graduate
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The University of Waterloo offers a graduate program leading to the
Master of Architecture degree (MArch), for professional qualification
as architects. The Masters program in Architecture combines elements
of a professional masters and a research-oriented masters program.
It offers preparation for entry into the architecture profession (together
with an extension of the knowledge base required of practicing professionals,
current and future), to students with an undergraduate degree in pre-professional
architecture, such as a Bachelor of Architectural Studies. The program
is designed to develop the skills and intellectual curiosity required
for a leadership role in the profession and in society, and for entry
into doctoral studies. The Masters Thesis, the core academic component
of the program, will develop research and analytical/interpretive skills,
as well as design skills - i.e., the synthetic skills of architecture.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The curriculum involves course work, a graduate Studio/Seminar and a graduate
thesis in an area of architecture. The three-term curriculum
normally takes one to two years (3 to 6 terms) to complete, and is the final stage of academic preparation for the student's professional qualification as
an architect. There are four parts to the curriculum:
• at least three specialist electives, each a one-term course (0.50 unit
weight per course), taken in at least two of the three academic streams
(Cultural Studies, Environment, Technology) other than design
• three compulsory (two half-term and one full-term), one 0.50 unit weight
(ARCH 655) and two 0.25 unit weight (ARCH 652 & ARCH 654) courses in
the aspects of professional practice and architectural responsibility
• Graduate Design Studio/Seminar (equivalent to three term courses/1.50
units of credit) (ARCH 692)
• a Masters Thesis in Design (equivalent to four one-term courses/2.00
units of credit) (milestone)