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The Master of Architecture degree typically culminates five years of study: four years of undergraduate and one of year graduate. The Master of Architecture degree program at the Detroit Mercy School of Architecture is a professional degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

"In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture and the Doctor of Architecture."

"Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree." (NAAB)

The Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà School of Architecture offers the following NAAB accredited degree program: Master of Architecture, 34-36 graduate credits. The Bachelor of Science in Architecture and the Master of Architecture degrees combined are 174 total credits.

IPaL is a concentration that students can elect in the Master of Architecture degree program. It is a six-year program that allows students to complete all three elements required for architecture licensure integrated into one program: The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) Intern Development Program documents professional experience (AXP), the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) professional degree, and completion of the Architectural Registration Examination (ARE). Professional experience begins at the end of second year with a term-long co-operative educational experience (600 hours). This is followed by a second term-long experience in the third year (600 hours).  After completion of their Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree, students will take four additional consecutive co-operative educational experiences for a total of 16 months of professional experience, totaling 2,560 hours. Students will take the ARE exams in the fifth year, during their extended co-operative educational experience. In the sixth (master's) year, students will complete their thesis requirements. If all three components of licensure are successfully completed at the time of graduation with the Master of Architecture degree, the student will be eligible for licensure in the State of Michigan. 

The IPaL Master of Architecture degree option is 42 graduate credits. The IPAL Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees combined are 182 total credits.

Not all students will be granted permission to participate in the program.  Students are required to apply to participate in the IPaL program by August 15th prior to the start of their second year.  In addition to submitting an application, students are required to achieve a 3.0 minimum overall GPA at the conclusion of first year, and are also required to have maintained a 3.0 minimum overall GPA at the conclusion of fourth year, and must be admitted to the master's program as of January of the fourth year to proceed with the extended co-operative educational experience sequence.

* Students should also be aware that the licensing process in some states, including Michigan, allows for the integrated sequence of the three licensure components.  However, not all states allow this integrated sequence for candidates for initial licensure, so students who may be considering seeking their initial license in another state should consult that state’s licensure regulations.  Participation in the IPaL track in no way guarantees “licensure upon graduation.”  It is the responsibility of the student to pass all sections of the ARE exams, and complete all requirements of NCARB’s AXP program in order to attain that goal, which is beyond the purview of Detroit Mercy and the School of Architecture.  The status of the student’s degree is not affected either way by the completion of those components.

Students should also be aware that to maintain their status as full time students, they will be charged the standard Detroit Mercy Co-op Tuition  (currently $ 1,073 for reference) for each of the four semester of co-op during the “time-out-year.”

Curriculum Adjustments 

For a student who applies and is accepted to participate in the IPaL Track, the following curriculum adjustments are necessary in comparison to the standard curriculum path.  Please consult with your academic advisor for any additional adjustments that may be necessary in your case.  Refer also to the IPaL Track Curriculum Plan.

• The primary difference is that IPaL students will take a “time-out-year” between the completion of the undergraduate program and the master's year.  Students will work full time during this 16-month time period in order to complete four additional co-op placements.  During this time period, in order to complete this track, students are required to attempt all sections of the ARE licensure exam.  Failure to pass all the exams during this time period or failure to complete the requirements of the NCARB AXP program will, of course, fall short of the goal of being eligible to graduate as a licensed architect, but will have no impact on earning the M.Arch. degree. 

• The required Professional Experience Prep. class must be taken in the second year instead of the third year in order to allow students to complete their first co-op assignment during the summer following second year.

• To account for that additional class, it is recommended, but not required, that students delay ARCH 2190, Site Analysis and Design, until third year to balance out their schedule.

• To assist with preparing for the ARE exams, Professions of Architecture must be taken in fourth year (as an undergraduate course) and results in exchanging an undergraduate elective for one additional graduate elective.

Application 

Students are required to formally announce their desire to participate in the IPaL track by submitting an application essay to the dean of the School of Architecture, following the successful completion of the first year, and no later than August 15th prior to the beginning of the second year.

The essay should be approximately 1,000 words and should address the student’s professional and academic goals that have led to the decision to seek the IPaL track, and should comment on the candidate’s maturity and prior employment experience that may contribute to their successful completion of the program.  

