The school offers interrelated graduate programs in architecture, landscape architecture, building science and historic preservation as well as two dual degree programs with the School of Urban Planning and Development. These programs are designed for students who already hold either pre-professional or professional degrees in the appropriate professional fields.

Admission to Graduate Programs

Credentials for admission must include a complete record of all previous college or university work. The applicant must request the registrar of each college or university attended to forward two official transcripts of record directly to the Office of Admission.

Priority for admission and financial aid is given to applications that are complete by February 1.

Following are the basic requirements for admission to the graduate programs: (1) the appropriate pre-professional or first professional degree from an accredited college or university; (2) satisfactory scores on the verbal, analytical and quantitative portions of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examinations; (3) intellectual promise and clear study intentions that indicate an ability to do acceptable graduate work; (4) a portfolio of design work; (5) strong personal qualifications.

All students must speak and write English. Foreign students must demonstrate such ability by taking the TOEFL test before leaving their home countries, and by further tests upon arrival on campus. Applicants for teaching assistantships will be interviewed by telephone or in person, where possible, prior to a final decision.

International students may be required to enroll in American Language Institute English courses, based on scores on the English Placement Tests. The cost of these additional courses is the responsibility of the student. In addition, international students should be aware that they may have to defer enrollment in some major courses because of the ALI courses, extending the number of semesters required to complete the program and increasing the overall tuition expense.

International students are urged to read with care all information sent to them about English requirements and to take as many English language courses as possible prior to coming to the United States.

Correspondence with the dean or individual faculty members does not constitute admission to the Graduate School or to the School of Architecture. Only a letter from the Director of Admission grants official admission.

Graduate Program Policies

All graduate students are expected to complete a minimum of 12 units per semester, spring and fall, in any of the schoolÕs programs.

Students must receive a grade of B or above in each studio course to continue in the design sequence. Students must receive a grade of B- or above in all other required courses. If students are not meeting these minimum grades the faculty member should meet with the student to provide timely advisory reviews.

Students receiving a teaching assistantship are expected to complete all required courses within the normal number of semesters for each of the degree programs. The thesis or directed design research may be completed in additional semesters when appropriate. Failure to complete such courses on schedule results in the loss of teaching or research assistantships and/or may result in suspension from the program upon recommendation from the program director and approval by the dean and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Students holding teaching assistantships are expected to remain in good academic standing (minimum 3.0 grade point average) and to be making regular degree progress to be considered for renewal of their teaching assistantships.

Appeals will be reviewed initially by the director(s) of the appropriate graduate program and then by a committee consisting of all of the graduate program directors (with the exception that design courses will be reviewed by the design review committee). Their recommendation(s) will be forwarded to the dean for consideration and action, and then forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies. All communications must be in writing.

Certificate in Historic Preservation

This program is directed at practicing professionals who wish to obtain an academic credential for their involvement in historic preservation projects and at graduate students who wish to obtain a complementary credential to a degree in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, public art administration, geography, anthropology or other related disciplines.

Course Requirements

Completion of the certificate requires 16 units, including ARCH 450 Fundamentals of Historic Preservation (4), and either ARCH 550 Historic Preservation Management, Planning and Development (4) or ARCH 551 Conservation Methods and Materials (4). Students may choose to complete both ARCH 550 and ARCH 551. The remaining 8 units (or 4, if both ARCH 550 and ARCH 551 are taken) must be selected from the following list:

ARCH 511	Seminar: Building Systems	4
ARCH 532ab	Elements of the Urban Landscape	2-2
ARCH 535ab	Materials and Methods for Landscape Architecture	3-3
ARCH 590	Directed Research (must be in historic preservation)	2-4
ARCH 605aL	Graduate Architecture Design	8

Master of Architecture

Programs

Two programs are offered: a track in American Architecture and Urbanism, the Ò+2Ó program for students with pre-professional architecture degrees, and the Master of Architecture program for students who hold a professional degree such as the Bachelor of Architecture or its equivalent.

