六九色堂

The Master of Architecture degree typically culminates five years of study: four years for the pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture (B.S.Arch) degree (min 132 credits) and one year for the professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree (36 credits). The B.S.Arch degree serves as a pre-requisite for the professional M.Arch degree program, which is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

"The NAAB is the only agency recognized by registration boards in U. S. jurisdictions to accredit professional degree programs in architecture. Because most registration boards require an applicant for licensure to hold a NAAB-accredited degree, obtaining such a degree is an essential part of gaining access to the licensed practice of architecture...

...The NAAB accredits professional degree programs with the following titles: the Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch), the Master of Architecture (M. Arch), and the Doctor of Architecture (D. Arch). The curricular requirements for awarding these degrees must include professional studies, general studies, and optional studies...

 ...The M. Arch. degree consists of a minimum of 168 semester credit hours of combined undergraduate coursework and a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate coursework." (NAAB Conditions for Accreditation, 2020 Edition)

The 六九色堂 School of Architecture & Community Development offers the following NAAB accredited degree program: Master of Architecture, 36 graduate credits. The pre-requisite Bachelor of Science in Architecture and the Master of Architecture degrees combined are 168 total credits.

Students receive a non-accredited, pre-professional 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 a minimum of 132 credits, and is a pre-requisite for the one-year accredited Master of Architecture degree (36 credits). During the fourth year, a student may apply for the fifth year of study, which 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.

The University also offers a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering program, which is administered through the College of Engineering & Science. Some of the coursework 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.

Important Note: This is an ABET accredited engineering degree, not a NAAB accredited architecture degree.

Detroit Mercy SACD B.S.Arch students apply to the Master of Architecture program in Term I of their fourth year. To be considered for admission, a minimum overall GPA and Design Studio GPA of 3.0 is expected along with submission of a substantive design portfolio, as well as an admissions essay. The overall GPA, Design GPA and portfolio 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. A minimum grade of B- is also expected in the applicant's fourth year Integrative and Public Interest Design Studios. If the student is not accepted into the Master of Architecture program or chooses not to apply to the Master of Architecture program, he/she can earn a non-accredited, pre-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree upon successful completion of the four-year requirements.

Once accepted into the M.Arch program, all students are automatically enrolled in the required ARCH 4919: Thesis Prep course in Term II of their fourth year.

As part of the requirements for M.Arch degree, all students must complete a paid co-op / internship within the field of architecture and design. This typically happens during the summer preceding or following their thesis year. 

GRE scores are not required for the admissions process.

Prospective students with a previous degree in Architecture (B.S.Arch or B.Arch), have the possibility of direct admission into the 2+ year track M.Arch degree program. However, we must ensure that candidates have met all of the academic requirements to earn our accredited M.Arch degree.  For most students this means a minimum of one year where they are technically classified as a “post-degree undergraduate transfer” student, and would receive a custom curriculum plan to make sure they have completed all the necessary classes for our accredited degree. They would join our M.Arch thesis students in their final year.  An admitted 2+ year M.Arch student would not be required to re-submit a formal application to continue into the Thesis studio, but are required to be in good academic standing with a B average to move into the master's year.

As part of the requirements for M.Arch degree, all students must complete a paid co-op / internship within the field of architecture and design. This typically happens during the summer preceding or following their thesis year. 

We do not require GRE scores for the admissions process, however applicants to the 2+ year track are required to submit a design portfolio. 

For transfer students with a degree in something other than Architecture, there is the possibility of admission into the 3+ year track M.Arch program.  For most students, this means at least two years where they are technically classified as a “post-degree undergraduate transfer” student, before matriculating to the graduate program in their final year. All students receive a custom curriculum plan to make sure they have completed the necessary coursework for our accredited M.Arch degree.  Depending on the applicant's previous coursework, it is possible that some of the requirements will have already been satisfied, thus reducing the number of courses they would need to fulfill towards their degree.  This custom curriculum plan will be based on the applicant's transcripts and portfolio, if one was submitted in the application.  An admitted 3+ year M.Arch student may be required to re-submit a formal application to continue into the Thesis studio, based on their initial portfolio submission, and are required to be in good academic standing with a B average to move into the master's year.

In some cases, it may be possible for a student to earn our non-accredited B.S.Arch degree before matriculating to the NAAB accredited M.Arch degree, if additional degree requirements are met.