Other factors including the student’s academic record will be considered in evaluating their application.  Candidates will receive an admission decision by August 25th or the last Friday of August preceding the beginning of the Fall term.

Students receive a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree when they have successfully completed their first four years of study. The Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree is 138 credits. During the fourth year, a student may apply for the fifth year of study that leads to a Master of Architecture degree; or, they may leave the program with a pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree.

This degree is useful for those individuals wishing to obtain a foundation in the field of architecture, as preparation for either continued education in a professional degree program or for employment options in architecturally related areas. We offer the non-accredited Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree to students who have successfully completed the first four years of study, including cooperative education.

Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà and University of Windsor have a collaboration agreement that allows students to dual enroll at University of Windsor and Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. Students earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and the Built Environment at University of Windsor. Students with an acceptable portfolio and grade point average are permitted to complete their Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. This degree is 138 credits, a portion of which is taken at University of Windsor. Qualified students who have successfully completed the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree may apply for admission to the Master of Architecture program at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

Students who have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program. If a student has met the prerequisite math requirements for architecture in their previous degree, they can complete the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree with an additional 90 credits taken at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. Qualified students who have successfully completed the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree may apply for admission to the Master of Architecture program at Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

The University also offers a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering program which is administered through the College of Engineering & Science. Some of the course work is shared with the Architecture program, but students interested in this program should refer to the College of Engineering & Science area of the catalog for additional information.

The School of Architecture limits its freshman enrollment based on competitive standards that should be confirmed with the University Admissions office. However, additional criteria such as evidence of creativity, self-motivating characteristics, problem-solving abilities, and abilities for visual expression are also considered and may allow the minimums to be waived if the student has a positive interview with the dean or associate dean.

Students apply to the Master of Architecture program in Term I of their fourth year. To be considered for admission, a minimum overall and design GPA of 3.0 is required along with submission of a substantive design portfolio, as well as an admissions essay. All three components are considered equally in the decision-making process for admission. The portfolio must demonstrate the student's ability and potential for success in all aspects of graduate design work and other studies. If the student is not accepted into the Master of Architecture program or chooses not to apply to the Master of Architecture program, he or she can earn a non-accredited, pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree upon successful completion of the four-year requirements.

The admission requirement for transfer students, including students who already possess a degree, is a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Transfer students from an architectural program should also have at least a 3.0 GPA in all design studio courses. To receive transfer credit for design classes, a portfolio of student work from the previous institution is required. Professional work may also be included in the portfolio. Transfer students and students with degrees must meet all requirements for our four-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture program, including cooperative education, prior to applying for admission into the fifth-year Master of Architecture program. Students who hold a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from another institution will likely be required to take some undergraduate coursework before being eligible to apply for the master's program.

Students are assigned a specific faculty member who will remain their advisor until the Winter Term of their fourth year. Transfer students are advised by the associate dean until the Winter Term of their final year in the undergraduate program. Beginning in the Winter Term of the fourth year, through the completion of their degree, all students who have been accepted in the Master of Architecture program are advised by the program director. The student and advisor each have access to the student's academic file which outlines the curriculum and all background information regarding the student. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that his or her record is up to date, that all agreements are noted, and signed by both parties involved, and that there is conformance with the requirements of the School and University. Each student should see his or her advisor minimally for registration and at mid-term. The advisor is also available at other times during the term at the request of the student. Additionally, students should meet with the associate dean at the beginning of the first term of their fourth year and upon their acceptance into the Master of Architecture program (or one year prior to their anticipated date of graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree) to review a degree audit to verify that all degree requirements will be met. It is the student's responsibility to initiate a meeting with the associate dean for a graduation audit.

• Design
• Visual Communications
• Building Technology
• History & Theory
• Professional Practice
• University Core Curriculum
• Cooperative Education

Design is at the center of the curriculum spanning all five years of study. The Design Studios are organized into three parts: Foundation Studios (first-year and second-year), Upper Level Studios (third-year and fourth-year), and the Master's Thesis Studios (fifth-year).