Master of Architecture in American Architecture and Urbanism Track: The +2 Program

Admitted students must already hold four-year architectural studies degrees from U.S. schools with accredited professional architecture programs or from international programs that are deemed equivalent. All students will matriculate in the fall semester and will be in residence for a minimum of two years (four semesters).

Degree Requirements

Students must meet established standards for graduate study at USC, and complete 64 credit units including all required courses:

(1) To complete Basic Studies (equivalent to the following courses at USC): ARCH 211 Materials and Methods of Building Construction, ARCH 213ab Building Structures and Seismic Design, ARCH 214ab History of Architecture, ARCH 215 Design for the Thermal and Atmospheric Environment, ARCH 313 Design of Building Structures, ARCH 314 Theory and Criticism: Recent Trends and Developments, ARCH 315 Design for the Luminous and Sonic Environment, ARCH 402ab Architectural Design IV, ARCH 411 Architectural Technology, ARCH 520 Professional Practice: Pre-Design, ARCH 521 Professional Practice: Legal and Economic Context, ARCH 522 Professional Practice: Project and Office Administration and ARCH 523 Professional Practice: Project Documentation.

(2) To complete Advanced Studies courses including: ARCH 505ab Graduate Architecture Design, ARCH 532ab Elements of the Urban Landscape, ARCH 533ab Urban Landscape Case Studies and ARCH 605ab Graduate Architecture Design.

Thesis or Directed Design Research Option

An independent study option will allow students to substitute ARCH 693ab or ARCH 695ab for 12 credit units of electives. This option requires residency of a minimum of five instead of four semesters.

Sample Curriculum

First Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 505a	Graduate Architecture Design	6
Basic Studies or Electives			10
		____
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 505b	Graduate Architecture Design	6
Basic Studies or Electives			10
		____
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 532ab	Elements of the Urban Landscape	4
ARCH 605a	Graduate Architecture Design	8
Basic Studies or Electives			4
		____
		16

Second Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 533ab	Graduate Architecture Design	4
ARCH 605b	Graduate Architecture Design	8
Basic Studies or Electives			4
		____
		16

Optional Third Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 693b**	Thesis, or
ARCH 695b**	Directed Design Research	8

*Students electing the independent study option may substitute ARCH 693a or ARCH 695a.

**For students who have elected the independent study option.

Master of Architecture

Candidates for admission must have a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree or a its equivalent. Completion of the degree requires 48 units, including 24 units of specified courses, 12 units of thesis or directed research, and 12 units of approved electives.

The specified courses are ARCH 605abL Graduate Architecture Design; ARCH 532ab Elements of the Urban Landscape; and ARCH 533ab Urban Landscape Case Studies.

Thesis or Directed Research Option

In addition to the opportunity to initiate an independent thesis, students are provided the option to undertake independent design research related to important urban projects already in progress within the school. Whichever option is taken, students are supported in their work by a three-member faculty advisory team including a principal critic.

Advanced Standing

Students may apply for advanced standing based on their general qualifications and any unusual strengths or experience. Qualified students will be admitted to a two-semester program at the time of review for admission. Students with advanced standing must complete 32 units.

48-Unit Sample Curriculum

First Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 532ab	Elements of the Urban Landscape	2-2
ARCH 605aL	Graduate Architecture Design	8
Elective		4
		____
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 533ab	Urban Landscape Case Studies	2-2
ARCH 605bL	Graduate Architecture Design	8
ARCH 693aL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option I, or
ARCH 695aL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option II	4
		____
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 693bL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option I, or
ARCH 695bL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option II	8
Electives		8
		____
		16

32-Unit Advanced Standing Curriculum Requirements

First Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 532a	Elements of the Urban Landscape	2
ARCH 533a	Urban Landscape Case Studies	2
ARCH 605aL	Graduate Architecture Design	8
ARCH 693aL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option I, or
ARCH 695aL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option II	4
		____
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 532b	Elements of the Urban Landscape	2
ARCH 533b	Urban Landscape Case Studies	2
ARCH 693bL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option I, or
ARCH 695bL	M.Arch. Thesis, Option II	8
Elective		4
		____
		16

Master of Landscape Architecture

Degree Requirements

Admission to the Master of Landscape Architecture program requires a Bachelor of Architecture or Bachelor of Environmental Design with a major in landscape architecture. Applicants are also expected to have completed six units in the history of landscape architecture (ARCH 534ab or equivalent) and six units in materials and methods for landscape architecture (ARCH 535ab or equivalent) prior to beginning graduate study.

