ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM INFORMATION
Undergraduate
About
The Division of Architecture offers a 4+ year Bachelor of Architecture degree that is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and fulfills the educational prerequisites for professional registration required by most state boards.
The core of our curriculum is defined by a parallel set of Design studios and Methods courses. The Methods courses will directly inform Design studios with issues of fundamental design, materials, environmental technologies, the craft of manual and digital fabrication, professional ethics, and the realities of architectural practice. These parallel courses will be taught in collaboration with courses in structures, history, and theory. Further, we have created opportunities for our students to immerse themselves in alternative cultural studies, to gain experience within professional work environments, and to productively collaborate within and across disciplines.
As a Faculty, our aspiration is to create architects who are recognized for their abilities as critical thinkers and practical problem solvers as well as demonstrate a foundational knowledge grounded in design and material aptitude. Learning within the philosophical environment of Creating_Making, we strive to educate students toward an ethical leadership model committed to employing their aggregate skills as a means of serving and improving the diverse social and cultural environments in which we live.
Students must have no more than 2 grades of C or lower in the following courses to be admitted to the third-year of the Bachelor of Architecture program: ARCH 1155, ARCH 1163, ARCH 1255, ARCH 2356, ARCH 2456, ARCH 4193.
Graduate
Degree Requirements:
Master of Architecture–Accelerated with B.S. in Architectural Studies
Master of Architecture via pre-arch 3 year
Master of Architecture via pre-arch 2 year
Overview
The Division of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma is committed to educating students of diverse backgrounds and interests through graduate level studies in architecture. Focused on advancing architecture and society through education, scholarship, and service, the graduate degree programs provide a creative and challenging forum through which students engage environmental and social issues, thereby actively shaping the profession of architecture. Our graduates are known for their exceptional design abilities as well as their critical problem-solving and leadership skills. Established on a core foundation of ethics and sustainability, our graduate programs enable and equip students to deal with complex real world issues that go beyond the realm of design.
Located in Norman, Oklahoma with a branch campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the architecture program at the University of Oklahoma draws from the region’s rich cultural legacy. Our graduate degree programs in architecture offer students opportunities to learn and work in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary environment through coursework, faculty-led research projects, and student-led associations. As the Flagship Research Institution in the State, faculty and students are collectively engaged in the production of new knowledge through research and creative practices. The OU College of Architecture is home to five disciplines connected by a focus on the built environment: Architecture, Construction Science, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Regional and City Planning. Graduate students are encouraged to work with faculty from across the college to shape an individually tailored degree program. This focus on both broad collaboration and specialization is combined with an emphasis on the hands-on pursuit of creating and making, which reflects the OU approach: our students dream big and work hard to produce credible solutions to urgent global and local problems.
Programs Offered
Seven-semester Master of Architecture Program
This program is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than architecture. This degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Four-semester Master of Architecture Program
This degree program is available to students’ holding bachelors degrees in architecture or, in certain cases, environmental design depending on the undergraduate coursework completed. Consideration will be given to students with a degree in Environmental Design if they have completed at minimum: two structures courses, four architectural design studios, and demonstration of passive and active system integration course content. This degree is accredited by the NAAB.
Three-semester Master of Sciences in Planning, Design and Construction Program
This research-oriented degree offers an opportunity to develop a specialized research agenda in a range of architectural topics.
Ph.D. in Planning, Design and Construction Program
This degree presents an opportunity to engage in advanced research within a multi-disciplinary college.
How to Apply
All students applying to graduate programs in the College of Architecture must submit their applications through the Graduate College’s online portal. All applicants must meet a 3.25 minimum grade point average. Furthermore, Physics and Calculus are required for entry into the professional Masters of Architecture degree options. Applicants to the 4 semester degree track program may be admitted to the 7 semester program and required to submit documentation related to coursework completed elsewhere in order to gain advanced standing.
Application Requirements
Master of Science (M044)
Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
Writing Sample
Letter of Intent
Portfolio
CV/Resume
Transcript (GPA above 3.25)
TOEFL Required (Only for International Applicants)
Master of Architecture (M046/Two Year; M047/Three Year)
Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
Writing Sample
Letter of Intent
Portfolio
CV/Resume
Transcript (GPA above 3.25)
No GRE Required
TOEFL Required
Accelerated Program (F046)
Apply with the Graduate College
Portfolio
Transcript (GPA above 3.25)
Masters Application Review Process
Graduate students entering our master’s program (Master of Architecture/2 Year; Master of Architecture/3 Year; Master of Architecture, Accelerated Program) must have earned a bachelor’s degree from either a U.S. school whose accreditation is recognized by the Council of Higher Education (CHEA) or, for international students, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an institution accredited by the home country’s Ministry of Education. The OU Graduate College and Division of Architecture collaborate on the graduate admissions process, with the Graduate College Dean governing admissions to graduate programs. The Graduate Admissions Process entails the following steps:
1. Graduate College Admissions receives application and academic credentials. Graduate College Admissions evaluates and verifies academic credentials, then forwards application and materials to the graduate academic unit.
2. Each application and credential evaluation are reviewed by a committee of three faculty led by the Division of Architecture Graduate Liaison. The faculty independently carefully review each applicant’s materials with special attention to: Master of Architecture/Two Year Program: a. Breadth of the undergraduate education in architectural coursework b. Undergraduate GPA (Grade Point Average) c. Structures coursework completed and grades earned d. Architectural history coursework completed and grades earned e. Quality of work in the design portfolio f. Portfolio demonstrates a level of complexity in architectural projects regarding systems integration and structures g. Writing style and ability in the writing example submitted h. Reasons for applying to OU articulated in the personal statement i. Letters of reference Master of Architecture/Three and a Half Year Program: a. Breadth of the undergraduate education in terms of sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences. b. Undergraduate GPA (Grade Point Average) c. Writing style and ability in the writing example submitted d. Reasons for applying to OU articulated in the personal statement e. Reasons why Architecture of interest -often displayed in exhibits f. Letters of reference Master of Architecture/Accelerated Program: a. Undergraduate GPA (Grade Point Average) b. Structures coursework completed and grades earned c. Quality of work in the design portfolio d. Portfolio demonstrates a level of complexity in architectural projects regarding systems integration and structures e. Writing style and ability in the writing example submitted f. Reasons for continuing at OU articulated in the personal statement g. Articulated: Why a Master of Architecture? h. Letters of reference
3. The Division of Architecture Graduate Admissions Committee meets to make admissions decisions.
4. The Division of Architecture Graduate Admissions Committee returns recommendation to Graduate College Admissions for review and approval. The Graduate College processes decision through the authority of the Graduate College Dean and notifies the applicant.
Preceptorship / AXP™
Transfer Students
Prospective transfer students with previous Architecture coursework must provide a portfolio for evaluation and placement in our curriculum. Prior coursework and portfolio are reviewed by the director, associate director for curriculum and student advisor. For more information about the portfolio evaluation process, contact Architecture Student Advisor Erin Nance at erinnance@ou.edu.
Transfer Students Portfolio Requirements
Degree Requirements:
Transfer – Bachelor of Architecture
Transfer – Bachelor of Architectural Studies