As part of the requirements for M.Arch degree, all students must complete a paid co-op / internship within the field of architecture and design. This typically happens during the summer preceding or following their thesis year. 

We do not require GRE scores for the admissions process. Applicants to the 3+ year track are encouraged to submit a design portfolio, if they have one. 

The SACD limits its freshman enrollment based on competitive standards, which should be confirmed with the University Admissions office. In general, a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 is expected, 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.

The admission requirements 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.

SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission, but are useful in determining the placement for the required math and English courses.  

Design: 16 credits

 
Professional Practice: 6 credits

Cooperative Education: 2 credits

ARCH 5020 Professional Experience II (2 credits)

Graduate Electives: Choose 12 credits from ARCH courses not required in the major at the 5000-level and above. 
Total: 36 credits
A total of 168 credits is required for the NAAB accredited M.Arch degree, a minimum of 34 of which must be at the graduate level.

• Design: 36-38 credits for B.S.Arch + 16 credits for M.Arch
• Visual Communications: 12 credits for B.S.Arch
• Building Technology: 23 credits for B.S.Arch
• History & Theory: 17 credits for B.S.Arch
• Professional Practice: 3 credits for B.S.Arch + 6 credits for M.Arch
• University Core Curriculum: 33-39 credits for B.S.Arch
• Cooperative Education: 2 credits for B.S.Arch + 2 credits for M.Arch
• Graduate Electives: 12 credits for M.Arch

A total of 168 credits is required for the NAAB accredited M.Arch degree, a minimum of 34 of which must be at the graduate level.

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 in the students' third and fourth years meet three times a week for a total of 14 hours per week in investigations of complex architectural themes in more concentrated depth. Third year studios offer a choice of Design Thinking or Travel studios, while the fourth year studios consist of the mandatory Public Interest Design (PID) and Integrative Design studios.

The PID studio  ensures that students develop the ability to make design decisions within architectural projects while demonstrating synthesis of user requirements, regulatory requirements, site conditions, and accessible design, and consideration of the measurable environmental impacts of their design decisions.

The Integrative Design studio ensures that students develop the ability to make design decisions within architectural projects while demonstrating integration of building envelope systems and assemblies, structural systems, environmental control systems, life safety systems, and the measurable outcomes of building performance.

The centerpiece of the graduate year is a two-semester Thesis Studio that allows students to establish their own objectives and project parameters for their final year of research-based design investigations.

The program instills in students the role of the design process in shaping the built environment and conveys the methods by which design processes integrate multiple factors, in different settings and scales of development, from buildings to cities.

B.S.Arch Studios:

ARCH 1100 Architectural Design I (4 credits)

ARCH 1200 Architectural Design II (4 credits)

ARCH 1300 Architectural Design III (4 credits)

ARCH 1400 Architectural Design IV (4 credits)

ARCH 2100 Architectural Design V: Special Topics Studio (5 credits)

ARCH 2200 Architectural Design VI: Special Topics Studio (if not on Study Abroad) (5 credits)

ARCH 3100 Public Interest Design Studio (5 credits)

ARCH 3300 Study Abroad Studio (Optional, in place of ARCH 2200) (6 credits)

ARCH 4100 Integrated Design Studio (5 credits)

ARCH 4919 Masters Thesis Preparation (upon admission to the M.Arch program)

M.Arch Studios

ARCH 5100 Thesis Studio I (5 credits)

ARCH 5110 Thesis Research Methods I (3 credits)

ARCH 5200 Thesis Studio II (5 credits)

ARCH 5210 Thesis Research Methods II (3 credits)

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

ARCH 1110 Visual Communication I (3 credits)

ARCH 1211 Visual Communication II (3 credits)

ARCH 2110 Visual Communication III (3 credits)

ARCH 2211 Visual Communication IV (3 credits)

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.

The program ensures that students understand the established and emerging systems, technologies and assemblies of building construction, and the methods and criteria architects use to assess those technologies against the design, economics, and performance objectives of projects.