Thesis or Directed Research Option

In addition to the opportunity to initiate an independent thesis, students are provided the option to undertake independent design research related to important urban projects already in progress within the school. Whichever option is taken, students are supported in their work by a three-member faculty advisory team including a principal critic.

Course Requirements

Completion of the degree program requires 48 units, including 14 units of specified courses, 22 units of electives and 12 units of thesis option I or option II.

Students must take at least two elective courses from the following selection: ARCH 418 Designing with Natural Forces (3); ARCH 417 Computer Programming in Architecture (3); ARCH 507 Theories of Computer Technology (3); ARCH 599 Special Topics (4).

Degree Requirements

48-unit program

Required courses include: ARCH 532ab (2-2), 533ab (2-2), 542aL (6). Twenty-two elective units are required. Students must take at least two elective courses from the following selection: ARCH 418 (3), 407 (4), 507 (3), 599 (4). In addition, two semesters of Thesis Option or Directed Design Research are required, 597abzL (4-8-0) or 598abzL (4-8-0).

48-Unit Sample Curriculum

First Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 532ab	Elements of the Urban Landscape	2-2
ARCH 542aL	Landscape Architecture Design	6
Electives		6
		____
		16

First Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 533ab	Urban Landscape Case Studies	2-2
ARCH 597aL	Landscape Architecture Thesis Option I, or
ARCH 598aL	Landscape Architecture Directed Design Research	4
Electives		8
		____
		16

Second Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 597bL	Landscape Architecture Thesis Option I, or
ARCH 598aL	Landscape Architecture Directed Design Research	8
Electives		8
		____
		16

Master of Building Science

Degree Requirements

Completion of this degree requires 48 units and includes 12 units of specified courses to include three core seminars and one research seminar; 17 units of elective courses; and 15 units of thesis and thesis preparation.

The core seminars are:

ARCH 511L	Seminar: Building Systems	4
ARCH 513L	Seminar: Advanced Structures	4
ARCH 515L	Seminar: Advanced Environmental Systems	4

Research seminars are:

ARCH 613L	Seminar: Structures Research	4
ARCH 615L	Seminar: Environmental Systems Research	4

48-Unit Sample Curriculum

First Year, First Semester		Units
Core seminar(s) and/or research seminar			8
ARCH 596	Building Science Thesis Preparation	1
Elective		4
		____
		13

First Year, Second Semester		Units
Core seminar(s) and/or research seminar			8
Electives		3
		____
		11

Second Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 692aL	Building Science Thesis	6
Electives	6
		____
		12

Second Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 692bL	Building Science Thesis	8
Elective	4
		____
		12

Advanced Standing for Students with a Five-Year Professional Degree in Architecture

Applicants who have completed a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree may be qualified for advanced standing. In such cases, the degree requirements are 36 units, including eight units of specified courses, 15 units of thesis and thesis preparation and 13 units of electives. Students with advanced standing will typically be able to complete the degree program in three regular semesters. Admission with advanced standing is determined at the time of review for admission to the program.

36-Unit Advanced Standing Curriculum Requirements

First Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 511L	Seminar: Building Systems, or
ARCH 513L	Seminar: Advanced Structures, or
ARCH 515L	Seminar: Advanced Environmental Systems	4
ARCH 596	Building Science Thesis Preparation	1
ARCH 613L	Seminar: Structures Research, or
ARCH 615L	Seminar: Environmental Systems Research	4
Elective		3
		____
		12

First Year, Second Semester		Units
ARCH 692aL	Building Science Thesis	6
Electives		6
		____
		12

Second Year, First Semester		Units
ARCH 692bL	Building Science Thesis
Elective		4
		____
		12

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