Architecture and Urban Studies Programs
Architecture (Blacksburg and Washington, D.C., Area*)
The graduate curriculum is structured to allow flexibility and to accommodate diverse student needs. The professional degree programs in architecture (M. Arch, M.Arch.2, and M.Arch.3) at Virginia Tech are fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Central to the academic structure of these several options is the design laboratory. The various design laboratories are oriented toward formulation and resolution of design questions at a broad range of scales. In addition to fostering a mastery of the design process, the design laboratory is intended to cultivate a foundation for design through the study of concepts and principles of form generation, through education of an environmental awareness and aesthetic judgment, through study of the syntax of architectural language, and through the development of technical knowledge of the processes of fabrication and construction.
Architecture, Concentration in Urban Design (Washington, D.C., Area*)
The Master of Science in Architecture, Urban Design Concentration is a three-semester program allowing students with professional design and planning degrees to engage in advanced study of complex urban problems and terrains. The program is structured around several academic, professional, and governmental partnerships that provide diverse perspectives and opportunities. The curriculum includes a mix of required courses and directed electives, so that each student can develop their own emphasis within the curriculum and a focused thesis investigation. Based at the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, the program is embedded in the urban environment of Washington, DC and offers outstanding possibilities for immersion in the complexities of the capital city. It has particular strengths in pedestrian-scaled environments, landscape urbanism, and histories and theories of urban design.
The Urban Design Concentration at Virginia Tech is a STEM Designated program in Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology (CIP code 04.0902). The STEM Designation allows international students graduating with the MS. Arch degree to apply with eligibility for an additional 24-month extension of their initial 12 month-long Optional Practical Training (OPT). This allows for a total of three years of practical training in the United States.
* Note that all preparatory courses (English for Academic Purposes, University Seminar) take place on the Blacksburg, Virginia, campus.