Foundation Studios meet three afternoons a week for a total of 12 hours per week and concentrate on developing basic technical, analytic, representational, and critical thinking skills necessary to deal with the complex social, psychological, and poetic issues of the built environment. The studios are "project" based and the development of the student's personal and individual philosophy of design is one of the School's primary aims.

Upper Level Studios meet three times a week for a total of 14 hours per week and are comprised of a "mix" of students from both third-year and fourth-year together in investigations of complex architectural themes in more concentrated depth. The upper-level studios consist of a sequence of four curriculum types that achieve a diversity of design experience: Design Thinking, Public Interest Design, Travel Studio and Integrated Design.

The two-semester Master's Thesis Studio is the centerpiece of the graduate program, and allows students to establish their own objectives and project parameters for their final year of design.  The culmination of the students’ architectural knowledge and ability to utilize it as a basis for a thoughtful design process in their future professional setting is displayed and evaluated in the Master's Thesis Studio.  It is the contemporary tool used by the academic institution to demonstrate the student’s capacity to enter and contribute to the field of architecture in both theory and practice.  The process both mandates and teaches each student to identify a theoretical or practical problem, conduct research to formulate an hypothesis to address the problem, and test this hypothesis through a rigorous design intervention.  The completed thesis project not only serves to benefit the student, but also contributes to the discourse of the architectural profession as whole. 

Visual Communications includes courses in multi-media drawing, computer graphics, computer aided design, three-dimensional design, and electives that explore various media. The ability to represent and model architectural ideas is fundamental to the design process.

Building Technology provides the technological background necessary to address the increasingly complex architectural themes of the studios. Included in this sequence are math, structures, construction, and environmental technology (heating, ventilating, air conditioning, lighting, electrical systems, and acoustics) courses.

History and Theory introduces the student to architectural tradition and precedent. It provides an understanding of the social, political, economic, ecological, technological, and philosophical forces that shape architecture. Through this foundation, students recognize their place in the architectural world and build their own work upon an understanding of the work of others.

Professional Practice introduces upper-level students to the fundamentals of managing an architectural office, project delivery systems, construction contracts, construction documents, and legal and ethical issues concerning the profession. These courses, in concert with the cooperative education program, prepare students to enter the professional world.

The Core Curriculum provides courses in the sciences and the humanities that are necessary prerequisites for an educated person. The architect, faced continually with broad social issues, must have an awareness of the manifest activities of people to fulfill social and ethical responsibilities as a design professional.

Candidates for the Master of Architecture degree select four graduate-level courses from the colleges of the University as electives to complement their thesis design project. The purpose of these electives is to provide the opportunity for developing specialized knowledge in the student's interest area. Electives may also build upon the strengths of the University by establishing strong cross-disciplinary ties with other academic units. Some examples of areas of elective study are: urban history/theory, graphic design, media/fabrication technologies, building technology and tectonics, community development and service learning. In some cases, graduate-level courses taken in the Master of Architecture program may in part satisfy requirements leading to a second master's degree in Community Development.

The required Cooperative Education sequence is one of the unique aspects of the Detroit Mercy Architecture program.

It gives students direct experience in the real world of architecture through required work experiences at architectural offices of the student's choosing. Co-op students are paid competitive wages according to their skills and experience. They may co-op anywhere in the world.

The co-op experience begins with the course ARCH 3000, Professional Experience Preparation. The program in Architecture integrates two required terms of on-the-job educational experience, which occur during the Summer Semester of the third year (ARCH 3010) and the Summer Semester of the fourth year (ARCH 5020). Four additional co-ops are required for participation in the I-PAL Program. This sequence provides students with the opportunity to alternate their intellectual development in professional offices with academic studies. Co-op is valuable in developing practical skills prior to graduation and in being exposed to the profession of architecture and the realities of architectural practice. Each co-op term, students are required to keep a journal and write a report on their work experience, and submit representative samples of the work they produced. Co-op students may also be required to participate in community service during this time. A series of questions are also given to the students to stimulate reflection on the profession and their position within it. Students are evaluated by both the employer and the cooperative education coordinator. Master of Architecture students are required to take the following: ARCH 3000, Professional Experience Preparation, ARCH 3010, Professional Experience I, and ARCH 5020, Professional Experience II. Refer to the I-PAL requirements for additional four co-ops needed in that program. Only ARCH 3000 and ARCH 3010 are required for those students receiving the non-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree.  

