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- Architecture Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
- Architecture Faculty
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio (45 credits)
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio-Directed Research (60 credits)
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis): Architectural History & Theory (45 credits)
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis) Urban Design and Housing (45 credits)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture
Architecture
Location
Location
- School of Architecture
- Macdonald-Harrington Building
- 815 Sherbrooke Street West
- Montreal QC H3A 0C2
- Canada
- Telephone: 514-398-6700
- Fax: 514-398-7372
- Website: www.mcgill.ca/architecture
About Architecture
About Architecture
M.Arch. (Professional) (Non-Thesis), M.Arch. (Post-professional) (Non-Thesis), Ph.D.
The School of Architecture at Â鶹AV offers a professional Master of Architecture program, a post-professional Master of Architecture program, and a Ph.D. program.
The M.Arch. (Professional) requires the equivalency of the B.Sc. (Architecture) degree for admittance. There are two options for the completion of this (CACB)-accredited degree:
The M.Arch. (Professional) program is accredited by the CACB and is recognized as accredited by the (NCARB) in the U.S.
The M.Arch. (Post-professional) and the Ph.D. programs are for study beyond the professional degree in architecture. These programs have been conceived to respond to the needs of graduates with some professional experience who wish to acquire more specialized knowledge in architecture. The M.Arch. (Post-professional) program reflects a Â鶹AV tradition of academic inquiry and research, and provides an opportunity for a select number of students and staff to work together. The program is organized in such a way as to meet the needs of the professional practitioner and the researcher, and is intended to extend traditional architectural education as well as address new issues.
There are two areas of study in the M.Arch. (Post-professional) and Ph.D. programs:
Information concerning the duration of programs, documents required of applicants, etc., may be obtained at www.mcgill.ca/architecture.
Architectural Certification in Canada
In Canada, all provincial associations recommend a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The , which is the sole agency authorized to accredit Canadian professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of accredited degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.
Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
Since all provincial associations in Canada recommend any applicant for licensure to have graduated from a CACB-accredited program, obtaining such a degree is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture. While graduation from a CACB-accredited program does not assure registration, the accrediting process is intended to verify that each accredited program substantially meets those standards that, as a whole, comprise an appropriate education for an architect.
Please note that the M.Arch. (Post-professional) degree is not a professional degree and does not satisfy the requirements for certification with the CACB.
Professional Programs
There are two options for the completion of this CACB-accredited degree:
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio (45 credits) |
|---|
|
The Design Studio concentration is a 45-credit three-term (Fall, Winter, and Fall) program based on a design-intensive professional curriculum and centred on the traditional design studio. Students work in a traditional studio format for the first two terms and on a 9-credit terminal design project in the third (Fall) term. Complementary and elective course offerings are organized to provide flexibility in individual program design and create opportunities for students to both explore the discipline and focus on subject areas related to research and design interests. This option is a three-term consecutive degree (Fall, Winter, Fall) requiring full-time residence for one calendar year. For further information regarding admission eligibility and requirements, please see: www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional. |
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio-Directed Research (60 credits) |
|
The Design Studio Directed Research concentration is a 60-credit four-term (Fall, Winter, Summer, Fall) program that complements the regular 45-credit three-term concentration with a supervised individual research report in the Summer term. This forms the basis of the terminal design studio in the fourth (Fall) term. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser in the second term and follows a research-intensive curriculum shaped by complementary and elective courses chosen in consultation with, and approved by, the adviser. For further information regarding admission eligibility and requirements, please see: www.mcgill.ca/architecture/programs/professional. |
Post-Professional Programs
The Post-professional master’s programs are open to applicants who have a professional degree in architecture. Students holding the Â鶹AV B.Arch. (former) or M.Arch. (Professional) (current) degree, or an equivalent professional qualification, with a CGPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale, are eligible for admission to the post-professional programs. In special cases, applicants with a degree in a related field may be considered.
The primary requirement for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) degree is 30 credits of coursework, to be completed in the first two terms, and a 15-credit research report (Urban Design and Housing) or 15-credit project (Architectural History and Theory) that is completed in the Summer term. The residence requirement for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) degree is three academic terms, making it possible for students to obtain their degree after 12 calendar months in the program.
