Degree requirements for the 2-year (Track 1) MArch
All students must complete a minimum of 57 credits, consisting of 45 credits of core professional coursework (seminar and studios) and 12 credit hours of student- directed optional studies.
Required courses in the 2-year (Track 1) MArch
| ARCH 601 | Community Engaged Applied Learning Design Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 602 | Integrated Architecture Design Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 603 | Multi-Disciplinary Design Knowledge Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 604 | Independent Final Project Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 618 | Applied Systems Thinking | 3 |
| ARCH 620 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| ARCH 624 | Applied Architectural Building Technology | 3 |
| ARCH 636 | Research Methods in Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 637 | Final Project Preparation | 3 |
| ARCH 646 | Urban Design: History, Theory, and Practice | 3 |
| ARCH 647 | Applied Theory and Representation | 3 |
| | Minimum of 12 elective credits | 12 |
Total credits required for 2-year (Track 1) MArch: 57 crs
Each design studio has critical and creative content that allows students to incrementally build towards their final independent project studio (ARCH 604). The first design studio (ARCH 601) is a collaborative, immersive learning, applied design-build project that unites all students together from both the 2-year and 3-year (Track 1 and 2) MArch programs.
Design studio connected course content seminars Applied Systems Thinking (ARCH 618) and Applied Architecture Building Technology (ARCH 624) focus on the technical aspects of design, systems, and materials and their application to architectural solutions and the impact of such decisions on the environment. Design studio connected course content seminar Urban Design: History, Theory, and Practice (ARCH 646) focuses on a historical and contemporary understanding of the urbanism of Indianapolis, allowing students to understand the impact of their design ideas based in this rich urban context. Design Studio connected course content seminar Applied Theory and Representation (ARCH 647) provides students with a diverse range of theoretical knowledge and representation skills to convey architectural ideas in their final project.
A minimum of 12 credits of elective graduate courses are required. The 12 credits are available for electives in three certificate programs offered in the Department of Architecture which include: Historic Preservation (HP); Digital Design and Fabrication (DDF); and Social and Environmental Justice (SEJ). The elective requirement may also be used to fulfill certificate programs in other departments.
The 12 credits of elective graduate courses may also be used to fulfill dual degree programs in a customizable platform that consolidates curricula in allied disciplines within the College of Architecture and Planning (MUD; MLA; MUP; MID; MSHP) or another college (College of Business; College of Fine Arts; College of Communication, Information, and Media). The elective credits may include ARCH 590 (Independent Study), ARCH 598 (Special Project in Architecture), and any graduate course at Ball State University approved by the graduate program director.
Degree requirements for 3-year (Track 2) MArch
This typically requires 7 semesters of coursework (includes summer between first and second year). Student transcripts and undergraduate course work will be examined if some of the foundational coursework in the first year has been addressed at another institution. The first year typically consists of 42 credits. Following the summer between the first and second year of the program, these students join the Track 1 students for an additional 57 credits, 45 credits of which are professional coursework, 12 credits of which are student choice.
Required foundational courses (unless waived) in the 3-year (Track 2) MArch
| ARCH 500 | Design Thinking and Visualization Workshop | 0 |
| ARCH 501 | Design Thinking and Foundations Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 502 | Environmental Design and Site Context Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 503 | Design Application Workshop | 3 |
| ARCH 514 | Introduction to Architectural Building Technology | 3 |
| ARCH 518 | Introduction to Structural Systems | 3 |
| ARCH 520 | Introduction to Professional Practice | 3 |
| ARCH 538 | Structural and Material Systems | 3 |
| ARCH 551 | Contemporary Issues in Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 561 | Visualization and Communication | 3 |
| ARCH 570 | Introduction to Environmental Systems | 3 |
| ARCH 571 | Application of Environmental Systems | 3 |
| ARCH 639 | Contemporary History and Theory of Architecture | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 42 |
*based on evaluation of prior academic work, up to 15 credits may be waived.
Required second and third year courses in the 3-year (Track 2) MArch
| ARCH 601 | Community Engaged Applied Learning Design Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 602 | Integrated Architecture Design Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 603 | Multi-Disciplinary Design Knowledge Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 604 | Independent Final Project Studio | 6 |
| ARCH 618 | Applied Systems Thinking | 3 |
| ARCH 620 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| ARCH 624 | Applied Architectural Building Technology | 3 |
| ARCH 636 | Research Methods in Architecture | 3 |
| ARCH 637 | Final Project Preparation | 3 |
| ARCH 646 | Urban Design: History, Theory, and Practice | 3 |
| ARCH 647 | Applied Theory and Representation | 3 |
| | Minimum of 12 elective credits | 12 |
Total credits required for 3-year (Track 2) MArch: 99 crs