architecture phd programs in usa

Ph.D. in Architecture

The PhD in Architecture (PhD-Arch) program at Carnegie Mellon advances interpretive, critical and contextual perspectives on the built environment and spatial design. The program offers students an interdisciplinary platform to investigate built environment cultures, practices and politics across a range of historical and geographical contexts.

Nida Rehman

Assistant Professor & PhD-Arch Track Chair

Program Overview

The PhD in Architecture (PhD-Arch) program at Carnegie Mellon advances interpretive, critical and contextual perspectives on the built environment and spatial design. Bringing together methods in history of architecture, urban studies, critical spatial practices, environmental humanities, digital humanities, environmental justice and community-oriented research, the program offers students an interdisciplinary platform to investigate built environment cultures, practices and politics across a range of historical and geographical contexts.

The intellectual foundation of the program is informed by Carnegie Mellon Architecture’s commitments to racial and spatial justice in architectural epistemology, pedagogy and practice. The program builds on and extends the foundational work in the school in the area of community-oriented urban design and research and is supported by the wide-ranging expertise and resources in the school and across the university, particularly in the arts and humanities.

Admission Information

Program Curriculum

Learn more about the PhD-Arch curriculum below.

PhD-Arch Curriculum

Program Faculty

For more information about the PhD-Arch program, please contact track chair Nida Rehman .

Erica Cochran Hameen

Assistant Professor, DEI Director & DDes Track Chair

Stefan Gruber

Associate Professor, MUD Track Chair & RCI Director

Kai Gutschow

Associate Professor & Associate Head for Design Ethics

Associate Professor

Francesca Torello

Special Faculty

Admissions Resources

Are you a current student looking for resources? Handbooks, procedures and other information can be found on the Student Resources page .

• Joint-degree Programs
• Undergraduate Studies
• The Jim Vlock First Year Building Project
• Summer Programs
• Rome Program
• Visualization 1
• Awards and Fellowships
• Explore all Courses
• Requirements
• Tuition and Fees
• Financial Aid
• International Students
• Academic Calendar
• Exhibitions
• Retrospecta
• History and Objectives
• Tribal Lands Acknowledgement
• Yale Urban Design Workshop
• Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture
• Advanced Technology
• Explore all Faculty
• Endowed Professorships
• Student Affairs
• Recent Graduates
• Student Work
• Student Groups
• Career Development

Introduction

Past dissertations, forms and resources.

The doctoral program in Architecture currently offers two tracks of study: History and Theory of Architecture, and Ecosystems in Architectural Sciences. Both tracks aim to educate teachers capable of effectively instructing future architects in their own field and its manifold connections with the culture at large. The program forges a unique combination of professional knowledge with a historical and analytical grasp of architecture, deepening awareness of the field’s current state and the critical issues it faces.

The History and Theory track provides sound training in historical study and historiography, and cultivates understanding of intellectual trends that inform the reception and role of architecture in the world at large. It prepares candidates for careers in university teaching, cultural advocacy and administration, museum curatorship, and publishing, among others. Students draw on a wide range of disciplines including, but not limited to, the history of science and technology, social and political history, media theory, as well as the fine arts, literature, and popular culture.

The Ecosystems in Architectural Sciences track provides preparation in interdisciplinary scientific inquiry, qualifying students to incorporate scientific methods into experimental design frameworks in order to research and develop novel material and informational ecosystems. Students in this track engage in research related to the behaviors of living ecosystems, emphasizing their interconnection with the built environment.

Joan Ockman, Director of Doctoral Studies

Ateya Khorakiwala Granularities: Concrete and the “Gray Architecture” of Grain Storage in 1960s and 70s India

Albena yaneva the craft of architectural archiving, eeva-liisa pelkonen in conversation with nicola suthor untimely moderns: how 20th century architecture reimagined the past, current candidates and students, publications by current and graduated phd students.

Echo’s Chambers: Architecture and the Idea of Acoustic Space

University of pittsburgh press.

Avant-Garde as Method: Vkhutemas and the Pedagogy of Space, 1920-1930

Babel’s Present

Standpunkte dokumente.

Perspecta 46

Aaron tobey and jia weng win 2023 carter manny awards for writing and research, cea phd student phoebe mankiewicz wins lafargeholcim award for indoor plant module, tim altenhof (ph.d. ‘18) wins theron rockwell field prize for his dissertation “breathing space: the architecture of pneumatic beings”, david turturo.

Caryatid: Architecture and the Framing of Bodies (2022). View dissertation.

Theodossios Issaias

Architectures of the Humanitarian Front, 1915-1930: The American Red Cross and the Refugee Settlement Commission of the League of Nations (2021). View dissertation.

A Theory of Common Form in Aesthetic Perception (2019). Abstract.

Skender Luarasi

Where Do You Stop? A Critical Inquiry into Style, Geometry, and Parametricism in History (2018). Abstract.

Tim Altenhof

Breathing Space: The Architecture of Pneumatic Beings (2018). Abstract.

Teaching Architecture to the Masses: Vkhutemas and the Pedagogy of Space, 1920-1930 (2017). Abstract

Surry Schlabs

Waiting for Architecture: John Dewey and the Limits of Modern Art (2017). Abstract.

Kyle Dugdale

Architecture After the Death of God: Uriel Birnbaum’s Der Kaiser und derArchitekt (2015). Abstract.

Joseph Clarke

The Architectural Discourse of Reverberation, 1750-1900 (2014). Abstract.

• Request to Take Course at Architecture School ((Non-YSoA Grad & Professional Students))
• Graduate School Forms

Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Fellow Experience

Master’s degree, required courses, history and theory track.

551a, Ph.D. Seminar I 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. first year, fall term.) This seminar centers on a thorough examination of fundamental ideas of historiography, centering on Rome and exploring aspects of geology, culture, mapping, site development, the establishment of institutions, and the construction of buildings across several millennia, as well as a study of literature on the urbs and its worldwide impact. Faculty

552b, Ph.D. Seminar II 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. first year, spring term.) This seminar centers on concepts of history and their application to architecture from Jacob Burckhardt to the present and a close reading of historiographic theories, including ethnography, modernity, and the emergence of the profession of architecture in the light of present-day critique. Faculty

553a, Ph.D. Seminar III 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. second year, fall term.) Seminar content to be announced. Faculty

554b, Ph.D. Dissertation Preparation 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. second year, spring term.) Ph.D. tutoring in preparation for oral examinations and formulation of a thesis topic. Faculty

Required Courses, Ecosystems in Architectural Sciences Track

558a, Ph.D. Seminar: Ecosystems in Architecture I 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. first year, fall term.)

559b, Ph.D. Seminar: Ecosystems in Architecture II 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. first year, spring term.)

568a, Ph.D. Seminar: Ecosystems in Architecture III 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. second year, fall term.)

569b, Ph.D. Seminar: Ecosystems in Architecture IV 1 credit. (Required in, and limited to, Ph.D. second year, spring term.)

History and Theory 4

Urbanism and landscape 1.

Stuart Weitzman School of Design 102 Meyerson Hall 210 South 34th Street Philadelphia, PA 19104

215.898.3425

Get Directions

Get the latest Weitzman news in your Inbox:

Phd in architecture.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture is for those who wish to make significant scholarly contributions to the discipline, discourse, and research of architecture. The Program trains individuals for productive academic careers in the teaching of architecture as well as with educational institutions, research centers, cultural and governmental organizations, and professional practices engaged in research that seek to benefit from advanced scholarship and creative research.  

*The name of this course will be updated in syllabi for Fall 2024

Curriculum overview

• required and elective courses, 
• required examinations, and 
• written texts that conclude course work, examinations and which are used to present a student’s research work and acquired writing skills.

Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of 20 course units, pass a Qualifying examination, a Candidacy examination, two Language examinations, complete two Teaching Fellow requirements, and complete and defend a Dissertation.  

During the first year of course work, all Ph.D. students are required to enroll in the following courses: 

• ARCH 8110: Architectural Theory and Techniques is a course that explores the current state of architectural scholarship, with an emphasis on primary materials in architectural theory and history, and technology.  
• ARCH 8120: Architectural Research Methods explores research methods across historical, technological, and design discourse as they relate to advanced projects in the field. 
• ARCH 8130: Qualifying Research is a ‘designated elective’ whereby the student pursues a graduate course, or Independent Study in ARCH or across the university, that relates to or expands on their specific subject matter. The course that will ‘count’ for 8130 is chosen in consultation with the Chair of the Graduate Group or the student’s advisor, if already chosen.

During the second year of course work, students are required to take the following courses: 

• ARCH 8510: Field Bibliography consists of an Independent Study course with a chosen faculty member of the Graduate Group (the student’s advisor, future committee member, or approved faculty member), focused on the preparation of the student’s Field Bibliography in the context of the Candidacy Exam.
• ARCH 8520: Dissertation Proposal consists of an Independent Study course with a chosen faculty member of the Graduate Group (the student’s advisor, future committee member, or approved faculty member), focused on the completion of the student’s Dissertation Proposal, in preparation for the Candidacy Exam.

