Overview
The educational experience of the Master of Architecture is oriented toward "situational" investigations, in which the focus of creative activity is on perceiving, interpreting and representing the meaningfulness of human situations through acts of making architecture. Intellectual rigor, imaginative visualization and manual dexterity are promoted in every student. The program encourages each student to:
- Comprehend the value of a creative engagement with the prevailing realities of the city as a primary means of cultural transformation, and to perceive Portland as an "urban laboratory" for experimental investigations of prevalent human issues.
- Explore the communicative potential of diverse media through continual acts of interpretive making at multiple scales, including full-size construction.
- Take advantage of the special reality of the academic setting in offering opportunity for speculation unavailable in contemporary practice situations, particularly through the Design Thesis experience.
- Develop an understanding of the dynamic relationship of individual and collective experience in urban environments through participation in, and fostering of, communication between citizen and institution in negotiating shared territories.
- Attain a dynamic awareness of the expectations, roles and practices of the contemporary architectural profession coupled with tangible capacities to operate creatively and productively in the field.
- Participate in, and contribute to, the advancement of knowledge in issues and technologies of sustainable living and environmental responsibility.
Curriculum for Two-year Master of Architecture
The required courses in the Two-year Master of Architecture are as follows:
Year 1
Arch 530 Contemporary Architectural Theory (4)
Arch 540 Professional Practice (4)
Arch 560 Advanced Architectural Technology (4)
Arch 580, 582 Architectural Design Studio 7, 9 (6, 6)
Arch 586 Integrated Systems (6)
____ 5xx Special Interest Electives (8)
Year 2
Arch 511 Pro-Thesis Seminar (4)
Arch 53x Architectural Theory Elective (4)
Arch 54x Professional Practice Elective (4)
Arch 581 Architectural Design Studio 8 (6)
Arch 584 Design Development Studio (6)
Arch 585 Design Thesis (6)
____ 5xx Special Interest Electives (6)
Total: 74 Quarter Credits
Curriculum for Three-year Master of Architecture
Students begin the program in the Summer term and must complete 4 quarters of graduate transition courses with a minimum of 60 credits followed by the requirements for the two-year program, for a total of 134 credits required for graduation.
Year 1
Arch 522 Architectural Graphics & Media (4)
Arch 536, 537, 538, 539 Architectural History & Theory I, II, III, IV (4, 4, 4, 4)
Arch 568, 569, 564 Architectural Technology I, II, III (4, 4, 4)
Arch 570, 571, 572, 573 Architectural Design Transition Studio I, II, III, IV (6, 6, 6, 6)
Year 2
Arch 530 Contemporary Architectural Theory (4)
Arch 540 Professional Practice (4)
Arch 560 Advanced Architectural Technology (4)
Arch 567 Advanced Architectural Structures (4)
Arch 580, 582 Architectural Design Studio 7, 9 (6, 6)
Arch 586 Integrated Systems (6)
____ 5xx Special Interest Electives (8)
Year 3
Arch 511 Pro-Thesis Seminar (4)
Arch 53x Architectural Theory Elective (4)
Arch 54x Professional Practice Elective (4)
Arch 581 Architectural Design Studio 8 (6)
Arch 584 Design Development Studio (6)
Arch 585 Design Thesis (6)
____ 5xx Special Interest Electives (6)
Total: 134 Quarter Credits