Receive Bachelor of Science in Architecture and acceptance into the master's program:

Required for the Master of Architecture degree only.

*Abbreviations represent: Cr. for credit hours earned, Rec. for recitation hours required, St. for studio contact hours required, KA for Knowledge Area of the core curriculum, IT for Integrating Theme of the core curriculum.

Elective courses are intended to provide students with the opportunity to take special interest classes which may be of value but are not necessarily related to the architectural program. Electives must be at least three credits in value and may be chosen from among any courses (1000 level or higher) offered as credit at the University.

Each term, a limited number of architectural electives are offered to students in several of the following areas: visual communication, building technology, practice, sustainable building, advanced computer graphics, graphic design, history and theory, or urban planning as options for satisfying their elective requirements. These courses permit students to examine architectural topics of special interest in greater depth.

Located in the Warren Loranger Architecture Building, the Ronald F. Titus Digital Studio is a fully equipped architecture computer graphics laboratory that introduces students to this important form of electronic technology. Software includes AutoCAD, Animator Pro, and 3D Studio, Revit, as well as a variety of other programs which are used to support architectural as well as other academic courses. Students can access spreadsheet, database and word processing software, in addition to their University email accounts and the Internet, by linking into the University network. This laboratory is near design studios to facilitate the use of computers as a design tool.

A model shop equipped with a laser cutter, 3D printer, band saw, chop saw, drill press, and wire foam cutter is available for student use in conjunction with their design and visual communication studio classes.

In addition, a wood shop containing a variety of power and hand tools is accessible to students for larger studio related projects.

An essential human need is supportive and attractive physical surroundings. With this view that "good design" is an essential force in establishing human relations and cultural stability, the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) fosters university and community collaborations and partnerships that create inspired and sustainable neighborhoods and spaces for all people. The Center is dedicated to urban and community revitalization through an educational and participatory design process. The sustainability of any neighborhood lies in the hands of its residents. Thus, the Design Center provides not only design services but also it empowers residents to facilitate their own process of urban regeneration.

The national and international award winning Detroit Collaborative Design Center provides architecture and urban design assistance exclusively to non-profit community organizations. It is the primary applied research arm of the School of Architecture in urban revitalization. It has a full-time staff of licensed architects, intern architects, and urban designers.

The Center provides experiences to students in three ways: in a classroom environment, through the Community Design Studio; cooperative education experience; and as an outlet for volunteer activities.

Warsaw Exchange

Since 1980, the School of Architecture has conducted an exchange program with the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) in Poland. Ten to 12 students and one professor from each institution are exchanged for a full academic term. Detroit Mercy students are taught by WUT faculty in English.

Volterra Study Abroad Program

Since 1984, the School of Architecture has conducted a study abroad program in Italy during the Summer Semester (Term III). The program is based in the Tuscan hill town of Volterra and is limited to 15 third- and fourth-year students. It is taught by Detroit Mercy faculty in addition to faculty on site. Students take a full schedule of courses and are in residence in Volterra, Italy for approximately 13 weeks.

There is a sponsored lecture series which brings leading-edge architects and designers to the campus. These lectures are open to and attended by students, professionals, and the general public.

Architectural students periodically publish a journal of theory and criticism entitled Dichotomy. This journal is organized exclusively by the students in consultation with a faculty advisor. It is funded by subscriptions and a special fee charged to architecture students each term that they are enrolled.

For transfer students from other architecture programs, a review of the student's transcript and portfolio of work by the dean or associate dean will be used to determine placement in ARCH 1100, ARCH 1200, ARCH 1300, ARCH 1400, ARCH 2100, or ARCH 2200. In most cases, at least ARCH 2300 and ARCH 4100 are required to be taken at Detroit Mercy.

The School reserves the right to retain and eventually dispose of any student work done in conjunction with class assignments for purposes of exhibition and accreditation needs. Students should document their work prior to its submission to the instructor. Additionally, the submission of a written thesis document is a requirement of the Master of Architecture degree. Thesis documents are submitted to the program in both hard copy and electronic format, and to the University in electronic format. As with other student work, the School and the University reserves the right to retain this work. In addition, Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà reserves the right to make curriculum required theses/projects electronically available to the worldwide community.