Franca Trubiano    Associate Professor of Architecture Chair, Graduate Group in Architecture [email protected]

/ Undergraduate

• Architecture
• Urban Technology
• Real Estate Development Minor
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Dual Degrees
• Certificates

/ Post-Professional

• Digital and Material Technologies
• Urban Design

Ph.D. in Architecture

• Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning

/ Pre-college

• Request Information
• Pay for Your Degree
• Travel Opportunities
• U-M Public Design Corps
• Student Publications
• Student Groups
• Student Awards
• Student Work
• Student Profiles
• Student Affairs
• Academic Policies
• Career and Professional Development
• News and Features
• Gradient Journal
• Research Clusters and Themes
• Initiatives
• Faculty Directory
• A. Alfred Taubman
• Our Shared Values
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Taubman Spirit Store
• Taubman Intranet
• Staff Directory
• Fellowships
• Art and Architecture Building
• Liberty Research Annex
• The Commons
• Computer Lab
• Digital Fabrication Lab
• Media Center
• Michigan Research Studio
• Taubman Visualization Lab

Application Deadline: December 15 annually

Intent to Enroll Deadline: April 15 annually

Request Info

Schedule A Visit

Our Mission

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) invites applicants who wish to investigate architecture and the built environment in focused projects that unfold over a span of years. Students embarking on a doctorate conduct original research that yields new insights into past, current, and future developments of architecture and building practices.

Doctoral Studies promotes independent critical thinkers and research specialists across a range of fields within the increasingly broad fields of architecture and the built environment.

Program History

The University of Michigan’s Ph.D. in Architecture was one of only four such programs in the United States when it was established in 1969. Since that date, the program has continued to evolve in response to changes in the discipline and the profession. Studies currently underway at Michigan testify to rapidly shifting disciplinary boundaries and increasingly global outlooks in the field overall but particularly in areas in which our faculty are strong, such as global modernism, media practices in architecture, space syntax, structural modeling, envelope design, and urban history.

Michigan’s remarkable research facilities allow our students to develop interdisciplinary research projects with partners across campus. The Horace H. Rackham Graduate School awards the Ph.D., generally after five or six years of study.

Additional Resources

The architecture school environment continues to provide Doctoral Studies with a rich supporting context, ranging from robust lecture and seminar series, to remarkable technical facilities that support spatial and numeric data and global information systems as well as fabrication and testing facilities.

A broad array of resources beyond our home on North Campus includes extensive research libraries and computing facilities that are among the best in the country. Students are encouraged to seek out resources that are necessary to develop and carry out topics of research, particularly for the dissertation, if any are unavailable on campus.

Expectations

We require a relatively high number of course credits (40 in total), and a significant time commitment to completion of degree. Four years are normally spent in residence and are fully funded with tuition, stipend, and benefits. Two additional years of tuition benefit allow students to complete the degree with fellowship support from other university units or external sources, support that is typically raised in their fourth and fifth years.

The first two years of the degree are devoted to intensive coursework intended to train students in the principal methods and materials used in our subfields (organized here by faculty specialization as BT, DS, and HT). The third year is spent preparing for and passing doctoral examinations and identifying a dissertation project. Students advance to candidacy after taking their preliminary examinations, by January of the third year at the latest. HT students must satisfy the language requirement (minimally, competence in one research language) by this time as well.

At the end of the third year, students defend their dissertation proposal in a public defense with their dissertation committee. Years four and five and, if necessary, six, are spent in researching, writing, and defending the dissertation. During the initial phase of dissertation research, students may spend substantial time off campus, supported by internal and external fellowships. They often return to Ann Arbor to write up the results of research. The dissertation is defended in a formal dissertation defense. Time to degree varies among the specializations of our program, but students typically take at least five or six years to complete the degree.

/ Major and Minor Areas of Specialization

Each doctoral student identifies a major and a minor area of specialization and works with faculty advisors associated with those areas.  These advisors should be identified and contacted by the middle of the second year of coursework at the latest, although many students have identified a primary advisor before arriving in Ann Arbor.

The major can be defined in dialogue with the student’s advisor; several possible major areas are listed below:

• Building Technology
• Critical Urban Studies
• Computational Design
• Design Studies
• Digital Fabrication
• History and Theory
• Media Studies

The minor is a distinct subject area that complements the major. The minor may lie in Architecture, in Urban and Regional Planning, or in another University of Michigan department, program, or center.

Coursework in the minor must be approved for Rackham graduate credit, deemed appropriate by the Doctoral Advisory Committee, and approved by the major advisor.

/ Degree Requirements

Please see the  Doctoral Studies Handbook for further details about these components.

Incremental Requirements

Requirements that must be taken in sequence, as the student moves through Doctoral Studies, include:

• Preliminary Examinations
• Dissertation Proposal
• Dissertation

Standing Requirements

Requirements that must be completed, either as a condition of admission or as a condition of continuance in the program, include:

• Annual Program of Study Report
• English Language Proficiency
• Continuous Enrollment
• Satisfactory Progress

/ Steps to Candidacy and Beyond

Because many of our entering students come from professional degree programs, we emphasize the importance of the subtle but substantive shift from design-based studio work to research in major subfields of architectural practice and study. This shift often requires significant re-training in basic skills such as reading, writing, and research methods.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 40 credit hours of graded coursework (including core courses and electives) prior to achieving candidacy. All courses must be completed before Preliminary Exam preparation can begin.

Coursework consists of:

• ARCH 801 Doctoral Colloquium [1 credit x 4 terms = 4 credits]
• ARCH 812 Theory in Architectural Research [3 credits]
• ARCH 813 — Research Methods [3 credits]
• ARCH 823 , 824 , or 825 Area Seminar [3 credits]
• ARCH 839 Research Practicum [3 credits] or URP 801 [3 credits]
• 2 cognate courses (graduate level courses outside of Architecture) [6 credits]
• 6 additional upper-level classes (500- to 800-level) in Architecture or as approved by advisor [18 credits]

In summary, students take:

• 16 credit hours of core courses* (5 courses, including the Research Practicum)
• 9 credit hours of letter graded courses in the major specialization area (3 courses)
• 9 credit hours of letter graded courses in the minor specialization area (3 courses)
• 6 credit hours of letter graded elective coursework (2 courses)

The Preliminary Examination

The preliminary examination forms a bridge between coursework and dissertation research. It is designed to consolidate and test students’ command of their major and minor research fields and is based upon the initial formulation of a dissertation topic. Students should take the preliminary examination by January of the third year (check  candidacy deadlines  on the Rackham website).

Preparation

During the second year, students provide a tentative list of the three members of their Preliminary Examination Committee to their advisor and the Doctoral Coordinator. This committee consists of the student’s primary advisor (normally the anticipated chair of his/her Dissertation Committee) and at least one other faculty member from Architecture, with the third member invited from the department that houses the student’s minor area. Major and minor advisors should meet with the student in the last weeks of the winter term of the year prior to the examination to define the areas of questioning and to help with the initial reading lists. The student should begin studying over the summer and continue through to the test date of the following semester. One full meeting of the Preliminary Examination Committee should take place early in the fall semester of the third year, and subsequent meetings may occur at periodic intervals until the test date, as requested by student or committee members.

Please note that students must have completed the research practicum and be registered for at least one credit hour of 990 to be eligible to sit for the preliminary examination.

The preliminary examination first requires the compilation of reading lists based on a series of questions articulated with the help of the Preliminary Exam committee. The examination itself consists of two parts: a written component (also comprising two parts) and an oral defense.

The written test consists of a Major area question, and a Minor area question. The student’s major advisor administers the Major area question, after prior consultation with the student. The minor advisor administers the Minor area question, after prior consultation with the student. The written exam is followed by an oral examination with the full Preliminary Examination Committee following the completion and assessment of both components of the written exam. The meeting offers an opportunity to discuss issues not addressed or insufficiently treated in the written exam and can thus provide the committee with further information about the student’s knowledge of the field. The meeting is also the occasion for looking forward and beginning to discuss preparation of the dissertation prospectus.

Failure . A student must pass all parts of the preliminary examination in order to proceed in the degree. He/she may be asked to retake unsatisfactory portions of the examination. Failure of the Preliminary Exam, however, may also result in permanent suspension from the program. Students cannot re-sit either part of the examination more than once.

The Dissertation

This guideline is intended to help students plan the research and writing of the dissertation, making it possible to finish within two or three years of passing the preliminary examinations, and sometimes earlier. Students should bear in mind that the successful completion of a dissertation is a two-way process of negotiation between student and advisor(s), drawing where appropriate on the advice and expertise of the other members of his/her committee.

Dissertation Proposal [End of Winter semester of third year]

Students who have passed their Preliminary Examination and achieved candidacy are expected to form a Dissertation Committee comprised of no fewer than four and no more than five members (see below) and to write a prospectus of their doctoral dissertation. This should be completed and defended at the end of the sixth term. All members of the committee should be brought into the discussion about the proposed dissertation as soon after successful completion of the Preliminary Exam as possible. All members of the Dissertation Committee should be present at the prospectus defense.