ARCH 1840 Structural Principles (1 credit)

ARCH 1860 Environmental Principles (1 credit)

ARCH 1880 Construction Principles (1 credit)

ARCH 2190 Site Analysis and Design (2 credits)

ARCH 2640 Building Structures I (1 credit)

ARCH 2660 Building Environment I (1 credit)

ARCH 2680 Building Construction I (1 credit)

ARCH 2840 Building Structures II (1 credit)

ARCH 2860 Building Environment II (1 credit)

ARCH 2880 Building Construction II (1 credit)

ARCH 3650 Technical Analysis (2 credits)

ARCH 3660 Building Environment III (2 credits)

ARCH 3680 Building Construction III (2 credits)

ARCH 4690 Integrated Technology (3 credits)

ARCH 4840 Building Structures III (3 credits)

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.

The program ensures that students understand the histories and theories of architecture and urbanism, framed by diverse social, cultural, economic, and political forces, nationally and globally.

ARCH 1190 Introduction to Architecture I (1 credit)

ARCH 1290 Introduction to Architecture II (1 credit)

ARCH 2120 Architectural History and Theory I (3 credits)

ARCH 2220 Architectural History and Theory II (3 credits)

ARCH 2520 Architectural History and Theory III (3 credits)

ARCH 3291 Urban Analysis (3 credits)

PYC 2650 Psychology of Environment (3 credits)

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 program ensures that students understand professional ethics, the regulatory requirements, the fundamental business processes relevant to architecture practice in the United States, and the forces influencing change in these subjects.

The program also ensures that students understand the fundamental principles of life safety, land use, and current laws and regulations that apply to buildings and sites in the United States, and the evaluative process architects use to comply with those laws and regulations as part of a project.

B.S.Arch courses:

ARCH 3000 Professional Experience Preparation (1 credit)

ARCH 3190 Building Code - Zoning Analysis (2 credits)

M.Arch courses:

ARCH 5590 Architecture and Construction Law (3 credits)

ARCH 5190 Profession of Architecture (3 credits)

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 (co-op) 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 in a professional setting of the student's choosing. Co-op students are paid competitive wages according to their skills and experience. They may pursue co-op anywhere in the world in a variety of professional environments related to the fields of architecture, urban design, construction, real-estate, planning, graphic design or design education.

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 typically occur during the Summer Semester of the third year (ARCH 3010: Professional Experience I) and the Summer Semester of the fourth year (ARCH 5020: Professional Experience II). Four additional co-ops are required for participation in the I-PAL Program.  

A full, two-credit co-op consists of a minimum of 300 hours worked in the course of one semester.  It is possible to split co-ops in to 1/2 co-ops of 1 credit each (minimum of 150 hours worked during the semester), to better accommodate a student's schedule, particularly when participating in the Warsaw Study Abroad program or taking a summer studio.  

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 design and the realities of design 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 (1 cr), ARCH 3010: Professional Experience I (2cr), and ARCH 5020: Professional Experience II (2cr). Only ARCH 3000 and ARCH 3010 are required for those students receiving the non-professional Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree.

Refer to the I-PAL requirements for additional four co-ops needed in that program.  

It is not permitted for a student to complete a full co-op in any semester which they are registered for a design studio.

ARCH 3010 Professional Experience I (2 credits)

ARCH 5020 Professional Experience II (2 credits)

六九色堂 and the University of Windsor have a collaboration agreement that allows students to dual enroll at the University of Windsor and 六九色堂. Students earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and the Built Environment at the University of Windsor. Students with an acceptable portfolio and grade point average are then permitted to complete their Bachelor of Science in Architecture at 六九色堂 for their fourth year. This degree is a minimum of 132 credits, a portion of which includes courses taken at the University of Windsor. Qualified students who have successfully matriculated to the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree may apply in their fourth year for admission to the one year Master of Architecture program at 六九色堂.

IPaL is a curricular pathway that students can elect as concentrations for both the Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree programs. It is a six-year track (4 for the B.S.Arch, + 2 for the M.Arch) that provides the possibility for students to complete all three elements required for architecture licensure integrated into one program:

1) The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) professional degree,

2) The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) Intern Development Program for professional experience (AXP),

3) Completion of the Architectural Registration Examination (ARE).

The requirements for professional experience begin at the end of second year with a summer term-long cooperative educational experience (300 hours, minimum).  This is followed by a second term-long experience in the third year (300 hours, minimum).  After completion of their Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree, students will take four additional consecutive cooperative educational experiences (minimum of 300 hours each) for a total of 16 months of professional experience. Although the University requirements for the cooperative experience credits only total 1,800 work hours, the student is required to fulfill the 3,720 work hours required by NCARB’s AXP program within this time period. To maintain their status as full-time students, they will be charged the standard Detroit Mercy co-op fee (currently $ 1,122 for reference) for all six co-ops, including each of the four semesters of co-op during the “time-out-year.”

