A student looks at renderings pinned up on a board with architectural models nearby.

STEM-designated

Design a more sustainable future with a Master of Architecture (MArch) professional degree. Whether you’re building on an architecture background or starting fresh, our program prepares you to become a licensed architect who thinks critically and innovates boldly.

The MArch I program offers two tracks: a 2-year track for students with a pre-professional architecture degree and a 3-year track for those from any other academic background. Plus, you can add focus to your master’s degree with an optional concentration. Whichever path is right for you, we’re committed to providing the support, resources, and connections you need to graduate with a solid portfolio and skills that set you apart in a rapidly evolving profession.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

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What it’s like to study at the School of Architecture & Urban Planning

Taught by experienced faculty who are also professional architects, you’ll learn about the latest trends in the field. You’ll get hands-on experience solving design problems in innovative ways, and you’ll practice clearly showing your ideas through drawings, writing and presentations. You’ll also meet guest speakers and professional, including many alumni, who can help you build valuable connections. And you’ll do it all with access to labs and facilities designed to support your growth.

But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself what it is like to be a student here by scheduling a visit to campus.

An architectural model in green and grey rests on a light wood platform.
A colorfully illustrated rendering of a park like setting with several buildings and a playground in the center.
An interior structure with concrete columns and ceiling with colorful half-walls creating corridors.
Screenshot of a software that detects thermal readings of buildings.
A grid of architectural models with pops of red.
A black and white drawing of a mult-story building that has solar panels on the roof.
An architectural model made of light wood.
Children and adults are seen playing in a green space with several structures with checkered canopies in. the distance.
A collage of essential tools and materials related to model making.
Discarded materials are given new life as sculptural art in an exhibition.

Master of Architecture (MArch I) Program Details

The Master of Architecture (MArch I) is a professional accredited degree that prepares you to become a licensed architect. Our curriculum develops innovative designers, thinkers and leaders in fields such as architecture, ecological design and sustainability, urban design, community development, design and construction and more.

The MArch I two-year program is ideal for students with a pre-professional degree in architecture. The MArch I three-year program is intended for students with a bachelor’s degree in any field, which means you can become an architect no matter what your undergraduate degree is in.

Review the Master of Architecture (MArch I) requirements.

Concentrations

Both MArch I tracks offer optional concentrations to align your studies with your passions.

Concentration in Ecological Design

The Ecological Design Concentration provides students with the tools and skills to design carbon neutral buildings that conserve resources and mitigate environmental pollution. Students wishing to pursue this concentration must be enrolled in the Master of Architecture program and complete a minimum of 21 credits from designated courses.

Review the Master of Architecture (MArch I): Ecological Design requirements.

Concentration in Real Estate Development

The Real Estate Development Concentration provides a focused course of study for Master of Architecture students who wish to pursue careers in real estate development in combination with professional architectural practice or work with a private or public developer. Students wishing to pursue this concentration must be enrolled in the Master of Architecture program and complete a minimum of 21 credits from designated courses.

Review the Master of Architecture (MArch I): Real Estate Development requirements.

Concentration in Preservation Studies

The Preservation Studies Concentration provides a focused course of study for Master of Architecture students who wish to pursue careers in historic preservation in professional architectural practice or in governmental preservation agencies. Students wishing to pursue this concentration must be enrolled in the Master of Architecture program and complete a minimum of 21 credits from designated courses.

Review the Master of Architecture (MArch I): Preservation Studies requirements.

How to Apply

Applying to a program offered by UWM’s School of Architecture & Urban Planning is simple with our detailed application instructions. Learn what materials to prepare and confidently take next steps with important dates in mind.

Graduate Assistantships + Scholarships & Aid

Graduate students may be eligible to receive funding support through teaching, research and project assistantships. Graduate assistantships typically include full tuition remission, annual stipend and affordable state health coverage through the university.

UW-Milwaukee offers a variety of cost-saving opportunities, including scholarships, grants, fellowships and residency-based tuition rates. Plus, we offer several scholarships available exclusively to School of Architecture & Urban Planning students.

Tuition & Fees

Learn more about tuition, including additional/differential per credit charges, on the UWM tuition and fees page. If you use the UWM Total Cost Estimator, the suggested cost of books is equivalent to what you can expect supplies to cost as an architecture student.

Master of Architecture (MArch II) Program Details

The Master of Architecture II (MArch II) is a one-year post-professional degree program developed specifically for students and professionals pursuing teaching careers in architecture or academia in addition to professional practice.

The MArch II curriculum combines graduate studios with an emphasis on advanced level elective and seminar courses, allowing you to choose research areas including historic preservation, ecological design, visualization and representation, real estate, building technology and systems, and history and theory. You’ll also take Topics in Professional Practice, an in-depth discussion of contemporary challenges and opportunities in professional practice.