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis): Architectural History & Theory (45 credits) |
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|
Teaching and research in the History and Theory of Architecture program concentrates on the exploration and understanding of the complex connections between history, theory, design, and interdisciplinary concerns, particularly in the areas of philosophy and epistemology. This option is concerned with the reconciliation of ethics and poetics in architectural practice. The master’s curriculum, which in most cases is also a required foundation year for a Ph.D. in the field, is simple in terms of course requirements, but demanding in terms of personal commitment to reading and writing. It is particularly suited to students with a professional background in architecture who want to explore and understand the complex connections between history, theory, and design. A thorough understanding of architecture as a cultural phenomenon, leading to a more serious definition of its true essence as it appears in history, is now regarded as crucial by practitioners and teachers who wish to come to terms with the present predicaments of architecture vis-à -vis the contradictions of the contemporary world. |
| Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis) Urban Design and Housing (45 credits) |
|
The UDH program enables students who have already completed a professional degree in Architecture to develop specialised skills for contemporary practice in housing, urban design, and the management of human settlements. The 12-month program comprises three consecutive terms of coursework. Intensive seminars held during the first two terms focus on contemporary theory and research methods in urban design and housing. Students take ARCH 603 (Urban Design and Housing Studio) as an applied synthesis of the material discussed in the two core seminars. Nine credits of complementary coursework round out the fall and winter terms along with ARCH 623 (Project Preparation), in which students develop the strategy for a major independent project (ARCH 632, Urban Design and Housing Research Report) to be completed in the summer term. |
Ph.D. in Architecture
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture |
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Our Ph.D. is a research-based degree, with a primary requirement of an original thesis that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field of architecture. The minimum residence requirement is three years. Every year only a few students are accepted into the Ph.D. program, which means that all incoming Ph.D. candidates compete for a place as Ph.D. 2 students. The most qualified students enter into their first research seminar in September. Doctoral candidates must have their thesis proposal (ARCH 700) approved by their adviser before embarking on their research. A Thesis Advisory Committee is then struck and is responsible for monitoring the student’s research. For course ARCH 701, a comprehensive research proposal is required, as well as a demonstration of broad knowledge in the field. Candidates will submit two further reports in formal meetings with the Advisory Committee, who will review the work in progress (ARCH 702 and ARCH 703). The final meeting takes place after the Committee has reviewed the full draft of the dissertation. If approved, the dissertation will then be submitted in its final form to the Thesis Office. Acceptance of the thesis by the examiners is followed by an oral defence. |
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2017-2018 (last updated Jul. 10, 2017) (disclaimer)
Architecture Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Architecture Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
M.Arch. (Professional) Program (Non-Thesis)
Applicants holding the Â鶹AV B.Sc.(Arch.) degree, or equivalent, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, are eligible to apply for admission.
M.Arch. (Post-professional) (Non-Thesis)
Applicants holding an accredited professional degree in architecture, or equivalent, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, are eligible to apply for admission. In special cases, candidates with a degree in a related field may be considered.
Ph.D.
Candidates with high standing in Â鶹AV’s M.Arch. (Post-professional), or who hold an equivalent degree from another university, are eligible to apply to this program. Those who do not have an appropriate background in the chosen research area may be recommended for the M.Arch. (Post-professional) program. Candidates who have an adequate background at the post-professional master’s level in the proposed area of research will be admitted to Ph.D. 2 with the stipulation of additional courses from the M.Arch. (Post-professional) curriculum, if necessary.
A working knowledge of a language or languages relevant to the area of research is required.