The proposal details concisely the dissertation project and situates the work in the field. The core of the document is typically no longer than 2500-3000 words in length, and the proposal includes a thesis statement, a review of the state of the field in which the dissertation is intervening, a tentative chapter outline, a research plan (including travel necessary to completion of research and a schedule for completion), and a working bibliography. The student should consult with the advisor and all members of the committee in the months when he or she is formulating this important document, which serves as the intellectual plan for subsequent dissertation research and as the basis for grant applications. The dissertation proposal defense typically opens with the student offering a brief presentation (no longer than 20 minutes) of his/her project. This is followed by comments from the members of the committee, and responses from the candidate. Students may pass the defense outright, or they may pass conditionally, with revisions required. Students are normally not permitted to schedule the defense until their committee deems them capable of passing this requirement, although in rare cases it is possible to fail a proposal defense. In that case, students will be given a fixed period of time for revision before a re-examination is scheduled. The defense provides a crucial opportunity for the committee and the student to discuss intellectual and methodological aspects of the project and formulate research plans and strategies to aid the student in timely completion of the work. A copy of the approved proposal with all requested changes should be filed with the degree office within two weeks after the proposal defense.

Dissertation Committee

The Rackham Graduate School requires that each Dissertation Committee have a minimum of four members, three of whom must be regular members of the Rackham faculty. One of these three Rackham faculty members serves as the student’s doctoral advisor; the advisor is primarily responsible for guiding the student through the process of dissertation writing and takes greater responsibility than other members of the committee for the student’s progress. One of these three Rackham faculty members must hold an appointment in a cognate field outside of the Architecture Program. The Program further requires that the dissertation committee include at least two Architecture faculty members. In certain cases, a student may elect to ask two faculty members to serve as co-advisors on their dissertation. Emeritus faculty members do not normally serve on dissertation defense committees after three or more years of retirement.

On the Committee composition, see:  http://www.rackham.umich.edu/downloads/oard/forms/disscommitteeguidelines.pdf

The members of the Dissertation Committee should be registered with the Program directly after the Preliminary Exam defense and well before the Dissertation Proposal defense, since all members of the Dissertation Committee should help the student to craft a viable dissertation project. When necessary, changes may be made in the committee’s membership in consultation with the Coordinator of Doctoral Studies. All changes must be registered with the Coordinator and the Rackham Graduate School.

Faculty Responsibilities

• The dissertation advisor or co-advisors respond to students’ work-in-progress on the dissertation.
• While on sabbaticals or other leave of absence from the Department, advisors or co-advisors continue to supervise their advisees’ doctoral dissertations.
• If a student fails to meet the agreed-upon deadlines for submitting chapters, the student should re-negotiate the missed deadline with the advisor(s) in a timely fashion. While chapter deadlines may shift somewhat, any change to the overall time schedule should be negotiated with the advisor(s), who remains responsible for ensuring satisfactory progress.

Submitting the Dissertation

A student will be expected to present the completed dissertation and defend it at an oral defense conducted by the dissertation committee. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain information on dissertation deadlines, format, and procedures from the Rackham Graduate School well in advance of the defense. Procedures and requirements are outlined on the  Rackham website .

Students continue to register for ARCH 995 (8 credits) during the semester in which they defend the dissertation.

A final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to all members of the dissertation committee at least two months in advance of the proposed defense date. It is to a student’s advantage to submit the preliminary final draft to the advisor or co-advisors well before this date. This ensures that any suggested revisions may be properly discussed and incorporated in the final draft in a satisfactory manner.

A dissertation can be completed within a given academic year only if the defense takes place before the end of the winter semester. This ensures that the advisor or co-advisors and members of the dissertation committee will be in a position to attend the defense. Spring or summer term defenses may also be scheduled if all committee members agree.

The entire dissertation committee (minimum four members) must be present at the dissertation defense. A speaker phone or skype connection will be set up if one or two members are resident outside of Ann Arbor. The defense is public and peers may attend.

After the defense, the student must incorporate corrections required at the defense and submit a final version to Rackham, approved by the advisor or co-advisors or a proxy by the Rackham deadline . The due date for submitting the final, approved dissertation in a given term is set by Rackham and is absolutely inflexible. Should a student miss the deadline for a given term by even a day, he/she will be compelled to pay tuition to enroll the following term.

Rackham sets specific dates each academic year for receiving the degree. These roughly correspond to the following: early October for a December degree; mid-April for a May degree; and late June for an August degree. Students and advisors should consult the Rackham website for specific dates in a given year.

Please see the Doctoral Studies Handbook for further description of these degree components.

/ Sample Schedule

All students who anticipate working with quantitative or qualitative data manipulation are required to complete at least three credit hours of graded coursework in statistical analyses and/or advanced research methods (beyond the required core course).

Students must complete two consecutive terms of full-time graduate work in residence beginning in the fall term of their first year so that the core courses may be taken in the required sequence. Students who have been offered special admission may be required to complete additional coursework.

Rackham requires that graduate-level cognate courses of at least four credit hours be satisfactorily completed in a department or program other than the Doctoral Studies in Architecture and the Architecture Program. These courses may be used to satisfy the major or minor requirement and must be approved by the student’s major professor. These credit hours are not additional to the 40 required program hours. Upon satisfactorily completing all Ph.D. coursework, a Ph.D. student is eligible to apply for and be awarded the master of science degree.

The university  class schedule  is a great resource to other interesting and beneficial courses offered outside of architecture.

Core Course Offerings

The core curriculum for the program consists of courses in the theoretical foundations of architecture, research methods, and seminars relating to the student’s major and/or minor specialization areas. For detailed descriptions of these courses, see the course descriptions section.

• Arch 801: Doctoral Colloquium (4 credit hours)
• Arch 812: Theory in Architectural Research (3 credit hours)
• Arch 813: Research Design and Methods in Architecture (3 credit hours)
• Arch 823: Area Seminar
• Arch 824: Area Seminar
• Arch 825: Area Seminar
• Arch 839: Research Practicum (3 credit hours)
• TOTAL: 16 credit hours

With approval from the Doctoral Program, a student may elect to take another three hour methods course in lieu of Arch 813.

Architecture Independent Study Approval Form – ARCH 810   (Ph.D. students only)

/ Recent Graduates

Graduates from the Ph.D. in Architecture program have completed Doctoral Dissertations on topics ranging from “Aural Architecture as Affect: Understanding the Impact of Acoustic Environments on Human Experience” to “Curating a Nation in Skopje: A Tale of One City’s Architecture and Politics.” View a selection of recent Doctoral Dissertations .

/ Faculty Teaching Core Courses

Mania Aghaei Meibodi

Sean Ahlquist

Catherine Griffiths

Linda N. Groat

Andrew Herscher

El Hadi Jazairy

Lars Junghans

Jong-Jin Kim

Joy Knoblauch

Kuukuwa Manful

Malcolm McCullough

Wesley McGee

John McMorrough

Ana Morcillo Pallarés

Upali Nanda

Mojtaba Navvab

Łukasz Stanek

Peter von Bülow

Craig Wilkins

See all Faculty

/ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rackham graduate school.

The Rackham Graduate School and Taubman College work as a team to manage the application review process. As an applicant you will be interacting with both offices.

Do I need to submit GRE scores?

No. Effective for 2022 applicants and beyond, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are no longer required nor considered for admission to all graduate programs, including the Master of Urban Design, at Taubman College.

Do I need an official transcript to apply?

Yes. The Rackham Graduate School requires applicants to upload a scanned copy, front and back, of their official transcript /academic record issued by the Registrar or Records Office to the applicant, to ApplyWeb for each bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree earned or in progress.

Is there an interview process?

Yes. As part of the competitive process of admission evaluation, the Admissions Committee will conduct personal interviews with each applicant. Interviews are arranged after the deadline and applications have been reviewed.

My English proficiency score doesn’t meet the minimum requirement, can I still apply?

Yes, you can still apply. However, Taubman College doesn’t provide conditional admission. We encourage you to retake the test until you receive the minimum score.

How do I check the status of my application?

Applicants can verify application data and status online approximately 10–15 days after their application is submitted. The admissions office will send an email to each applicant that includes the University of Michigan Identification Number (UMID). You will need to use a login ID and password to confirm some personal data before viewing your application status. Student Service staff will try to keep all materials received current. However, please allow sufficient time for processing before contacting the office. See the Apply page application status and evaluation section.

When will I receive my admission decision?

Applicants will be notified of their admission decision by late-February or early March. If you are admitted, you will be able to see that you have been recommended for admission via the online Wolverine Access web application status portal. Decision  letters are sent via email.

Are there any resources available for International Students with questions related to the visa application, health insurance or Life in Ann Arbor?

Yes. The Website of the International Center at the University of Michigan offers helpful resources for incoming international students related to topics such as Immigration and Visas, Health Insurance and Housing or Local Transportation.

https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/resources

When do I need to enter my decision?

April 15th.

Where can I find more information regarding the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements, safety and prevention efforts and testing programs?

Please refer to https://campusblueprint.umich.edu/ for latest news on the coronavirus situation on campus and the COVID-19  policies currently in place for students and faculty.

Do I need to secure an advisor prior to applying?

No, we only encourage students to become familiar with our Ph.D. faculty and research interests. Please feel free to reach out to faculty directly as well.

/ Funding Support and Resources

Making decisions about the next step in your educational journey is a time full of opportunity and potential; however, it may also be accompanied by concerns about costs. Taubman College provides full funding to all students admitted to its doctoral programs, including a full tuition waiver, health insurance, and a generous stipend package.

Taubman College Career and Professional Development offers a variety of programs, services and resources to assist students and alumni in exploring careers, securing positions and continuing skill development and management.

For additional information on career opportunities, visit our career and professional development page.

Alumni Profile

Anahita khodadadi, ph.d. arch ’19 ,.

