Mission

UMass Architecture provides an accessible, intellectually rigorous design education that firmly grounds students in the art and science of the built environment.

The interdisciplinary, collaborative program embraces spirited, socially progressive, and environmentally responsive design. As New England’s first public architecture program, UMass Amherst Architecture seeks to significantly broaden interest in and access to professional training in architecture throughout the North Atlantic region.

Organization

Our cross-campus curriculum has its home base in the Department of Architecture within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, with integrated core coursework within the Department of Art, the College of Natural Sciences, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students have additional access to relevant coursework and opportunities throughout the Five College Consortium.

While there are specific requirements and a recommended sequence of classes at the undergraduate and graduate levels, undergraduates are encouraged to diversify their educational experience through open electives.

Graduate students will be guided in assembling a study plan culminating in a Master of Architecture thesis or Master of Science project.


About the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB)

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. NAAB, which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a 6-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The UMass Amherst Department of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs: M. Arch. (preprofessional degree plus at least 57 graduate credits) and M. Arch. (non-preprofessional degree plus up to 87 credits). The next accreditation visit for all programs will take place in 2024.