The mission of the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design program is twofold: for the professional degree program, students are trained for leadership roles in the professional practice of architecture by giving them substantive methods of design and inquiry; for the post-professional architecture and urban design programs, the mission is to expand a student’s professional training into new forms of thinking and types of practices. In all cases, the programs help students to develop their life-long relation to their respective design field.

In both the professional and post-professional programs in architecture and urban design, students are exposed to contemporary and historical debates and issues in architecture and urban design through academically rigorous history and theory electives, computer and technology courses that emphasize critical thinking
as well as techniques, and design studios that ask students to be responsible for the integration
of theoretical and technical knowledge, A lecture series centered on new research brings prominent practitioners and scholars to speak specifically to graduate students.

Graduate Programs in Architecture

The Graduate Architecture and Urban Design programs offer three graduate degrees; one professional, two post-professional.

The professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch. I) is an 84-credit, three-year, professional degree program for students holding a four-year undergraduate degree in any field. Advanced standing is possible.

The post-professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch. II) is a 36-credit, three-semester (fall, spring, fall) program for those who hold an accredited five-year Bachelor’s of Architecture or the equivalent. A thesis is completed in the final semester.

The post-professional Master of Architecture and Urban Design is a 33-credit, three-semester (fall, spring, fall) program for those who hold an accredited five-year Bachelor’s of Architecture or the equivalent. A thesis is completed in the final semester.

The intensive curricula in these three programs require focused participation from the student. The M.Arch. I program prepares students to take the architectural licensing exam and to become practicing architects. Students in the M.Arch. II program and the Urban Design program are encouraged to develop specialized areas of research.

Because of the school’s New York City location, students have immediate and frequent access to the city’s resources. The graduate programs also have excellent internal resources: a strong faculty, good facilities, and a developing research network that connects the department and its students to serious national and international work in the field. This network brings distinguished visitors to speak to graduate students in a research forum; invites visiting faculty to teach studios, workshops, and seminars; forms an extensive and thoughtful database with American and international cities; and connects the graduate Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design to enable a student to obtain a bachelor’s degree and enter the master’s degree program with advanced standing.

chair's statement

William J. McDonald, Graduate Chair

The Graduate Architecture and Urban Design (GAUD) program at Pratt Institute's School of Architecture is a progressive design environment for advanced architectural research located in New York City. The program proposes speculative debate and experimental architectural production based on a relational construct among theoretical inquiry, computational research, digital design, and technological investigation. To this end, Pratt Institute's GAUD seeks to formulate a contemporary approach to architecture that is "ecological" in the sense that it provides collective exchanges which are both trans-disciplinary and trans-categorical. This ecological approach encourages feedback relationships among architecture, landscape, urbanism, technology, software programming, industry, manufacturing, political agencies, theoretical studies, and other categories and disciplines that are newly emerging in contemporary culture. This approach seeks to productively intensify heterogeneous interests and agencies. In addition, the program sees architectural innovations in both the theory and practice of architecture and the interconnected phenomena out of which it emerges. Recent course at Pratt Institute's GAUD have investigated such topics as iterative processes, fluid systems, emergent phenomena, logics of organization, complex urbanisms, globalization and politics, computational logics, material performance, and speculative fabrication.

via phone:
(800) 331-0834
or
(718) 636-3669

via e-mail:
admissions@pratt.edu

InProcess: Jounal of Student Work

InProcess is the Annual journal of the School of Architecture publishing work from all nine undergraduate and graduate programs. This 200 plus page journal is one of the most recognized journals of student work in the United States.

TARP

Tarp is a magazine that seeks to investigate the project of architecture, to allow architecture to grow and develop into realms that are not supported by the presentation of a final product. To this end, Tarp seeks content which is exploratory, experimental, and inspiring. This content does not need to conform to any predominant style or trend, but should directly and truthfully address the continued project of architecture as a catalyst for social change. Tarp is a student edited publication, is published bi-annually, and is always accepting submissions. Tarp is made possible through the support of the Pratt School of Architecture and the Graham Foundation.

tel: (718) 399-4314
fax: (718) 399-4379

84 total credits required

36 total credits required

M.Arch, Columbia University
BA, Bennington College

Ph.D. candidate, Princeton University
M.A., Princeton University
B.A., Brown University

5 M. Arch I: Vertical I ARCH-624
3 Professional Practice ARCH-664
3 History/Theory elective
3 Elective credits
14 CREDITS

5 Design I ARCH-601
3 Pro Seminar I ARCH-601A
6 Elective credits
14 CREDITS

5 Thesis Research ARCH-603
3 Elective credits
8 CREDITS

5 M. Arch I: Fundamentals ARCH-620
3 History & Theory 1: Modern History ARCH-650
3 Structures I ARCH-630
3 Computer I ARCH-640
14 CREDITS

5 M. Arch I: Context ARCH-621
3 History & Theory 2: Architectural Theory ARCH-651
3 Structures II ARCH-631
3 Materials & Assemblies ARCH-661
14 CREDITS

5 M. Arch I: Urban Mixed Use ARCH-622
3 History & Theory 3: Non-Western History
ARCH-652
3 Environmental Controls ARCH-662
3 Computer II ARCH-642
14 CREDITS

5 M. Arch I: CAP ARCH-623
3 Integrated Building Systems ARCH-663
3 History/Theory elective
3 Elective credits
14 CREDITS

5 M. Arch I: Vertical II ARCH-625
3 History/Theory elective
6 Elective credits
14 CREDITS

5 Design II ARCH-602
3 Pro Seminar II ARCH-602B
3 Thesis Research ARCH-610
3 Elective credits
14 CREDITS