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Architecture: The UDC Edge
As the only urban, land-grant University in the country, UDC’s Architecture program reflects UDC’s unique commitment to the community by providing students with hands-on opportunities to sharpen their skills in a real-world environment. For more than 20 years, in partnership with the government of the District of Columbia, our Architectural Research Institute (ARI) has been the clinical arm of the UDC Architecture program. The Institute provides students with an office-style learning environment for offering affordable architectural services to low- and middle-income D.C. citizens, such as:
- Housing rehabilitation
- Home repairs/upgrades
- Accessibility solutions
- Energy efficiency improvements
Master’s Degree (MS) in Architecture
Whether you studied architecture as an undergraduate or are looking to make a mid-career switch, our master’s degree program in architecture has a track that can meet your needs and place you on the path to professional licensure in the field.
And no matter which track you choose, at UDC, you learn by doing. By coupling real-world projects in the D.C. community with exploration of cutting-edge theory and technique and a focus on urban design and sustainable practices, we prepare future architects to enter the industry as knowledgeable, experienced and creative problem solvers.
Related:
- Department of Urban Architecture and Community Planning
- Learn more about applying for admissions to the architecture master’s program
- Find out about scholarship opportunities for architecture students
- Office of Graduate Studies
- Ask a question about graduate studies at UDC
Curriculum and Requirements in the UDC Architecture Graduate Program
Housed in the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, our master’s degree program in architecture—a UDC Academic Center of Excellence—gives you a well-rounded approach to the field in the context of these relevant issues:
- Sustainable energy and design, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles
- Urban community planning and design
- Computer-assisted design (CAD) training
The architecture program offers two unique master’s degree tracks to choose from depending upon student’s previous academic preparation:
- For individuals with a bachelor’s degree in architecture (or equivalent)
- Three semesters
- For individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than architecture
- Seven semesters
- An accelerated degree track for students whose interest is a career change aimed at becoming a licensed architect
Student Organizations and Activities in the UDC Architecture Graduate Program
We work closely with the UDC chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students to facilitate experiential learning opportunities, such as visits to lower Manhattan and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the region. You will also participate in professional internships, community projects, design competitions, field trips and site visits, in addition to working with the University’s Extension Service and other community-focused research institutes to apply your learning in the D.C. area.
H2: Faculty Spotlight: UDC Architecture Program
Clarence W. Pearson Jr. currently serves as the coordinator of the architecture program and is the director of the Architectural Research Institute. Mr. Pearson has had at least one grant each year for the last fourteen years and has served in the position of chairperson for eighteen years of his tenure at the University. During his tenure at the University of the District of Columbia, he has received many awards from students and the University, including the outstanding teacher of the year. In 2005, Mr. Pearson was elevated to a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects.