Students will take the ARE exams in the fifth year, during their extended cooperative 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. 

Participation in the IPaL concentrations 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 and Community Development.  The status of the student’s degree is not affected either way by the completion of those components.

The Master of Architecture degree with the IPaL concentration is 42 graduate credits. The Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees combined are a minimum of 175 total credits.

Not all students will be granted permission to participate in the program.  Students are required to apply to participate in the IPaL concentrations 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 cooperative 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. 

Curriculum Adjustments 

For a student who applies and is accepted to participate in the IPaL concentrations, 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 assist with preparing for the ARE exams, Architecture and Construction Law, and Professions of Architecture must be taken in fourth year.

Application 

Students are required to formally announce their desire to participate in the IPaL concentrations by submitting an application essay to the dean of the School of Architecture and Community Development, 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.

The College of Engineering & Science (E&S) offers a Master of Civil Engineering with a focus in Construction for students of the School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD) who are concurrently pursuing the combined Bachelor of Science in Architecture (4 year) and Master of Architecture (1 year) degrees. As a part of special arrangement between the E&S and SACD, students who are pursuing the Master of Architecture can attain their Master of Civil Engineering degree with a focus in Construction by taking 15 additional graduate level construction-related credits. SACD students must declare the Construction concentration by the end of their freshman year, which will add the following undergraduate pre-requisite Engineering courses to their B.S.Arch curriculum plan:

• ENGR 1234: Introduction to Engineering Math (Fall only)
• ENGR 1000: Engineering Ethics (Fall only)
• CIVE 3410: Engineering Survey laboratory (Fall only)
• PHY 1300 or PHY 1600 
• ENGR 3240: Engineering Economics (Winter only)
• CIVE 3400: Engineering Survey (Winter only)
• CIVE 3450: Constructional Materials (Winter only)

In order to fit these Engineering pre-requisite courses in to the standard four-year B.S.Arch curriculum, up to six required core curriculum courses may need to be taken in Summer terms.  The exact number depends on whether a student has received AP, IB, high-school dual enrollment or transfer credits for any of the core curriculum.

In order to complete both the Master of Civil Engineering with a focus in Construction along with the Master of Architecture, the student must (a) declare the Construction concentration by the end of their freshman year in order to take the above mentioned pre-requisite civil engineering courses; (b) satisfy all the admission criteria of the school of Architecture and Community Development; (c) maintain a 3.25 GPA, in order to take graduate level courses while still an undergraduate; and (d) apply for and be granted admission to the M.Arch program in the student’s fourth year.

The total credit hour count for both the B.S.Arch w/ Construction Concentration plus the M.Arch / M.CIV w/ Construction focus is a minimum of 201 credit hours.

Admission Into the Program

Qualifications for the Master of Civil Engineering with a focus in Construction for current Master of Architecture program students :

• • Minimum GPA of 3.25 (in order to take graduate level courses as an undergraduate student).  Advising discussions should begin in the freshman year.
  • Students must be on-track to complete their Bachelor of Science in Architecture with additional Engineering pre-requisites and Master of Architecture degrees.  Calculus and some ENGR courses should be taken early in the program.  (Some exceptions may apply.)

To remain in the program, undergraduate students must maintain a minimum 3.25 GPA (in order to take graduate level courses as an undergraduate student) and be progressing steadily toward graduation.

Advantages

• • Reduction in the total number of courses required to get both the Master of Civil Engineering with Construction concentration and Master of Architecture degrees
  • Ability to practice as a construction engineer as well as gain licensure as a professional architect

Some of these courses may be satisfied by courses in your program.  Please review your Degree Evaluation or consult your academic advisor for more information.

