| Concurrent Degrees: Programs and Admissions |
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Understanding the need for professionals with the knowledge and skills of more than one discipline, the Department of Architecture offers a number of concurrent graduate degree programs with other departments and colleges at UC Berkeley. Please see the links below for program descriptions and admissions information.
For questions about any of the concurrent programs, contact the Architecture Graduate Office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Building and Site Design (Master of Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture) Download the Building and Site Design Program Statement [pdf] The Concurrent Program in Building and Site Design seeks to combine knowledge of ecological and social factors with the design of buildings and sites. As the professions of architecture and landscape architecture have matured over the past century, teaching and practice of the disciplines have become increasingly specialized. Architectural education and practice have focused on the design of individual buildings, with little emphasis on site design and environmental issues. Landscape architecture, on the other hand, typically has not been concerned with understanding and creating architectural form, but focuses on the design of outdoor spaces at a variety of scales from small gardens or parks to large natural landscapes in cities and regions. Today, professionals are needed who combine an understanding of individual building design with larger-scale site design and the cultural and natural factors that shape environments at all scales. Neither program alone can provide the range of skills and understanding that the College of Environmental Design considers essential in improving the quality of the built environment. Admissions The program is intended for exceptionally qualified students who have either an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) or a professional undergraduate degree (B.Arch. or B.L.A.) in architecture or landscape architecture and who satisfy the admission requirements for either the two-year M.Arch. or M.L.A. program. New students should select the M.Arch./M.L.A. degree option on the Graduate Division application and submit the following documents to the Student Affairs Officer in Landscape Architecture by December 17: Statement of purpose, resume, one set of official transcripts, and one unbound design portfolio (please see Department of Architecture admission requirements for digital portfolio submission). Applicants should indicate on the departmental application form that they are applying to the concurrent degree program, and all documents should be clearly identified as concurrent degree materials. Only one application fee is required. The Student Affairs Officer in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning should be consulted for specific procedures for applying to the concurrent degree program. Continuing students may apply to the concurrent degree program after completion of one semester's work in either of the Departments of Architecture or Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. Continuing students should contact the Student Affairs Officers in either department for application procedures. The application deadline is December 17 of the first year of study. Admission to the concurrent degree program is contingent upon the applicant showing that he or she will be able to successfully complete the requirements for both degrees within three years. Prerequisites The following courses or their equivalents are required for admission to the concurrent degree program. Students without this background will be required to take these courses for elective credit.
*Physics and calculus are prerequisites for this course and must be taken prior to enrollment in the concurrent degree program. Please check both department websites (LAEP Graduate Admissions and M.Arch Admissions) for additional information. City and Regional Planning (Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning) The Departments of Architecture and City and Regional Planning offer a concurrent degree program for exceptionally well-qualified students who hold the five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree or a four-year bachelor of arts/bachelor of science degree in architecture, as well as those who have completed equivalent degrees in related disciplines. This program allows completion of the Master of Architecture and the Master of City Planning degrees with a savings of 12 units (one semester’s course work). The program aims to combine the study of urban and planning issues with the design of buildings and sites. By providing a range of essential skills as well as a broad understanding of the social, economic, and natural factors that shape the physical environment, the concurrent degree program in architecture and city planning accomplishes what neither program achieves alone. Admissions Applicants to the dual degree program with the Department of Architecture should select the MCP/M.Arch degree option and submit their recommendation letters electronically via the Online Graduate Application for Admission. Transcripts, the DCRP Supplement, and GRE and TOEFL scores should be sent to the Department of City and Regional Planning along with any additional documents required for admission. Materials required by the Architecture Department should be sent to the Architecture Graduate Admissions Office. Please check both department websites (DCRP Graduate Admissions and M.Arch Admissions) for required admission materials and instructions. Deadline: December 17, for admission the following fall semester. International and Area Studies (Master of Architecture or Ph.D. in Architecture and Master of Arts) The concurrent M.A. program in International and Area Studies (IAS) is designed to complement the graduate degree programs in architecture. It is intended to produce graduate students who combine advanced professional training with a detailed knowledge of contemporary international issues or particular world areas or countries. The content of each M.A. program will be shaped in consultation with the departmental IAS adviser to meet the specific needs and interests of the individual student. In addition to satisfying all Graduate Division and departmental requirements for the Master of Architecture or Ph.D. degrees, students in this concurrent program must complete a minimum of 24 units outside architecture in the special area agreed upon with the IAS adviser. Contact Associate Professor Ananya Roy at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in this program. New Media (Master of Architecture and Designated Emphasis in New Media) Another program of interest to architecture graduate students is the Designated Emphasis (DE) in New Media. The program is currently offered only to Ph.D. students but is expected to be made available to M.Arch. and M.S. students in the future. The DE in New Media comprises a set of courses with content in the history, theory and practice of computationally-based representation, and communication and interpretation of information. Details on the program may be found at the Berkeley Center for New Media website. Structural Engineering (Master of Architecture and Master of Science) The complexity of modern structures requires the design and supervision of both architects and structural engineers. The growing inter-reliance of these two disciplines creates a demand for professionals capable of viewing a possible structure both as an architect and as a structural engineer. The concurrent M.Arch and M.S. Structural Engineering program offered by the Department of Architecture and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Division of Structural Engineering, Mechanics, and Materials enables students to obtain this valuable combination of professional disciplines with up to 24 fewer units than if the two degrees were pursued separately. Admissions Applicants to the concurrent program are expected to hold the B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Exceptions may be made for students with architecture degrees with a minor in civil engineering, or for students who have completed substantial course work in civil engineering. Contact the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for further information about prerequisite course work. Applicants should apply online and select the M.Arch/M.S. degree option. Materials required by the Architecture Department should be sent to the Architecture Graduate Admissions Office, with a copy of all materials except the portfolio sent to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Continuing Master of Architecture students interested in the concurrent program should apply directly to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Please check both department websites (Structural Engineering Admissions and M.Arch Admissions) for required admission materials and instructions. Deadline: December 15, for admission the following fall semester. |