561 Structural Behavior, ARCH 633 Fundamentals of Sustainable Design, and ARCH 562 Structural Design. The curriculum also includes ARCH 523 Media for Design Development, advanced technology, architectural history, and further ARCH 584 Architectural Design studios.

Year Three: The final year emphasizes advanced architectural integration and professional preparation through ARCH 584 Architectural Design, ARCH 585 Architectural Design I, ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II, and ARCH 571 Building Enclosure. Students also complete ARCH 517 Context of the Architectural Profession, seminars, and subject-area electives, bringing together design, technical systems, professional practice, and their chosen areas of interest.

Focus areas

Building performance, housing, urban design, architectural tectonics, design leadership, mass timber, sustainability, building technology, and user-centered design.

Learning outcomes

Students develop social justice and environmental sustainability awareness, integrated architectural design skills, knowledge of architectural history and urbanism, building-systems integration, leadership and collaboration abilities, research capacity, and an understanding of architectural licensure, professional ethics, regulations, and business practices.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

NAAB accredited: The University of Oregon’s Master of Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and is designed as a professional degree preparing graduates for architectural practice and allied built-environment professions.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Official ranking: The University of Oregon’s official sources reviewed do not state a current QS, Guardian, or other program-specific employability ranking for the MArch Track I. The university does provide career-development support through its University Career Center, including career coaching, internship and job resources, employer connections, and Handshake.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Oregon’s Master of Architecture Track I is built around an intensive studio environment where students develop practical design, technical, computational, and fabrication skills through a sequence of architectural design studios and professional coursework. Students have dedicated studio workstations, access to fabrication and woodworking facilities, digital design tools, lighting-analysis equipment, and specialized research laboratories, while community-engaged projects, internships in architectural offices, study-abroad opportunities, and off-campus work connect studio learning with professional practice.

Students gain practical experience through these program-specific opportunities:

Design studios: Students complete a minimum of 64 credits in architectural design studios, including ARCH 680 Introductory Graduate Design I–III, ARCH 584 Architectural Design, ARCH 585 Architectural Design I, and ARCH 586 Advanced Architectural Design II. Studios use iterative design, critiques, pin-ups, group discussions, and project development to build professional design skills.
Dedicated studio workstations: Each architecture student enrolled in studio is assigned a workstation within a dedicated studio group space, available for use throughout the day and for the duration of the studio term.
Computational design: ARCH 622 Computational Design develops computational approaches within the MArch curriculum, complementing digital modeling and representation workflows.
Architecture software: Computing labs provide access to architecture software including Rhino, Revit, SketchUp, and AutoCAD, alongside graphic-intensive computing resources.
Digital fabrication: The Portland Fabrication Lab provides two laser cutters, a 3D printer, and two CNC cutters, allowing students to turn digital models into physical prototypes and architectural models.
Woodworking and prototyping: Eugene’s woodshops provide hand tools and power equipment, including a 3-axis CNC router and Rowland MDX-40 CNC mill, supporting physical model-making and larger-scale fabrication projects.
Lighting experimentation: The Baker Lighting Lab allows students to measure and analyze daylighting and electric lighting in existing buildings, proposed designs, and physical building models using solar-analysis, environmental-monitoring, and lighting-evaluation equipment.
Research laboratories: The Facade Integrated Technologies Research & Testing Facility (FIT) supports full-scale experimental testing of building-envelope components, while the High Performance Environments Lab (HiPE) supports research and design assistance related to high-performance environments and green building.
Real-world projects: The program provides opportunities for community-engaged design, including work directly with communities on and off campus, helping students apply architectural knowledge to real-world situations.
Professional experience: Students can undertake internships in architectural offices, providing direct exposure to professional architectural practice.
Study abroad and off-campus learning: The MArch Track I experience includes study abroad programs and other off-campus opportunities that extend architectural learning beyond the studio environment.
Design Library: The Design Library in Lawrence Hall is a major Pacific Northwest resource for art and architectural information, with extensive architectural collections, a dedicated reading room, and access to broader University of Oregon library resources.
Portland learning environment: UO Portland provides architecture students with Highland Hall studios, a curated art and design library, exhibition areas, a fabrication lab, output room, virtual-reality lab, video and audio production studios, and ceramics studio facilities.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Architecture Track I at the University of Oregon prepares graduates for professional architectural practice and progression toward licensure, while also developing pathways into teaching, research, and related design fields. The NAAB-accredited professional degree, combined with internships, mentoring, career advising, and connections with practicing architects, gives students a strong foundation for entering the profession and building long-term careers.

Career opportunities: Architectural Designer, Architect (after licensure), Architectural Researcher, Design/Planning Professional.

Career support: College of Design Student Services provides individual career advising, internship and job-search strategy support, application-material development, interview preparation, workshops, and access to career resources; architecture students can also use the UO Career Center’s Handshake system for professional opportunities.
Professional mentoring: UO’s Architecture Professional Advisory Group includes 14 architects who are leaders in architecture firms and supports student job placement, recruiting, interviews, internships, mentoring, portfolio presentations, firm tours, construction walks, and practitioner engagement.
Industry connections: The department has established relationships with professional practices including Miller Hull Partnership, DLR Group, PIVOT Architecture, Kengo Kuma Architects, AEDAS, Ankrom Moisan, GBD, Green Hammer, BRIC Architecture, Salazar Architects, Carleton Hart, Hennebery Eddy, and Holst through internships and professional engagement.
Employment opportunities: The university documents internships and professional experiences with architectural firms and notes that its career activities connect students with practitioners, alumni, and employers. A current architecture-specific graduate employment percentage and salary figure are not stated on the official UO sources reviewed, so no unsupported figure is provided.
Industry partnerships: Miller Hull Partnership has supported UO architecture graduate students through an endowed scholarship and has maintained an internship program; the firm has also provided real architectural projects for UO studio learning.
Accreditation value: The MArch Track I is NAAB-accredited, which is important because most U.S. state registration boards require an accredited professional architecture degree as part of the pathway toward architectural licensure. UO also provides information and advising related to NCARB licensure requirements and professional experience.
STEM advantage: The MArch is STEM-designated, allowing eligible international graduates on F-1 visas to apply for the STEM OPT extension; UO states that this can extend the total OPT period to up to three years, providing additional time to gain U.S. professional experience.
Graduation outcomes: UO’s architecture documentation emphasizes progression into practice, teaching, research, and scholarship, supported by internships, alumni mentoring, practitioner presentations, career advising, and professional engagement.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MArch Track I, students can continue into advanced academic or research pathways at the University of Oregon, including the Master of Science in Architecture or PhD in Architecture. Students can also pursue concurrent graduate degrees, specializations, or certificates; UO specifically offers concurrent pathways such as Architecture with Community & Regional Planning.