Assistant Professor, School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo

Meet Our Faculty

See Our Facilities

University of Missouri

• Current Students
• Alumni/Friends

Architectural Studies

Phd program.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD HES Architectural Studies) degree is designed for individuals who are interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills that are needed to conduct substantive, innovative, and original research that contribute to the theoretical and methodological foundation of architecture and interior design, and the dissemination of this research through teaching, publication, and practice. To this end, the curriculum is structured so that students move gradually from overview of architectural research to the identification and pursuit of major and minor areas of specialization and, finally, to highly specialized original dissertation research. This framework promotes stimulating intellectual discourse among individuals with varying research philosophies and interests.

Both faculty and students interact within this framework to develop an enhanced understanding of how specialized research contributes to the definition and evolution of an improved theoretical and methodological basis for architectural studies.

Doctoral study in Architectural Studies, College of Arts and Science, is research based and expands knowledge in the “major” areas of either environment and behavior or design with digital media. The major area is defined as that area of specialization in the Doctoral Program within which the student is expected to write his/her dissertation.

Doctoral study in Environment and Behavior explores the relationship between people and their physical, social and cultural environments. Doctoral study in Design with Digital Media expands knowledge in the “major” area of digital media.

Students commonly choose a “supportive cognate area” which is intended to reinforce the development of an understanding of the discipline. Supporting cognate area courses are selected from a broad spectrum of disciplines providing students with the opportunity to design an individualized program of study that capitalizes on their unique interests and talents.

The PhD program leads to the written doctoral dissertation. The dissertation is distinctive because it demonstrates the ability to conceive and execute scholarly research, and it makes a contribution of “new knowledge” to the discipline. Research is conducted in one emphasis area. Specific course work is chosen on the basis of subject matter and the type of research method selected: quantitative, qualitative or a combination of both. The University of Missouri requires a minimum of 72 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for the PhD. The doctoral program committee provides departmental approval of the student’s plan of study (Form D-2). When completed, it will:

• Prepare the student for research or scholarly investigation in the chosen field of study.
• Satisfy the credit-hour requirement of the department.
• Satisfy any special requirements (cognate area and research skills) imposed by the department or area program.
• Satisfy the Graduate School’s requirement for a minimum of 15 hours of course work at the 8000/9000 level (exclusive of research, problems and independent study experiences).

The committee also recommends to the Office of Graduate Studies, as part of the plan of study, any request for transfer of graduate credit. The student must substantially complete the course work outlined in the plan of study to the satisfaction of the doctoral program committee and the Office of Graduate Studies before being declared ready for the comprehensive examination.

• Architectural Studies Graduate Handbook (pdf)
• MU Doctoral Policies
• Online Study: Graduate
• MU Office of Graduate Studies
• ArchSt Dissertations

• Academics >
• Graduate Programs >

PhD in Urban and Regional Planning

• UB Directory

The PhD in Urban Planning program at the University at Buffalo provides a dynamic and multidisciplinary academic experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and research expertise to tackle complex urban challenges. With a focus on innovation and critical thinking, students engage in rigorous coursework, independent research, and collaborative projects spanning urban design, sustainability, social equity, and economic development. Mentored by renowned faculty, students benefit from cutting-edge facilities and the vibrant community of Buffalo, New York, gaining real-world experience and forging connections in the field. Flexible and tailored to individual interests, the program prepares graduates to lead positive change in urban environments, advancing sustainable development and social justice.

Duration of Study

• 4-yr Program (72 credit hours)

Cost of Study

• Domestic: $5,655 - $12,130
• International: $12,130

*per semester tuition rates and does not include fees

Admissions requirements

• Application fee: $75
• No GRE required

Student Life

• 3/20/24 Information for Future Students
• 11/5/19 The studio experience
• 3/28/24 Student organizations

See our work

• 10/9/17 Planning for the Health and Social Inclusion of LGBT Older Adults

Research and Faculty

Let us answer your questions.

Please fill out the form below and our PhD recruitment team will be happy to answer any questions.

• Enroll & Pay
• Current Students

Graduate Architecture Admissions

We are excited you are ready to take your next steps to apply for admission to the Graduate Programs in the Department of Architecture at the University of Kansas. This page will provide the information to assist you in gathering your application materials and completing your application. 

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the M.Arch. II/III, Academic M.A. and Ph.D. programs for the Fall Semester and Summer Session is  February 1 .

Master of Architecture (MArch Track II & III)

The University of Kansas offers two NAAB-accredited M.Arch professional degree tracks for students with a bachelor’s degree in any field, including architecture. NAAB is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture. State registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite of architectural licensure. As a NAAB accredited program, the completion of the KU M.Arch program will allow graduates to become a licensed architect in the United States.  

M. Architecture Track II (Pre-Professional+ 63 credits) degree is a 2+ year program designed for candidates who have a pre-professional degree in architecture and equivalent design disciplines.

M. Architecture Track III (Non-Pre-Professional +123 credits) degree is a 3+ year program designed for candidates who have an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than architecture.

STEM Designated Degree Program

The Master of Architecture degree at the University of Kansas is an approved STEM program in Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology (CIP code 04.0902), among the STEM fields’ list. International students who graduate from KU’s Master of Architecture degree may be eligible for the 24-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension. OPT is defined as practical work experience in your field of study after completion of a degree. With a STEM degree, a student’s “regular” OPT of 12 months may be extended for an additional 24 months OPT (for a total eligibility of up to 36 months). The 24-month STEM OPT extension is adjudicated (approved) by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Application documents

• KU graduate application is required. 
• Portfolio is required (10 MB max): Please include previous design work in university courses and studios and/or professional practice. If your portfolio includes teamwork, please clearly indicate your role and contribution to the project. You are also welcome to provide any additional creative work and hands-on building or construction projects as evidence.
• Official transcript from your highest earned degree is required
• Due to NAAB Accreditation Standards the Masters of Architecture program minimum GPA is a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, any applicant with a GPA lower than the required minimum will not be considered. 
• Resume is required.
• A supplemental architecture/interior architecture essay is required. It should be a statement of interest indicating the applicant’s career goals and the relationship of these goals to KU’s M.ARCH program (Those seeking advanced placement in the M.Arch. program should make this clear in this statement).
• Three Recommendation letters.
• For international students, a financial statement showing minimum financial support for the first year of study 

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

Applicant must also meet KU’s International Admissions’ requirements here

For international applicants whose native language is not English, you are required to submit English Proficiency Proof. Please see the detailed requirement for English Proficiency Proof here

• Students who are admitted in the Full Proficiency band are not required to complete Applied English Center (AEC) testing.
• All other non-native speakers of English who gain admission to campus-based programs are required to complete AEC testing prior to enrollment.

Admission with Advanced Standing

Applicants to the Master of Architecture with Advanced Standing must have a Bachelor's degree in architecture or its equivalent. Advanced standing is awarded at the discretion of the admissions committee during the time of application review. The admissions committee will determine advanced standing individually for each student during the admissions review. Each student’s undergraduate curriculum will be compared against the basic curriculum of the Master of Architecture program at KU. Students might be granted waiver of some required courses if they have completed equivalent courses in their undergraduate program. Any course deficiencies must be fulfilled in addition to the regular credit hours of the advanced standing curriculum.

Evaluation of Preparatory Education and Admission 

The M.Arch Admissions Committee utilizes a systematized process for evaluating academic history to ensure the preparatory education alignment with NAAB accreditation standards.

Review Committee

The Admissions Committee is composed of members of the Student Success Committee, the Chair of the Department of Architecture, and the Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Management. The student Success Committee is a standing committee of five members appointed by the Chair of the Department.

Review Process

The M.Arch Admissions Committee members each independently review all applications from the applicant pool, ranking them based on the portfolio (e.g., creativity, design skills, spatial sensibility, effectiveness of visual communication, and technical skills), academic record, statement and cover letters (dedication to design, passion, ability to communicate effectively, teamwork, potential to leadership), and recommendation letters. The Admission Committee members make a recommendation to either admit/ leaning admit/ leaning deny/deny. Each Admission Committee member will develop a ranked list of applicants with recommendations and written comments to share with the rest of the Admissions Committee. The applicants who have received “deny” recommendations from all members will not be forwarded to the next round of discussion.

In late February, a meeting will be held for all members of the Admissions Committee to discuss the recommendations for each applicant. A final ranked list will be developed to inform the final admission decisions. The Admissions Committee will also determine the Advanced Standing of the applicant, which curriculum track to admit students into the program, and recommend studio placement based on portfolio and transcript.

For admitted applicants, the Director of Enrollment and Admission Management will further review the transcript, course catalog descriptions and syllabi and crosscheck with our M.Arch. II curriculum and course requirements. The evaluation will use the  KU Architecture Preparatory Education Evaluation form.

The final decision on curriculum tracks, studio placement, and recommended degree plan is communicated to the applicants in their offer letters at the time of admission. 

Master of Arts (MA )

Master of Arts (MA) in Architecture degree is a 36-credit academic/research track for students with an undergraduate degree in architecture or a related discipline.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Architecture degree is a 49-credit terminal degree involving rigorous coursework, independent research, culminating in a dissertation.