If you have a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and would like to earn a graduate degree, this program is an excellent option for you. Whether your goal is to teach, practice or both, you’ll leave prepared for your next step in architecture.

Review the Master of Architecture (MArch II) requirements.

The MArch II degree is not accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB).

How to Apply

Applying to a program offered by UWM’s School of Architecture & Urban Planning is simple with our detailed application instructions. Learn what materials to prepare and confidently take next steps with important dates in mind.

Graduate Assistantships + Scholarships & Aid

Graduate students may be eligible to receive funding support through teaching, research and project assistantships. Graduate assistantships typically include full tuition remission, annual stipend and affordable state health coverage through the university.

UW-Milwaukee offers a variety of cost-saving opportunities, including scholarships, grants, fellowships and residency-based tuition rates. Plus, we offer several scholarships available exclusively to School of Architecture & Urban Planning students.

Tuition & Fees

Learn more about tuition, including additional/differential per credit charges, on the UWM tuition and fees page. If you use the UWM Total Cost Estimator, the suggested cost of books is equivalent to what you can expect supplies to cost as an architecture student.

Studios

Studios are the heart of your education. They push the boundaries of what is possible through architecture and challenge you to dive into specific topics in deep and meaningful ways. Design thinking, experimentation and critique come together in every project, and the creative energy of studio culture truly shapes your experience as an architecture student. Learn more about studios.

Externships

Our externship program offers direct access to professional practice and serves as a strong pathway to post-graduation employment. An externship is a short-term placement in architecture and urban planning organizations during UWinteriM and spring break. You’ll benefit from exposure to a variety of firms and experiences, networking opportunities and mentorship while building your professional network. Learn more about externships.

Study Abroad

We have a long tradition of offering diverse programs of international study led by our well-traveled faculty. These custom-designed travel opportunities happen throughout the school year and in the summer. Recent trips have taken students to France, Italy, England, Scandinavia and Japan. Take your education further with study abroad opportunities.

Research Opportunities

As a top-tier R1 research university, we’re experts at offering students opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research alongside faculty in areas like ecological design, historic preservation and urban planning. With paid research positions at the undergrad and graduate level and a specialized Resource Center to support your research, there is no limit to what you might uncover. Learn more about research opportunities.

Student Organizations

Learn in action through architecture and urban planning student organizations. Opportunities include connecting with professional association leaders, attending national conferences and tackling real-world projects for clients and community partners. Plus, you’ll deepen your connections with faculty, mentors and fellow students. Check out our student organizations.

Labs and Facilities

Creating something new requires the right environment to experiment, take risks and practice technique. That’s why our labs and facilities are designed to support you throughout the design process, from initial research to rapid prototyping, woodworking and portfolio documentation.

Career Outlook

$96,690Median Annual Salary
8%Faster Than Average Job Growth
$46.49Median Hourly Wage

Where Architects Work

Architects spend much of their time in offices, where they meet with clients, develop reports and drawings, and work with other architects and engineers. They also visit construction sites to ensure that clients’ objectives are met and to review the progress of projects. Some architects work from home offices.

Most architects work full time and many work additional hours, especially when facing deadlines. Self-employed architects may have more flexible work schedules.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook

Career Resources

We’re committed to helping you launch your career from your first semester to your first job and beyond. We offer a variety of ways for you to build your professional network and prepare for a successful transition into your career. Learn more about career resources.

Which faculty you have within this program depends on your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all School of Architecture & Urban Planning faculty and staff please click the button below.

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Teaching Assistant, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Affiliated Faculty, Historic Preservation Institute
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Teaching Assistant, Doctoral, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Director, Historic Preservation Institute
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Architecture Fellow, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Dean, College of the Arts & Architecture
  • Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Interim Head of School, School of Architecture & Urban Planning
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Fitzhugh Scott Faculty Fellow, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Associate Professor, Architecture
  • Director, Design + Construction Initiative
  • Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Affiliated Faculty, Historic Preservation Institute
  • Associate Professor & Department Chair, Architecture
  • Professor, Architecture
  • Director, Institute for Ecological Design
  • Affiliated Faculty, School of Freshwater Sciences
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Architecture
Important Dates
Priority Application Deadlines

MArch I – 2-year
December 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

MArch I – 3-year
January 15 | Fall admission only

MArch II – 1-year
December 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We recommend applying by the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.
Accreditation
The Master of Architecture (MArch I) is a professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Contact
Undergraduate
sarup-ugrad@uwm.edu

Graduate
sarup-grad@uwm.edu

General Info & Questions
Contact Form | 414-229-4015