The following is an overview of the four master's degree programs inside the Department. Each degree is described in further detail under the corresponding discipline section:
The Master of Architecture (MArch) is a professional degree program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The pedagogical approaches that faculty bring to the teaching of architectural design derive both from their years of professional practice and from their engagement with design research within the environments at MIT and beyond. The core sequence of studios is structured to provide students with an intense and immersive experience in the contemporary discipline of design, where the understanding of drawing, geometry, representation, and fabrication is integrated with classes that bring a core understanding of building technology and sustainability, architectural culture and precedent, urban theory and computation in architecture. The three semester options studios engage both MIT design faculty and a series of visiting studio professors noted for their work in contemporary practice. The problems that are chosen relate to the issues in practice and society challenging the architectural profession and include a variety of offerings that vary in scale, context, and content.
The great majority of students enter the program and graduate in 3.5 years. A small number of students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in architecture at another school may be admitted with advanced entry to the program and graduate in 2.5 years. Students in the MArch program recognize the many possible roles within the architecture profession, and therefore should develop a responsibility for structuring their own educational programs, particularly in the selection of elective classes. Students are urged to have the concentration be reflected in their design theses.
The Master of Science in Architecture Studies (SMArchS) is a two-year program of advanced study founded on research and inquiry in architecture as a discipline and as a practice. Students pursue work in one of six areas of concentration, with opportunities to explore connections across these areas and beyond to other programs and departments at MIT. More...
The Master of Science in Building Technology (SMBT) provides a focus for graduate students interested in the development and application of advanced technology for buildings and cities. Students in this program take relevant subjects in basic engineering disciplines along with subjects that apply these topics to the built environment. The program is open to qualified students with a degree in engineering or in architecture.
The program concentrates on the development of the next generation of technology for the built environment as well as the innovative application of state-of-the-art concepts to building and urban systems. Research programs, in many cases jointly carried out with faculty and students in the School of Engineering, include energy efficiency, sustainable building design, controls, natural ventilation and indoor air quality, innovative materials and structures, and computational simulation of building behavior.
The program is run jointly by the Departments of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
The Master of Science in Art, Culture and Technology (SMACT) degree program focuses on the development of critical and visionary positions of artistic practice in the context of an advanced technological and scientific community.
The program focuses on the development of artist-thinkers advancing their critical and production practices. Strong emphasis is placed on critical thinking, knowledge mining, and creative engagement, along with explorations of changing public and private spheres. Participation in faculty research, collaborations within the Institute, connections with visitors, and an ongoing studio seminar provide students with many opportunities to develop and exchange ideas.