Application Procedures
Application Procedures
Â鶹AV’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Â鶹AV and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Additional Requirements
Additional Requirements
The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:
Professional Master of Architecture:
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Summary of work experience. A minimum of 16 weeks of work experience is required. Further information and guidelines are provided at www.mcgill.ca/architecture/bboard/bscmai/workexperience. Please use the following:
Work Experience Form [.pdf]*Note: Your employer's signature is required along with the company business card. We do NOT require the Director's signature.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts of all universities previously attended (including summer term, exchange term, or study-away term). If you are recommended for admission, you will later be required to supply official transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript or by a certified translator. Please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready/submit/upload and www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents
- A total of two (2) confidential letters of reference are required for your application: two (2) from academics OR one (1) from an academic and one (1) from a recent employer. Once you have identified your referees (you must provide a valid institutional email address for each referee), Â鶹AV will send them an email asking for a reference in support of your application (Gmail, Yahoo, etc. domains cannot be accepted). Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate his/her position and full contact information at the institution. Please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents
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Once accepted to the M.Arch. (Professional) program (Design Studio [DST]), students interested in the Design Studio-Directed Research option will need to provide a two-page (maximum) research statement in early Fall of the first term indicating their general area of interest, their understanding of this area of study, faculty expertise, and research intention in terms of topic and project-based investigation. Specific references to expertise within the School are encouraged (e.g., History and Theory of Architecture; Cultural Landscape Studies; Affordable and Sustainable Housing; Computation and Fabrication; High-performance Visualization; Minimum Cost Housing; Gender, Sexuality and Space; Design and Health; Urban Design; Landscape Urbanism; Architectural Representation; Urban Agriculture; Vernacular Architecture; Reurbanisation)Note: Applicants to the M.Arch.(Professional) Design Studio option do not need to provide a research statement.
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Completed Program Comparison
Chart*Note: Not required by B.Sc.(Arch.) graduates from Â鶹AV.
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Course calendar descriptions of previous college and/or university studies must be submitted in addition to the Program Comparison ChartNote: Not required by B.Sc.(Arch.) graduates from Â鶹AV.
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A comprehensive e-portfolio (pdf format, max. 15 MB, due no later than January 15) that may include the following:
selected work from all previous design studios;
examples of project work from other courses;
examples of freehand drawing and sketching; examples of professional work: sketches, drawings, images of models, photographs of built work (professional work includes work carried out while employed in architects' offices, as well as personal projects; please identify the architect(s) and your own roles in each project illustrated)Note: Please indicate, where applicable, if a project is an individual or group project.
Post-professional programs:
M.Arch. (Post-professional) and Ph.D.
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts of all universities previously attended. If you are recommended for admission you will later be required to supply official transcripts. Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript or by a certified translator. Please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready/submit/upload and www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents;
- Two confidential letters of reference are required for your application. Once you have identified your referees (you must provide a valid institutional email address for each referee), Â鶹AV will send them an email asking for a reference in support of your application (Gmail, Yahoo, etc. domains cannot be accepted). Additionally, uploaded letters must be on university or company/business stationery and the referee must indicate his/her position and full contact information at the institution. Please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents;
- Statement of research interest / Post-professional M.Arch. applicants: a one-page statement of research objectives indicating the option chosen and the reasons for that choice. Applicants should include a clear description of their research interest, as well as a brief explanation of why they wish to study at Â鶹AV’s School of Architecture. Applicants to the Post-professional M.Arch. program are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the research interests of the faculty before submitting an application and may indicate a preference for an adviser. If no preference is indicated, an adviser will be assigned prior to Fall registration. OR, Research proposal / Ph.D. applicants: a four-page research proposal, as well as a detailed explanation of why and with whom they wish to study at Â鶹AV’s School of Architecture;
- A digital portfolio (PDF format) of not more than 15 MB must be submitted containing at least five examples of the applicant's work. Doctoral applicants should submit evidence of research accomplishments, which could, in some cases, replace the portfolio requirement;
- Writing sample (Post-professional M.Arch. applicants): a recent sample of the applicant’s written work, on any topic (not necessarily within the desired field of graduate study) and not necessarily previously submitted for evaluation or publication. OR, Written work (Ph.D. applicants): a sample of the applicant’s written work, drawn from essays, papers, or other work previously submitted for academic evaluation or publication, and falling within the desired field of graduate study;
- Proof of English language proficiency: Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of competency in oral and written English. Before acceptance, appropriate exam results must be submitted directly from the (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or (International English Language Testing Systems) Office. An institutional version of the TOEFL is not acceptable. Applications will not be considered if a TOEFL or IELTS test result is not available. For the TOEFL, a minimum overall score of 86 is required on the Internet-based test (iBT; 567 on the paper-based test (PBT)), with each component score (i.e., reading, writing, speaking, listening) not less than 20. (The TOEFL Institution Code for Â鶹AV is 0935.) For the IELTS, a minimum overall band score of 6.5 is required. For further information, please refer to www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/apply/proficiency.