Graduate Certificates

Current KU graduate students, both internal & external to the School of Architecture & Design, who would like to pursue one of our graduate certificate programs must formally apply for the program through Graduate Admissions using the " Current Student Graduate Certificate Application ". For more information on program requirements, please visit the Course Catalog .  

If you have any questions about your application, please email  [email protected] .

Quick Links

• Apply to KU
• M. Arch (2 or 3-year)

PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design

The PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design is a 39-credit program that prepares students to teach at the university level in departments of urban planning, architecture, historic preservation, landscape architecture, or real estate development. The program will qualify graduates to conduct research and participate in high-level decision making in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

The PhD program is highly selective and individualized. Adequately prepared students will generally need four semesters of formal coursework leading to comprehensive exams and all students are expected to spend a minimum of two years in residence. Students admitted to the PhD Program are expected to have completed a master’s degree in a related field including (but not limited to) urban planning, architecture, historic preservation, or landscape architecture. Students are expected to enter the PhD program with two semesters of graduate level quantitative research methods. 

The PhD program is integral to the University of Maryland’s National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education and our nationally recognized Architecture, Urban Studies and Planning, Historic Preservation, and Real Estate Development Programs. These affiliations enable our students to take advantage of a rich interdisciplinary environment.

Fields of Specialization

Students are expected to develop two fields of specialization, a major and a minor field. The following major fields are based on the University of Maryland faculty's particular strengths. However, other fields can be developed with the guidance and approval of the faculty mentor.  Emeritx Professors will not serve as the main academic advisors.

Land Use Planning:

This field includes the theoretical underpinnings of land use and the segregation of uses, as well as the study of the theory, history, and practice of policies intended to regulate the amount, pace, location, pattern, and quality of growth in U.S. metropolitan areas. This includes the study of legal and constitutional issues, public costs and benefits, the role of externalities, political conflicts, equity concerns, and socioeconomic impacts of zoning and other forms of land regulation and growth management.

Urban Spatial Structure:

Students in this specialization will study the factors that determine and influence urban and regional spatial structure. Of special interest is the role that changing technology plays in shaping urban form.

Economic Development:

Students in this specialization will focus on the theory and practice of local urban and regional economic development, including the study of theories of regional growth, intra-national population migration, business location decisions, and community development. This field also includes the study of economic development politics.

Environmental Planning:

This specialization analyzes opportunities and challenges related to making cities more sustainable and resilient in terms of environmental conservation, economic prosperity, and social equity. The specialization aims to equip students to enhance the natural and built environment minimizing the negative impacts of growth and development. Environmental planning centers environmental justice and includes questions related to natural resources and physical infrastructure, and policies and programs to protect and recover ecosystems and natural resources, hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, and climate adaptation and mitigation.

International Planning:

This specialization explores urbanization abroad, particularly the developing world. Students in this specialization explore planning, urban spatial structure, urban development, historic preservation, and urban design challenges in the newly industrializing countries and the newly independent states of Eastern Europe, and how the political, social, cultural, and economic conditions within and among regions and countries affect the development, design, and implementation of plans. Within the proposed Ph.D. program there will be special emphasis on the relationship between social, cultural, and economic conditions and improving the quality of urban life.

Urban Design:

This specialization includes the study of both historical and contemporary issues of design in an urban environment, including the means by which urban form and design is regulated through codes, guidelines, and review processes. Students in this specialization will explore the relationship between buildings, culture, context, the urban condition, and their influence on the making of the urban form. This field includes an emphasis on the relationship between human behavior and built form and also encompasses a special focus on design strategies and initiatives that revitalize cities and mitigate urban sprawl. It also includes the exploration of how sprawl and growth management can and do inform urban design.

Urban Community Social Development:

This specialization focuses on revitalizing the central city to make it a more attractive place to live and work, and to slow the outward migration that necessitates suburban growth management. This specialization gives special attention to the social and cultural character of communities, in addition to their physical and economic requirements, and concentrates on developing strategies to draw more people to central city communities. Because concern about declining schools, fears about safety, and anxiety about racial differences are three strong forces motivating outward movement, education, public safety, and race relations will be central to this study.

Transportation Planning and Policy :

This specialization focuses on the theory of travel and transportation systems and their interactions with the built environment, including land use, urban design, and the natural environment. This specialization provides students with a broad, multi-faceted understanding of the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity outcome of transportation policy and planning. It also covers travel behavior analysis, public transportation policy, planning, and management, travel demand forecasting, transportation finance, sustainable transportation, and energy and environmental issues in the transportation sector.

Housing Policy:

The housing policy specialization draws upon the program’s strengths in the areas of Smart Growth to prepare students to analyze housing markets and evaluate policies designed to ensure that housing is delivered in a manner that is efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

Architectural History:

Based on the broad spectrum of expertise of the design, history and preservation faculty, this specialization focuses on the history and preservation of the built environment in the United States and Canada - envisioned as a significant element of social, cultural, religious, economic, and political history - both from a vernacular and a “high style” perspective and from a cross-cultural angle.

Comprehensive Exams Policy

Doctoral students are required to take a set of written comprehensive exams shortly after completion of their coursework.   To pass the exams, students must demonstrate a mastery of advanced planning and design theory, and the important work in their major and minor fields. At least four faculty members serve on the exam committee of which two must be from the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The examining committee will include the student’s advisor, at least two additional members familiar with the student's major or minor fields, and the student’s planning theory professor. The selection of the committee is made by the student, with the approval of the student’s advisor. The comprehensive exam is a three-day take-home exam.

To prepare for the examination, students are required to prepare a reading list for their chosen major and minor fields, plus urban planning theory, in consultation with their advisor and committee members. This reading list will reflect the agreed-upon scope of work that students are expected to know for the exam. All of the committee members must review this reading list and agree that it includes the relevant, important work in the students’ chosen fields.

Each committee member should write one question in the area of each student’s major or minor field. The committee member may write several questions among which the student should select one. The advisor should collect all questions from the committee members, review the questions for clarity, comprehensiveness, and fairness, and pass the exam to the student. Generally, the total exam includes two questions from the major field, one question from the minor field, and a planning theory question. At the end of three days (72 hours), the student should return the exam to his/her advisor. The advisor will pass the exam to the committee.

The questions will be graded by the committee, with each committee member responsible for grading the question they asked. The advisor is responsible for reading and grading all questions. The examining committee should take no longer than two weeks to assess the exam. The options are (1) pass, (2) rewrite, or (3) fail. A student may receive a pass, rewrite, or fail on each question separately. Students are allowed to rewrite a question one time only. Only one committee member is required for a decision to rewrite. At least two faculty members must concur if a failing grade is given. The case where the student fails one or more questions constitutes an exam failure. Once successfully passing the comprehensive exam, students must complete the required paperwork to be formally admitted to candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students must complete and pass their comprehensive exam before they advance to candidacy and begin to take URSP899 dissertation research courses. Click here to fill out the application for advancement to candidacy.

Dissertation

The dissertation must demonstrate the ability to do independent research on an original topic approved by the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and the graduate program.

The student will assemble a dissertation committee made up of at least five faculty members with expertise in the student's proposed research area. According to the university requirement: "The Committee must consist of a minimum of five members; additional committee members may be required or invited to serve at the discretion of the program. All members of the Dissertation Examining Committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty of the University of Maryland under one of the following membership categories: Regular Member; Adjunct Member; Special Member. At least three of the committee members must be Regular Members of the University of Maryland Graduate Faculty." Once a prospectus is finished, it must be approved and signed off by the student's PhD committee. Students will orally defend their dissertation proposal. The oral defense is informal. Students are expected to propose planning-related research and theory construction, which will lead to significant, original, and relevant contributions to the field. The core course Advanced Planning and Design Theory is designed to assist students in the preparation of a thesis proposal.

Visit the Courses page to view all courses offered by the PhD Program. 

For a list of courses offered this semester, visit  Testudo . 

The Department of Architecture

"A School of Agritecture” by Yijia Tracy Tang (MArch I '22)

The Department of Architecture is a unique community, rich in diversity, collaboration, and scholarship through design. Here, students explore today’s most creative design approaches, with an international faculty prominent across the field.

Degree Programs

March i master of architecture i.

The program leading to the Master of Architecture is an accredited professional degree intended for individuals who have completed the bachelor's degree with a major other than one of the design professions or with a pre-professional undergraduate major in one of the design professions.

MArch II Master of Architecture II

The program leading to the Master of Architecture II is a post-professional degree intended for individuals who have completed a five-year undergraduate professional program in architecture or its equivalent.

Inside Architecture

Together with visiting design critics and theorists from around the world, architecture faculty and students explore a range of design investigations, expand knowledge, and confront the challenges of the contemporary built environment. Collaboration thrives in Gund Hall’s distinctive trays, five continuous tiers of open studio space.

The Department’s philosophy of design excellence integrates the imaginative and skillful manipulation of form, as well as the ability to draw inspiration from a broad body of knowledge. The architecture curriculum includes design studio, theory, visual studies, history, technology, and professional practice, with design as the central focus of instruction.

Gund Hall’s studio trays form both the physical and pedagogical core of the GSD experience, drawing together students and faculty from across the departments of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning and design. The creative, collaborative atmosphere of the trays is supplemented by Gund Hall’s advanced information infrastructure, media-enriched presentation spaces, vast library resources, and open access to fabrication technologies, enabling architecture students to develop, discuss, exchange, and materialize ideas through a comprehensive range of platforms and media. The student experience is further enriched by the School’s renowned lecture and public program series, exhibitions, and publications, as well as the resources available across Harvard University and the nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Students in the Department of Architecture are integrated into an active network of internationally recognized designers, dedicated to addressing the changing needs of the modern world.