The School of Architecture enforces standards of academic performance consistent with those of the University that may result in a student being placed on academic warning, academic probation or a student being dismissed from the program. The School of Architecture reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from the program even when the student has an overall grade point average of 2.00 or better if, in their judgment, the student does not possess the requisite skills and attitudes to succeed in the architectural profession.

01—What constitutes the basis of a Petition for a Grade Appeal

Students may appeal academic assessments based on one of the two criteria:
1. Mathematical Error: The student believes there was an error in the grade assessment due to the mathematical computation
2. Substantially Unequal Treatment: The student believes that their work was assessed unfairly or unequally when compared to other work produced by other students in the course.

02—Petition for a Grade Appeal Process

The student submitting a petition for a Grade Appeal shall follow three steps:
Step 1: The student confers with the instructor involved.
After the consultation with the professor, the student still believes there is an error based on mathematical computation or substantially unequal treatment, the student shall follow Step 2:

Step 2: The student may request to present their position to the Faculty Committee for Grade Appeals composed of 3 faculty members designated by the Faculty Council. The procedure for Step 2 are:

1. Student requests a Petition for Grade Appeal Form from the Deans’ Office. The request needs to be made during the semester immediately following the course grade in question.

2. The Committee, or a designated member, shall examine the petition after receiving it.  If, upon review, the allegations presented in the petition are insufficient in illustrating that the grade assessment fall within the criteria outline in Section 01 of this policy, the Committee shall dismiss the petition. The student will have two weeks to amend the petition and resubmit.

3. If the petition or the amended petition is determined to be sufficient, the Faculty Committee for Grade Appeals will schedule a meeting with the student. The Committee will meet minimally two times each semester to review petitions. One of the two dates will be selected for the student to present their petition.

4. The Faculty Committee will meet with the faculty member whose grade is being appealed.

5. The student will present to the Faculty Committee for Grade Appeals. The student will need to provide reasoning and evidence for how the grading assessment meets the criteria outline in Section 01 of this policy. This will include presenting their course work for the entire semester and their reasoning and evidence for the grade change using the faculty’s grading criteria found in their syllabus. It must be emphasized that the burden of proof is on the student. In other words, through clear and visible evidence, the student must illustrate that the grade assessment was either mathematically in error or it was a result of substantially unequal treatment.

6. After the student’s presentation the Faculty Committee will meet in private to Faculty Committee will compose a statement covering the committee’s findings, which will include one of three recommendations to the faculty member: 1. Make no change in the grade assessment. 2. Raise the student’s grade. 3. Lower the grade. The findings statement will include the rationale for their decision.

7. The faculty member will decide whether or not to implement the Faculty Committee’s recommendation.

After the Faculty Committee’s review of the petition, the student still believes there is an error based on mathematical computation or substantially unequal treatment, the student shall follow Step 3:

Step 3: One last and final appeal to the Dean of the School of Architecture can be made. The Dean will meet with the faculty member whose grade is in question. The Dean will also review the student’s Petition for Grade Appeal Form and the findings statement from the Faculty Committee for Grade Appeals. Finally, the Dean will meet with the Student, who will present the same material listed in Item 5 of Step 2 above. The Dean will make a recommendation to the faculty member.

It must be emphasized that the faculty member has full jurisdiction in terms of grading. The Faculty Committee and the Dean are acting strictly in an advisory capacity and can only recommend to the instructor that the grade in question be raised or lowered based on the evidence presented.

Each year during Term III, an undergraduate design studio is offered for those students who are out of phase. It is a multi-level studio and may be taken by any student who has completed the second-year studios and the technical courses in advance of his or her design level. This studio is not open to first- or second-year design students.

The School of Architecture strongly recommends that all new students entering the Architecture program own a laptop of minimum required specifications and specific software. These requirements may be found on the University website. Computer-based design assignments begin as early as the freshman year, and students are expected to have access to a capable computer and appropriate software, either in the SOA's computer lab, or one owned by the student. The University has a program with a vendor to assist the student in purchasing the hardware and or software if the student so desires. In addition, the financial aid office can provide low interest loans to cover the cost of the laptop.