* These documents are available in PDF or DOC format on the School of Architecture website.
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application Dates and Deadlines
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the School of Architecture and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate Â鶹AV departmental website; please consult the list at www.mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
| Ìý | Application Opening Dates | Application Deadlines | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ìý | All Applicants | Non-Canadian citizens | Canadian citizens/Perm. residents of Canada | Current Â鶹AV Students (any citizenship) | Special, Visiting & Exchange |
| Fall Term: | Sept. 15 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 15 | May 1 (M.Arch.(Professional) only) |
| Winter Term: | Feb. 15 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Sept. 1 (M.Arch.(Professional) only) |
| Summer Term: | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
Note: Applications for Summer term admission will not be considered.
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2017-2018 (last updated Jul. 17, 2017) (disclaimer)
Architecture Faculty
Architecture Faculty
| Director |
|---|
| Martin Bressani |
| Graduate Program Directors |
| Robert Mellin (Post-professional program) |
| David Covo (Professional program) |
| Emeritus Professors |
| Bruce Anderson; B.Arch.(McG.), M.Arch.(Harv.), F.R.A.I.C., O.A.Q. |
| Derek Drummond; B.Arch.(McG.), F.R.A.I.C., O.A.Q., O.A.A. (William C. Macdonald Emeritus Professor of Architecture) |
| Adrian Sheppard; B.Arch.(McG.), M.Arch.(Yale), A.A.P.P.Q., F.R.A.I.C., O.A.Q. |
| Radoslav Zuk; B.Arch.(McG.), M.Arch.(MIT), D.Sc.(U.A.A.), F.R.A.I.C., O.A.Q., O.A.A. |
| Professors |
| Annmarie Adams; B.A.(McG.), M.Arch., Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.), M.R.A.I.C. (William C. Macdonald Professor of Architecture) |
| Vikram Bhatt; N.Dip. Arch.(Ahmed.), M.Arch.(McG.), M.R.A.I.C. |
| Martin Bressani; B.Sc.(Arch.), B.Arch.(McG.), M.Sc.(Arch.)(MIT), D.E.A., Docteur(Paris IV), O.A.Q. |
| Avi Friedman; B.Arch.(Technion), M.Arch.(McG.), Ph.D.(Montr.), O.A.Q., I.A.A. |
| Alberto Pérez-Gómez; Dipl.Eng.Arch.(Nat. Pol. Inst. Mexico), M.A., Ph.D.(Essex), M.R.A.I.C. (Saidye Rosner Bronfman Professor of Architectural History) |
| Associate Professors |
| Ricardo L. Castro; B.Arch.(Los Andes, Col.), M.Arch., M.A.(Ore.), F.R.A.I.C. |
| David Covo; B.Sc.(Arch.), B.Arch.(McG.), F.R.A.I.C., O.A.Q. |
| Michael Jemtrud; B.A., B.Sc., B.Arch.(Penn. St.), M.Arch.(McG.), M.R.A.I.C. |
| Nik Luka; B.A.A.(Ryerson), M.Arch.(Laval), Ph.D.(Tor.), M.C.I.P. |
| Robert Mellin; B.Arch., M.Sc.(Arch.)(Penn.), M.Arch.(McG.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Penn.), F.R.A.I.C., N.A.A. |
| Aaron Sprecher; B.Arch.(Bezalel), M.Arch.(Calif.-LA). |
| Assistant Professors |
| David Theodore; B.A., B.Sc.(Arch.), B.Arch., M.Arch.(McG.), Ph.D.(Harv.) |
| Ipek Türeli; B.Arch.(Istanbul), A.A.Dipl.(A.A.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
| Theodora Vardouli; Dipl.Arch.Eng., M.Sc.(Athens), S.M.Arch.S.(MIT) |
| Clifford C. F. Wong Professor of Practice |
| Howard Davies |
| Adjunct Professors |
| Julia Gersovitz, Andrew King, Conor Sampson |
| Course Lecturers |
| Vedanta Balbahadur, Erika Brandl-Mouton, Clothilde Caillé-Levesque, Yves de Fontenay, Nancy Dunton, Aliki Economides, Fabrizio Gallanti, Eric Gauthier, Marc Hallé, Paul Holmquist, Edward Houle, Laurent Laframboise, François Leblanc, Hubert Pelletier, Marc-André Plourde, Yannick Roberge, Gilles Saucier, Peter Sealy, Pieter Sijpkes, Angela Silver |
| Visiting Critics and Guest Lecturers |
|
Each year, visitors are involved in the teaching of certain