As new ways of thinking emerge in the profession of architecture, the field grows increasingly complex and requires new techniques of inquiry and design. For generations, the GSD has educated committed individuals who have assumed leadership roles in shaping the built environment. Today’s graduates in architecture continue this tradition by pioneering new design approaches to the challenges posed by contemporary society.

Graduate studies have expanded my own conception of what architecture is, what architecture can be, and what architecture can do. And I think that that's pretty powerful.

Selwyn Bachus

Apr 19, 2021

Design collaborative colab-19 is changing how we think about post-pandemic architecture

Late last year, a scaffolding structure rose to abut the facade of the popular…

Apr 8, 2021

Announcements

LA DALLMAN Architects wins 2021 Progressive Architecture Award for transformation of 1901 Wisconsin grain elevator

The transformative new design for the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin…

Mar 25, 2021

The way it is presented in the park, nature is culture, so bringing more kinds of culture into the visitor center site gives people a chance to come in and participate in the storied healing experience of nature.

Jeanne Gang

Faculty Honored with 2021 ACSA Architectural Education Awards

The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) recently announced the recipients of its…

Feb 26, 2021

Groundscrapers: Exploring the logic behind long, low buildings

A visionary architect of the modern metropolis surveyed the vast urban scene unfolding from his…

Feb 17, 2021

Who we center as our subject is a really important question when we talk about architecture. Who is it for? Who gets to make it? Whose world view does it help prop up?

Jennifer Newsom

Nov 30, 2020

Talking Practice: Practice in an Uncertain World

In this episode of Talking Practice, host Grace La moderates a special roundtable, Practice in…

Mar 6, 2021

GSD exhibitions turn “Inside Out”

This spring, Harvard Graduate School of Design has turned its Druker Design Gallery, Experiments Wall,…

Pier Paolo Tamburelli on the “hardscrabble, repressed, and perverted” American Gothic psyche

In Sherwood Anderson’s collection of short stories, Winesburg, Ohio, the author…

Nov 12, 2020

With Mass Timber and the Scandinavian Effect, Jennifer Bonner and Hanif Kara speculate how wood might recapture the American architectural imagination

Moments of intense constraint have driven architecture toward seismic ruptures, which go on to determine…

Nov 24, 2020

“We are asking the students to take a visionary position,” says Moussavi. “The pandemic has called into question the efficiency of all the old housing systems, and I think it’s up to us to produce the visions of tomorrow.”

Farshid Moussavi

Nov 20, 2020

Preston Scott Cohen’s Post-Shaker studio draws on the austere formal language of Shaker design in proposing a new art colony in Mount Lebanon, NY

Mount Lebanon, NY has faded. When its last seven inhabitants moved away in 1947 it…

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

• Our Approach
• Faculty & Staff
• The Nomadic Studio
• Accreditation
• Learning and Teaching Culture Policy
• Admissions & Aid
• Living in Columbus
• Professional Preparation
• Learning Spaces
• Pencils Down podcast
• Special Events
• Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design

J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program

Indiana University is excited to have students, faculty, and staff on campus.  Stay up to date  on how the university is working to ensure the health and safety of the community. 

Featured News + Events

Miller M. Arch Lecture Series

Speaker Series

The Miller M. Arch Lecture Series brings prominent working artists and architects to the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program in Columbus. These lectures are open to the community. 

The Republic Building

Learning spaces

The J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program is housed in the newly outfitted Republic Building. The building is an architecturally important modernist building that has been designated as a nationally recognized historic landmark since 2012.

Miller M. Arch Gallery

Exhibition Space

The Miller M.Arch Gallery in Columbus’s newly renovated Republic Building, home to the Eskenazi School’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, hosts several successful shows over the course of each academic year.

Through the exploration of art and architecture, our program empowers individuals to discover their creative voice and become community-minded, globally-engaged artists and designers.

Linking art and architecture.

The J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program is uniquely based on twin studio experiences of architectural design and studio art. Cross-pollination of these allied disciplines creates fertile ground for the development of the imagination. Our multi-disciplinary curriculum will embolden you to pursue innovation at the intersection of art and architecture.

Learn more about the curriculum

Columbus is our campus

Our program is housed within the nationally landmarked Republic Building, which is one of over eighty significant works of architecture in the city of Columbus. This extraordinary urban environment has been forged through collaborative community partnerships and a unique stakeholder engagement process that underpins our educational mission. You will explore, study, and live in this extended campus of architectural ideas.

Learn more about the student experience

Nomadic Studio

The streets become your classroom through comparative study of international cities, where students travel to conduct independent research across a series of dense and culturally rich environments. This studio focuses on the connections between urban form, architecture, and art, with an emphasis on self-discovery and engagement of global issues. You will partner with leading artists and designers across the globe to immerse yourself in their unique cultures.

Learn more about the Nomadic Studio

Become one of the first graduates of the Miller M.Arch program at IU

Visit + connect.

To learn more about the Miller M.Arch at Indiana University, or to schedule a visit, contact:

Admissions J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program 333 Second Street, Columbus IN 47201 812-375-7550 [email protected]

J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program social media channels

• Eskenazi School Intranet
• College of Arts & Sciences
• Master of Architecture

Ph.D. in Architecture, Historic Preservation

The program leading to the Ph.D. in the area of Historic Preservation builds on the Master of Science in Historic Preservation (MSHP) degree and provides students with advanced training to prepare them to teach and conduct research at the highest level. Students who have completed the MSHP degree must apply for continuation to the Ph.D. level.

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 21 hours of coursework leading to the comprehensive examination. Students must demonstrate reading proficiency in a second foreign language approved by the doctoral subcommittee. The comprehensive examination tests general knowledge of architectural history, an area of concentration, and a minor area. Following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student develops a dissertation topic and makes a public presentation to the doctoral subcommittee, which then recommends candidacy to the Dean of the Graduate School. The writing, oral defense, and revision of the dissertation follow.

The number of hours may vary depending on the student's individual situation, previous background, interests, and needs. The length of time required to complete a dissertation varies according to individual situations but should normally be completed within two years. 

• SAMPLE PROGRAM OF STUDY

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The doctoral subcommittee of the Architecture Graduate Studies Committee determines course requirements, prescribes qualifying examinations, and approves dissertation topics. The degree plan requires a minimum of thirty hours. Twenty-one of these hours consist of seminars and reading courses leading to the qualifying examination. Nine of these hours must satisfy the program's core requirements, as specified by the doctoral subcommittee (credit may be awarded for core courses taken as part of a School of Architecture master's program). Nine of the remaining hours are to be taken outside the School of Architecture.

All tracks require experience in design, which may be gained through design studio coursework or professional practice; reading proficiency in two foreign languages appropriate to the area of specialization; and/or proficiency in qualitative or quantitative analysis, as determined by the doctoral subcommittee.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

The qualifying examination demonstrates broad mastery of the field of study in which the dissertation will be situated. In practical terms, it establishes a credential for teaching at the college level. The student's Program Director and the doctoral subcommittee in consultation with other faculty determine the scope of the examination and select the examiners. The examination consists of a written exam spread over two days followed shortly thereafter by an oral exam, which is open to other faculty and students.

DISSERTATION COLLOQUIUM

The dissertation colloquium culminates the preparation of the dissertation proposal. The student presents the proposal for consideration by the doctoral subcommittee, prospective members of the dissertation committee, and other interested faculty and students. Upon approval of the dissertation proposal and formation of the dissertation committee, the doctoral subcommittee will recommend the student's promotion to candidacy status.

DISSERTATION

The doctoral dissertation must make an original contribution to scholarship. It normally requires at least two years of research and writing. The work is directed by a dissertation committee consisting of five or six members including a supervisor (or co-supervisors) and at least one member from outside the School of Architecture. The oral defense of the dissertation is a public event scheduled through the Graduate School.

Charles L. Davis II Associate Professor Program Director for Architecture Ph.D. [email protected]

PH.D. IN ARCHITECTURE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

PH.D. IN COMMUNITY & REGIONAL PLANNING APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• Skip to main content

• All countries /
• North America /
• All study levels /
• Postgraduate /
• Architecture and Construction /
• Architecture

126 Universities in the USA offering Postgraduate Architecture degrees and courses

More Information

Are you looking for Postgraduate courses in Architecture? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

You've reached your limit of 10 Favourites

New Jersey Institute of Technology

THE World Ranking: 401

University of Missouri

Florida agricultural and mechanical university.

