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Program Contact
Miodrag Mitrasinovic, Program Director
The Master of Architecture degree is awarded for completion of 90 credits (or the equivalent as determined by the School of Constructed Environments). Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and fulfill all requirements in a timely manner. The program can be completed in two or three years, depending on an evaluation of the student's educational background. The standard course of study is three years.
In the second year of the MArch, students have the opportunity to enroll in the Design Workshop, which embodies the progressive values of Parsons and The New School. It unites theoretical and hands-on learning and trains students to develop practices to improve the social and physical environment. Past projects include a sustainable laundromat and information center for Hurricane Katrina survivors, a rooftop garden with educational and recreational facilities for Bronx youth, and pool pavilions for two NYC communities.
Students take Parsons electives in design history, theory, and technology and enjoy the opportunity to choose electives offered in other programs and disciplines throughout The New School.
Students with a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from a recognized undergraduate program will be evaluated for advanced placement in the program. See below for details.
To view degree requirements from prior years, visit the Academic Catalogs archive. For a complete listing of courses and course descriptions, visit the university course catalog.
| First Year Fall | |
|---|---|
| PGAR 5001 Design Studio 1 | 6 |
| PGAR 5013/5014 Representation & Spatial Reasoning 1: Lec/Rec | 3 |
| PGAR 5040 Histories of Architecture | 3 |
| PGAR 5023 Construction Technology 1 | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 |
| Second Year Spring | |
|---|---|
| PGAR 5202 Design Studio 4 (Design Workshop or Urban Architecture) | 6 |
| PGAR 5214/5216 Structural Technology 2: Lec/Rec | 3 |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 6 |
| Subtotal | 15 |
| Third Year Fall | |
|---|---|
| PGAR 5401 Design Studio 5 (Comprehensive) | 6 |
| PGAR 5403 Thesis Preparation | 3 |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 3 |
| PGAR 5315/5316 Environmental Technology 2: Lec/Rec | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 |
| Third Year Spring | |
|---|---|
| PGAR 5402 Design Studio 6 (Thesis Studio) | 6 |
| Students should explore their elective options with their advisors to create a coherent study plan. | 6 |
| PGAR 5523 Professional Practice | 3 |
| Subtotal | 15 |
Evaluation for advanced placement is conducted by the admission committee on the basis of a review of the applicant’s design studio work. Students granted advanced placement are awarded up to the equivalent of one year of graduate study (30 credits). They must complete a minimum of two years of study (60 credits) in residence and fulfill all other master’s degree requirements.
To be considered for advanced placement, an applicant must have completed the following undergraduate curriculum with grades of B or better in all courses:
A student may be granted a waiver for a required course or courses if they have taken an equivalent course at another institution. A request for a waiver must be submitted at least one month before the registration deadline for the required Parsons course. If a waiver is granted, the student must make up the credits by taking additional electives.
Students requesting a course waiver must submit a transcript for the equivalent course(s) showing grades of B or better, course syllabus/syllabi, and samples of their completed course assignments, including project images (8.5-by-11-inch format) and/or copies of tests or writing samples.
Process:
Students can use elective courses toward completing one of the university’s graduate minors. These structured pathways of study immerse master's and doctoral students in disciplines outside their primary field and expose them to alternative modes of research and practice. Completed graduate minors are officially recorded on students' transcript.
The New School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.