courses as critics and lecturers. These visitors change from year to year. The following were visitors in
2016: Bruce Allan, Lisa Allard, Manon Asselin, Jean-Philippe Beauchamp, Sinisha Brdar, Carlo Carbone, Joe Carter, Azad Chicmanian, Robert Claiborne, Christina Contandriopoulos, Anne Cormier, Greig Crysler, Peggy Dreamer, Frédéric Dubé, Aliki Economides, Maxim Frapier, Benjamin Gianni, Nathan Godlovitch, Fanos Gramemos, Colin Hanley, Hans Ibelings, Julian Jacobs, Ron Kellett, Thomas-Bernard Kenniff, Daniel Laflèche, Thomas McIntosh, Elena Manferdini, Anca Martyicu, Erik Marosi, Luci Mastropasqua, Robert Miners, Mohammad Miraly, Terry Montgomery, David Morris, Shawn Moscovitch, Juliette Patterson, Louise Pelletier, Mark Poddubiuk, Alessandra Ponte, Inderbir Riar, Todd Richards, Sophie Robitaille, Ivan Rupnik, Bruno St. Jean, Peter Sealy, Richard Shearmur, Robert Stanley, Jill Stoner, Michael Sullivan, Vladimir Toupouzanov, Francesca Valenti, Theodora Vardouli, Tom Verebes, Natalie Voland, David Wachsmuth, Ben Wareing, Betsy Williamson, Patty Xenos, Katsuhiro Yamazaki |
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2017-2018 (last updated Aug. 17, 2017) (disclaimer)
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio (45 credits)
This concentration is a 45-credit, three-term (Fall, Winter, and Fall) program based on a design-intensive professional curriculum and centred on the design studio. Students work in a traditional studio format for the first two terms and with individual advisers in the terminal design project course in the third (Fall) term. Complementary and elective courses are...
For more information, see Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio (45 credits).
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio-Directed Research (60 credits)
The Directed Research concentration is a 60-credit four-term (Fall, Winter, Summer, Fall) program that complements the regular 45-credit three-term concentration with a supervised 12-credit individual research report in the summer term. This forms the basis of the terminal design studio in the fourth (Fall) term. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser in the...
For more information, see Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Professional (Non-Thesis): Design Studio-Directed Research (60 credits).
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis): Architectural History & Theory (45 credits)
The history and theory program pursues intellectual inquiries in the history of architecture, focusing upon the discipline’s continually changing theoretical framework. It aims to advance knowledge and foster ethical reflections in architecture through critical historical research into the philosophical, political, cultural, and technological contexts of the...
For more information, see Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis): Architectural History & Theory (45 credits).
Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis) Urban Design and Housing (45 credits)
The Urban Design and Housing program enables students who have already completed their professional M.Arch. degree (or equivalent) to develop specialized skills for contemporary practice in housing, urban design, and the management of human settlements. The twelve-month program comprises three consecutive semesters of coursework. Intensive seminars held during the...
For more information, see Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) Post-professional (Non-Thesis) Urban Design and Housing (45 credits).
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Architecture.
Faculty of Engineering—2017-2018 (last updated Jul. 10, 2017) (disclaimer)