THE World Ranking: 1001

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

THE World Ranking: 601

George Washington University

THE World Ranking: 201

New York University

THE World Ranking: 27

Miami University

Iowa State University

THE World Ranking: 351

Bowling Green State University

Illinois Institute of Technology

Suffolk University

University of Memphis

THE World Ranking: 801

• Architectural Design
• Architectural Drawing
• Architectural History
• Architecture (General)
• Building Conservation
• Building Design
• Building Design / Architecture
• Building Design: Specific Applications
• Environmental Design (Architecture)
• Alabama (inc. Montgomery)
• Arizona (inc. Phoenix)
• California (inc. Sacramento)
• Colorado (inc. Denver)
• Connecticut (inc. Hartford)
• Washington, D.C.
• Florida (inc. Tallahassee)
• Georgia (inc. Atlanta)
• Hawaii (inc. Honolulu)
• Idaho (inc. Boise)
• Illinois (inc. Springfield)
• Indiana (inc. Indianapolis)
• Iowa (inc. Des Moines)
• Kansas (inc. Topeka)
• Louisiana (inc. Baton Rouge)
• Maryland (inc. Annapolis)
• Massachusetts (inc. Boston)
• Michigan (inc. Lansing)
• Minnesota (inc. St. Paul)
• Missouri (inc.Jefferson City)
• Nebraska (inc. Lincoln)
• Nevada (inc. Carson City)
• New Jersey (inc. Trenton)
• New Mexico (inc. Santa Fe)
• New York (inc. Albany)
• North Carolina (inc. Raleigh)
• Ohio (inc. Columbus)
• Oklahoma (inc. Oklahoma City)
• Oregon (inc. Salem)
• Pennsylvania (inc. Harrisburg)
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island (inc. Providence)
• South Carolina (inc. Columbia)
• Tennessee (inc. Nashville)
• Texas (inc. Austin)
• Utah (inc. Salt Lake City)
• Virginia (inc. Richmond)
• Washington (inc. Olympia)
• West Virginia (inc. Charleston)
• Wisconsin (inc. Madison)
• Study level:
• Postgraduate
• Graduate Certificates & Diplomas
• Masters Degrees
• Doctoral Degrees
• Pre-masters
• Study mode:
• Online/Distance

Filter your results

Tell us about you.

• Nationality Select country Select country
• My current qualification is from Select country Yes No Select country Select country
• Current qualification {0} is not applicable for the study level you selected below. Qualification Qualification
• Grade type (only one grade type for your qualification) Grade type Grade type
• My score (current or expected) Please select Please select Please select Please select Please select Please select

Tell us your preferences

• Subject Architecture
• Qualification Postgraduate
• Destination USA
• Study options
• Annual tuition fees

Subject areas

Qualification, destination.

• The UConn School of Business has grown to become one of the most comprehensive business schools in the country.
• NEW: Want to study in your home country for a foreign qualification? Find out more about cross-border study!

Pratt Institute Ranked Sixth in World’s Top Art & Design Universities

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 also place Pratt in the top five universities for art and design in the United States.

Pratt Institute is ranked #6 out of 241 US and international art and design universities in the QS World University by Subject 2024. The listing also ranks Pratt #4 in the United States. Additionally, Pratt was ranked #17 in the History of Art category.    

Published annually, the rankings assess the world’s top universities in 55 individual subjects based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact. They are published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), one of the world’s leading sources of comparative data about university performance.

Pratt has been rated one of the world’s top 10 art and design universities by QS World University Rankings by Subject every year since QS added the category to its rankings in 2015.

Explore the QS World R ankings by Subject 2024: Art & Design and learn more about their criteria and methodology . 

Doctor of Architecture Programs in America

1-25 of 27 results

MIT School of Architecture and Planning

Cambridge, MA •

Massachusetts Institute of Technology •

Graduate School

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,

Graduate School ,

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

Yale School of Architecture

New Haven, CT •

Yale University •

Yale University ,

NEW HAVEN, CT ,

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard University •

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   9 reviews

Other: I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student' in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Through this School, I will be focusing my time at the John A. Paulson school of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Looking forward to wrapping up my final year on campus! ... Read 9 reviews

Harvard University ,

9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Other says I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student'... .

Read 9 reviews.

Illinois Institute of Technology

Graduate School •

CHICAGO, IL

• • Rating 4.37 out of 5   38

College of Architecture - Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology •

Mississippi State University

MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS

• • Rating 4.51 out of 5   49

Harvard Graduate School of Design

• • Rating 4.29 out of 5   7 reviews

Master's Student: Great survey of urban planning if you have no prior background in architecture or urban studies; cohort skews younger (early to mid twenties) so might be an adjustment for older students with more experience ... Read 7 reviews

7 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Great survey of urban planning if you have no prior background in architecture or urban studies; cohort skews younger (early to mid twenties) so might be an adjustment for older students with more... .

Read 7 reviews.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ •

• • Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help students in office hours or in sponsorship of projects. The worst part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the lack of structure for the graduate research program which can leave you feeling unsure on the direction of your research. ... Read 3 reviews

PRINCETON, NJ ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help... .

Read 3 reviews.

School of Design - University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA •

University of Pennsylvania •

University of Pennsylvania ,

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

• Find college scholarships

Rice University School of Architecture

Houston, TX •

Rice University •

Blue checkmark.

Rice University ,

HOUSTON, TX ,

Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

Ithaca, NY •

Cornell University •

Cornell University ,

ITHACA, NY ,

A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

Ann Arbor, MI •

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   6 reviews

Master's Student: Taubman College (and a lot of architecture grad schools) is whatever you make of it. Make sure to plan out at least what you want to explore. Research specific professors and take the classes from the ones that you are interested in. Don't walk in with a vague plan and wander. This degree and many Masters Degrees cost a significant amount of money. I have put myself into considerable debt to go to a school where I have felt lost and miserable. It gets better and is worth it - but only if you have a plan. ... Read 6 reviews

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ,

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

6 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Taubman College (and a lot of architecture grad schools) is whatever you make of it. Make sure to plan out at least what you want to explore. Research specific professors and take the classes from... .

Read 6 reviews.

UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture

Los Angeles, CA •

University of California - Los Angeles •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: Its a very good program that really encourages students to explore their artistic capabilities. The instructors are very experienced and are very good at teaching the students. The program is great, but could also use some improvements in the facilities, as well as overall teaching etiquette. Some instructors would be late to class, while expecting students to stay longer. Others would show little, to no enthusiasm about certain things or events. ... Read 1 review

University of California - Los Angeles ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Its a very good program that really encourages students to explore their artistic capabilities. The instructors are very experienced and are very good at teaching the students. The program is great,... .

Read 1 reviews.

Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts

Pittsburgh, PA •

Carnegie Mellon University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: I graduated from the School of Design at the College of Fine Arts. This is one best design program at a major research university. The cross disciplinary approach, and ability to take courses at other schools like business, engineering, and public policy makes the CMU experience truly unique. It’s been said that the hardest part about Harvard is getting in, and the hardest part about CMU is graduating. This very is true. ... Read 4 reviews

Carnegie Mellon University ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I graduated from the School of Design at the College of Fine Arts. This is one best design program at a major research university. The cross disciplinary approach, and ability to take courses at... .

Read 4 reviews.

Georgia Tech College of Design

Atlanta, GA •

Georgia Institute of Technology •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: Great class choices with faculty always available for advising and help. I had a number of bad professors who did not deliver the material well but they, too, were available to help during office hours and beyond. ... Read 2 reviews

Georgia Institute of Technology ,

ATLANTA, GA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Great class choices with faculty always available for advising and help. I had a number of bad professors who did not deliver the material well but they, too, were available to help during office... .

Read 2 reviews.

• Sponsored Find Student Loan Options
• Masters in Building Science and Technology Programs
• Masters in interior Design and Architecture Programs

UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design

Berkeley, CA •

University of California - Berkeley •

University of California - Berkeley ,

BERKELEY, CA ,

College of Architecture and Urban Studies

Blacksburg, VA •

Virginia Tech •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Master's Student: Professors are very knowledgeable about what they teach and the elective courses offered are diverse. ... Read 1 review

Virginia Tech ,

BLACKSBURG, VA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Professors are very knowledgeable about what they teach and the elective courses offered are diverse. .

College of Design, Construction & Planning - University of Florida

Gainesville, FL •

University of Florida •

University of Florida ,

GAINESVILLE, FL ,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute •

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ,

College of Arts and Architecture - Penn State

University Park, PA •

Penn State •

Penn State ,

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA ,

College of Architecture - Texas A&M University

College Station, TX •

Texas A&M University •

Texas A&M University ,

COLLEGE STATION, TX ,

Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture

Norman, OK •

University of Oklahoma •

University of Oklahoma ,

NORMAN, OK ,

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Tempe, AZ •

Arizona State University •

Arizona State University ,

TEMPE, AZ ,

College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning - University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH •

University of Cincinnati •

University of Cincinnati ,

CINCINNATI, OH ,

School of Architecture, Design, and Planning - The University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS •

The University of Kansas •

The University of Kansas ,

LAWRENCE, KS ,

College of Design, University of Oregon

Eugene, OR •

University of Oregon •

University of Oregon ,

EUGENE, OR ,

Chicago, IL •

Illinois Institute of Technology ,

CHICAGO, IL ,

School of Architecture & Urban Planning - University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI •

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee •

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ,

MILWAUKEE, WI ,

Showing results 1 through 25 of 27

12 PhD Degrees in Architecture Studies in USA for 2024

• Architecture Studies

Architecture Studies (12)

• Architecture (5)
• Regional Planning (1)
• Urban and Regional Planning (4)
• Urban Design (1)
• Urban Development (2)
• Urban Planning (2)
• Back to main category
• New York (4)
• Los Angeles (0)
• Chicago (0)
• Washington (0)
• San Francisco (0)
• United Kingdom (0)
• Australia (0)
• Bachelor (0)
• Certificate (0)
• Diploma (0)
• Associate of Applied Science (0)
• Associate Degree (0)
• Graduate Certificate (0)
• Associate of Arts (0)
• Summer Course (0)
• Advanced Diploma (0)
• Postgraduate Diploma (0)
• Graduate Diploma (0)
• Foundation Year (0)
• Postgraduate Certificate (0)
• A-level (0)
• Preparatory Program (0)
• Doctor of Education (0)
• Advanced Certificate (0)
• Juris Doctor (0)
• Undergraduate Pathway (0)
• Undergraduate Certificate (0)
• Graduate Pathway (0)
• 2 years (0)
• 3 years (1)
• 4+ years (0)
• Full time (2)
• Part time (1)
• English (12)
• Spanish (0)
• Portuguese (0)
• Italian (0)
• On-Campus (11)
• Distance Learning (1)
• Blended (0)
• Administrative Law Studies
• Architecture
• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Management
• Regional Planning
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Urban Design
• Urban Development
• Urban Planning

Doctorate In Urban Planning And Public Policy

University of texas arlington.