Program Contact Information

Noah S. Resnick, AIA
Associate Dean, School of Architecture and Community Development
Email: resnicns@udmercy.edu

Telephone: 313-993-1531

Utpal Dutta, Ph.D. 
Chair of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering 
Email: duttau@udmercy.edu
Office: Engineering 262
Telephone: 313-993-1040

All incoming freshmen are typically advised by either the Dean or Associate Dean for their first year. Students are then assigned a specific faculty member who will remain their advisor until they are admitted in to the M.Arch program or graduate with their B.S.Arch without matriculating to the M.Arch. All transfer students and Post-degree undergraduate students on the 2+year or 3+year M.Arch track are advised by the associate dean until the Winter Term of their final year in the undergraduate program. All VABE students are advised by the SACD Director of the VABE program. Upon admission to the M.Arch program, through the completion of their graduate 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. Students cannot register for the subsequent term until they have had an official academic advising session. 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.

Students participating in one of the the two Study Abroad programs in their third year will receive a modified curriculum plan from their advisor, in consultation with the director of International Studies.

Students participating in one of the the two Study Abroad programs in their third year will receive a modified curriculum plan from their advisor, in consultation with the director of International Studies.

Receive Bachelor of Science in Architecture and acceptance into the M.Arch program:

Required for the Master of Architecture degree only.

Each term, a limited number of architectural electives are offered to students in several of the following areas: visual communications, sustainable building technologies, landscape design, historic preservation, graphic design, history and theory, digital fabrication or urbanism as options for satisfying their elective requirements. These courses permit students to examine architectural topics of special interest in greater depth.

A model shop equipped with a laser cutter, 3D printers, CNC milling machine, 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 fabrication shop containing a table saw, band saws, miter saws, belt and disc sanders, metal bending and cutting equipment, welding facilities and a variety of power and hand tools is accessible to students for larger studio-related projects.

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, 3D Studio, Rhino, Revit, and Adobe Creative Suite, as well as a variety of other programs that 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 the design studios to facilitate the use of computers as a design tool.

The computer labs are accompanied by a plotting/printing lab where students can plot and print up to a limited amount free of charge.

Modeled after a teaching hospital, the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) is a multi- disciplinary, nonprofit design center located in the SACD. For approximately 30 years, DCDC has existed to bring high-quality and community-engaged design to all neighborhoods in Detroit. DCDC accomplishes this by engaging, educating and promoting equity in design processes and outcomes. Students work alongside leading built environment professionals similar to how students work alongside doctors in a teaching hospital.

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 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 it also empowers residents to facilitate their own process of urban regeneration.

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

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

Warsaw Exchange

Since 1980, the School of Architecture & Community Development has conducted an exchange program with the Warsaw University of Technology 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 & Community Development 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 that brings leading-edge architects and designers to the campus. These lectures are open to and attended by students, professionals, and the general public.

Dichotomy, a student published journal of the SACD, strives to be the critical link to the discourse on design, architecture, urbanism, and community development. Like the institution, Dichotomy focuses on social justice and critical thought concerning intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and social development issues occurring in and outside of Detroit. The aim of Dichotomy is to disseminate these relevant investigations conducted by students, faculty, and professionals.

Since 1978, Dichotomy has been a repository of academic discourse from students and professors as well as luminaries in the fields of architecture and design.  Each issue focuses on a simple yet provocative theme around which articles and featured projects are curated.

Architectural students periodically publish this award winning journal 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 3100 Public Interest Design Studio with its co-requisite ARCH 3190 Building Code / Zoning Analysis and ARCH 4100 Technical Integration Studio with its co-requisite ARCH 4690 Integrated Technology 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 reserve the right to retain this work. In addition, 六九色堂 reserves the right to make curriculum required theses/projects electronically available to the worldwide community.

The School of Architecture & Community Development 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 & Community Development 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.

Grade Appeals

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, if 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 three 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 his/her 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 coursework 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 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, if 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 & Community Development 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.

Academic Standing and Dismissal Appeals

A student's Academic Standing may be changed to Academic Warning or Academic Probation, or a student may subject to Academic Dismissal from the SACD by the University, due to continued poor academic performance.

The student may appeal to have the Academic Standing reversed or for readmission in to the SACD, if they feel there are mitigating circumstances that caused the poor performance.

Each year during Term III, an undergraduate Special Topics design studio is offered for those students who are out of phase with the standard five-year curriculum.

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 & Community Development 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 SACD'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.

Please contact the Dean's Office for information on our SACD Notebook Purchase Program.  The notebook purchase program provides a standardized computer for use across the years of study at Detroit Mercy, and includes annual licenses and installation of curriculum-specific applications.