USC
University of Southern California
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USC School of Architecture

Graduate Programs

Dual Degrees

Master of Architecture/Master of Planning

The Master of Planning/Master of Architecture dual degree program facilitates highly related cross-disciplinary studies in architecture and in planning at the master's level. This program offers students interested in developing a career in urban design an opportunity to make more substantial commitments in both disciplines and to achieve a more coherent and extensive knowledge in the design of built environments and public policy. This dual degree program normally requires five semesters in residence.

Qualified students who are admitted to the graduate programs in both the School of Architecture and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development may complete both degrees in a highly integrated five-semester program. Such students must already possess a degree in architecture.

Requirements
Requirements for completion of the dual degree program are 72 units, including 36 units in architecture and 36 units in planning, as follows:

ArchitectureUnits
ARCH 532Elements of the Urban Landscape2
ARCH 533Urban Landscape Case Studies2
ARCH 561Architecture in the Urban Landscape: Projects and Places2
ARCH 563Architecture in the Urban Landscape: Comparative Theories2
ARCH 605abLGraduate Architecture Design6-6
ARCH 693abLM.Arch. Thesis, Option I, or
ARCH 695abzLM.Arch. Thesis, Option II4-8
Elective*4

*A 4 unit elective course taken within the School of Architecture.

Policy, Planning, and DevelopmentUnits
PPD 500Cross-Sectoral Governance4
PPD 524Planning Theory2
PPD 525Statistics and Arguing from Data2
PPD 526Comparative International Development2
PPD 527The Social Context of Planning2
PPD 528The Urban Economy2
PPD 529Legal Environment of Planning2

Note: 2-unit courses may be offered in seven-and-a-half week blocks.

Specialization methodology: four units selected from the list shown in the Master of Planning program.

Laboratory/Workshops: PPD 531L (4, 4) and/or PPD 532L (4, 4) to total 8 units.

Elective: A total of 8 units of electives taken within the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

Dual degree students, like all other M.Pl. students, must take a comprehensive examination and fulfill the internship requirement.

Master of Landscape Architecture/Master of Planning

Qualified students who are admitted to the graduate program in both the School of Architecture and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development may complete both degrees in a highly integrated five-semester program.

Completion of the dual degree requires 66 units, including 20 units of specified courses in landscape architecture, 24 units of courses in urban planning, 10 units of elective courses and 12 units of thesis option I or directed design research option II.

The specified courses are those required for the Master of Landscape Architecture degree.

Landscape ArchitectureUnits
ARCH 532Elements of the Urban Landscape2
ARCH 533Urban Landscape Case Studies2
ARCH 561Architecture in the Urban Landscape: Projects and Places2
ARCH 563Architecture in the Urban Landscape: Comparative Theories2
ARCH 597abzLLandscape Architecture Thesis Option I, or
ARCH 598abzLLandscape Architecture Directed Design Research4-8-0
Electives10

StudiosUnits
ARCH 542abLLandscape Architecture Design 6-6

Policy, Planning, and DevelopmentUnits
PPD 500Cross-Sectoral Governance4
PPD 524Planning Theory2
PPD 525Statistics and Arguing from Data2
PPD 526Comparative International Development2
PPD 527The Social Context of Planning2
PPD 528The Urban Economy2
RED 573Design History and Criticism2
Electives8

Note: 2-unit courses may be offered in seven-and-a-half week blocks.

Electives: 8 units of elective courses taken within the School of Policy, Planning and Development.

Dual degree students, like all other M.Pl. students, must take a comprehensive examination and fulfill the internship requirement.