• Arlington, USA

The Ph.D. in urban planning and public policy (UPPP) integrates the academic disciplines of urban planning and public policy by training Ph.D. students to conduct independent research that makes a substantive contribution to their chosen planning and policy subfields. The program prepares doctoral students for academic careers and for leadership in research positions in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors.

Doctorate in Architecture

Atlantic international university.

• Honolulu, USA

Full time, Part time

Distance Learning

The Doctor of Architecture (Ph.D.) is a research degree suitable for students seeking a profession in teaching and scholarship in architecture and related areas, or positions in government or as a consultant requiring specialization and experience in research.

PHD IN ARCHITECTURAL SCIENCES

Rensselaer polytechnic institute, undergraduate programmes.

The School of Architecture offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Architectural Sciences to candidates prepared to undertake innovative and substantive research that adds to the body of knowledge drawn on by the design disciplines.

Ph.D. in Architectural Studies

University of missouri college of human environmental sciences.

• Columbia, USA

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. HES Architectural Studies) degree is designed for individuals who are interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills that are needed to conduct substantive, innovative, and original research that contribute to the theoretical and methodological foundation of architecture and interior design, and the dissemination of this research through teaching, publication, and practice.

Ph.D. in Architecture

Columbia university graduate school of architecture, planning and preservation (gsapp).

• New York, USA

The PHD in Architecture addresses the development of modern architectural form and ideas as they have been affected by social, economic, and technological change. In broad terms, it encompasses the relations between the profession, practice, civil institutions, and the society at large.

Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning

University of pennsylvania weitzman school of design.

• Philadelphia, USA

The University of Pennsylvania is an intellectually stimulating environment in which to study today’s metropolitan challenges. To develop responses, our Ph.D. students have easy access to a broad, multi-disciplinary faculty and all the resources of a first-rate urban research university.

Ph.D. in Historic Preservation

The PHD in Historic Preservation was launched in 2017 and is oriented toward the training of future historic preservation scholars. The first of its kind in the United States, the program aims to expand the discipline’s range of intellectual entanglements and cultivate new paradigms for scholarly research, experimental practice, global action, and communication.

Ph.D. in Regional Planning

College of fine & applied arts at the university of illinois at urbana-champaign.

• Champaign, USA

The internationally recognized Ph.D. program in Regional Planning prepares scholars for leadership positions at universities and research institutions in the US and worldwide as faculty and policymakers. It builds a strong foundation of planning and social science theories and hones skills in advanced research methods to develop expertise in a chosen specialization.

Ph.D. in Urban Design & Planning

University of washington.

• Seattle, USA

The Urban Design & Planning Interdisciplinary Ph.D. at the University of Washington is one of 39 Ph.D. programs in urban and regional planning in North America and one of the oldest, founded in 1967.

Ph.D. in Urban Planning

Columbia university - graduate school of architecture, planning and preservation.

• Avery Hall, USA

The Ph.D. in Urban Planning is focused on training individuals for future careers as teachers, researchers, policy-makers, and business entrepreneurs in and near the field of urban planning—in academia, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and think tanks. The program equips students with the theoretical and methodological expertise to address important contemporary issues, such as climate change and adaptation, built environment transformation, immigration and migration, housing and community development, and poverty and inequality. It is a highly competitive doctoral program, accepting only three candidates each year.

Ph.D. in Urban Studies

University of new orleans.

• New Orleans, USA

The Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Studies degree program is an interdisciplinary program within the College of Liberal Arts, Education, and Human Development that enables students of exceptional ability to undertake advanced study and original research in urban affairs and urban history, urban planning, and urban anthropology. The program's mission is to prepare students for careers in scholarly activity, applied research, and policy analysis.

Popular degree type

Popular study format

Popular education type

PhD Degrees in Architecture Studies

In order for the structure and behavior of a new structure to meet technical and aesthetic specifications, the imput of knowledgeable individuals in architecture is needed. This involves creating drawings, taking measurements and occasionally mediating compromises.

The USA remains the world’s most popular destination for international students. Universities in the US dominate the world rankings and the country also offers a wide variety of exciting study locations. State university systems are partially subsidized by state governments, and may have many campuses spread around the state, with hundreds of thousands of students.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.

• Washington State University
• Go to wsu twitter
• Go to wsu facebook
• Go to wsu linkedin

Voiland College names 2024 outstanding students

Washington State University Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture recognized outstanding students at its annual convocation ceremony on April 11. The event was sponsored by the Boeing Company. Honored award winners included:

• Outstanding Sophomore: Rylee Gannon A chemical engineering major with a 3.8 GPA, Rylee Gannon is a research assistant for Professor Steve Saunders, where she synthesizes and characterizes nanomaterials for use as catalysts in oxidation reactions Gannon also works in the Frank Innovation Zone and is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers.
• Outstanding Junior: Ethan Villalovoz Ethan Villalovoz is a computer science student with a GPA of 3.99, specializing in data mining, machine learning, and data science. Some of his more notable achievements include being a CS Research Mentorship Program Scholar, a Generation Google Scholarship Recipient, and a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar. He has also engaged in extensive extracurricular activities, including internships at Google and a research position at Carnegie Mellon University.
• Outstanding Senior: Katy Ayers A Fulbright Fellowship Award and Marshall Scholarship Semifinalist, Katy Ayers is the first WSU student to win the Udall Scholar in Environment award. Her thirst for knowledge has given her robust research experience around the country and the world. One of Ayers’ nominators said, “Although I have worked with many outstanding students in my 20 years of teaching at the undergraduate level, I don’t think I have met anyone with Katy’s experiences, accomplishments and passion. She is motivated, demonstrates curiosity and critical thinking and communicates incredibly well.”
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant for grading/office hours: Kutay Sesli Kutay Sesli’s nominators were impressed by his innovative approaches and genuine care for students this past year. Kutay recognized that that conventional ways to grade assignments might not provide a full picture of where students need improvement, so he took the initiative to develop an innovative, consistent, fair, and detailed grading system that helped students develop trust in the grading process and a better understanding of how to improve their performance throughout the semester. He approaches each task with the mindset of a true engineer, and the results left no doubt that his grading was done with meticulous attention to detail and with the best outcomes for students in mind. Among the feedback students have given include: “Kutay is the best TA all semester, excellent job!” and “Kutay is dope!”
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant — Teaching/Instruction: Chris Pereyda Chris Pereyda has served as teaching assistant in several courses, including Introduction to Computer Programming. In one of his courses there were more than 500 students. One of those students said of Chris: “He is one of the best TAs I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Being a Computer Science student can be difficult, but his explanations and knowledge of the source material helped me grasp some of the concepts better and persevere.” One of his faculty members said, “Chris was one of my most reliable, impactful, and effective TAs during my twenty years of teaching at WSU. Chris is the ideal example of a lead teaching assistant. He is knowledgeable in the area, patient with TAs and students, flexible and adaptive to different TAs’ and students’ styles and paces. There is not a better example of a TA than Chris.
• Outstanding Research Assistant: Ali Mahmoodigahrouei As a PhD candidate at WSU, Ali Mahmoodigahrouei has shown an exceptional academic record and research skills. Since joining WSU in 2022, he has published 14 impactful papers with over 300 citations, earning several prestigious awards, including the David C. Goss Scholarship and the “UTC Outstanding Student of the Year Award.” His nominators feel he consistently goes above and beyond expectations, managing multiple projects simultaneously and with great success. He also excels as a mentor, effectively supervising undergraduate students while providing valuable assistance to other PhD students in his research group.
• Outstanding Dissertation: Lin Shao Lin Shao’s nominators say that he is a truly exceptional graduate student and has done excellent research on chemical recycling of plastic waste by aminolysis and utilization of the recycled compounds for preparation of new polymer materials. His thesis research has received a broad interest from researchers around the world. Shao, as one of guest speakers, was invited to give a seminar at the Royal Society of Chemistry and Chemistry World. His research was also featured by “The Voice of America.”

Todd Butler resigns as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Recent news.

WSU to study effect of controversial drug on racehorses

Regents start search process for next WSU president

Second chances: Graduate student receives NSF research fellowship

Extension tackles climate awareness

Regents approve new degree programs, discuss faculty listening sessions.