Architecture, M.Arch.

Architecture
Acting Head: Terri Fuglem
Acting Grad Chair: Terri Fuglem
Campus Address/General Office: 201 Russell Building
Telephone: 204-474-8769
Fax: 204-474-7532
Email Address: gradarch@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/architecture/
Academic Staff: Please see Architecture website for Faculty information.

Architecture Program Information

The Master of Architecture thesis-based program consists of a combination of coursework and a design component.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

M.Arch. Admission Requirements

There are different ways to become eligible to apply for the Master of Architecture Program:

DIRECT ENTRY

All applicants must meet the general admission and entrance requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The entry level into the program will be determined by the Department of Architecture Admission Committee’s evaluation of the individual’s application and supporting documents. Direct admissions to the M.Arch Program requires that applicants have a minimum of a four-year undergraduate degree in one of the following: Architecture, Architectural Design, Architectural Science, Environmental Design/Architecture option, or the equivalent, from a recognized college or university, with minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent B in the last two full years (60 credit hours) of study.

For those applying with a University of Manitoba Bachelor of Environmental Design degree a minimum of "C+" in courses EVAR 4002, EVAR 4004, EVAR 4008, EVAR 4010 with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last two full years (60 credit hours) of study is required.

Please refer to the following web page for more information: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/graduate studies/admissions/programs/architecture.html

ARCHITECTURE Pre-Master's Qualifying Program

Students with undergraduate course deficiencies as determined by the Admissions Committee may be admitted to a Pre-Master's Qualifying program to complete the necessary background requirements. The Department Head or designate is responsible for assigning the courses and monitoring the progress of each student.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the M.Arch. program of study page.

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements: 48 credit hours

Faculty of Architecture’s Cooperative Education/Integrated Work program (Co-op/I) Graduate Option

Students may apply to the Faculty of Architecture’s Cooperative Education/Integrated Work program (Co-op/I) graduate option. Students must complete a minimum of two and maximum of three 4-month work terms to have the Co-op/I option acknowledged on their graduation parchment. For each work term, students must enroll in the appropriate course: ARCG 7150 and, subsequently, ARCG 7250 and/or ARCG 7350. Each course requires submission of a written report and portfolio covering the work completed for the professional assignment. Work term courses are valued at zero credit hours and evaluated as pass/fail. These are above and beyond graduate course requirements. Additional fees will apply.

Accreditation

In Canada, all provincial/territorial associations/institutes/orders recommend a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit Canadian professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of accredited degrees: the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) and the Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch). 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.

The last CACB site visit took place in 2025. Subsequently, the Master of Architecture program was formally granted a full accreditation term of six years.

Expected Time to Graduate: 2 years.

Progression Chart

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1		Hours
GRAD 7300	Research Integrity Tutorial	0
GRAD 7500	Academic Integrity Tutorial	0
Select 3 credit hours from the following:		3
ARCH 7000	Advanced Technology Topics I ¹
ARCH 7010	Advanced Technology Topics 2 ¹
Select 3 credit hours from the following:		3
ARCH 7020	Research Topics: History and Theory 1 ¹
ARCH 7030	Research Topics: History and Theory 2 ¹
ARCH 7040	Professional Practice	3
ARCH 7050	Arch Studio 5 and Comprehensive Program Report	9
ARCH 7060	Arch Studio 6	9
ARCH 7350	Legal Aspects of Architectural Practice	3
	Hours	30
Year 2
ARCH 7070	Design Research Studio	9
ARCH 7080	Technology Thesis Report	3
Select 6 credit hours from the following: ²		6
ARCH 7000	Advanced Technology Topics I ³
ARCH 7010	Advanced Technology Topics 2 ³
ARCH 7020	Research Topics: History and Theory 1 ³
ARCH 7030	Research Topics: History and Theory 2 ³
Elective Course at 3000-level or higher as approved by the department
GRAD 7090	Design Thesis	0
	Hours	18
	Total Hours	48

¹: Students can earn credit for two courses with the same course code when the topic subtitle is different.
²: Students must complete 3 credit hours of Advanced Technology Topics and 3 credit hours of Research Topics: History and Theory, each satisfied by either two 1.5 credit Topics courses or one 3 credit course. The remaining 6 credit hours may be made up of any ARCH Topics course or approved electives at 3000 level or higher as approved by the department. It is recommended that students meet with an academic advisor in the Summer after Year 1 to confirm degree progression.
³: Students can earn credit for two courses with the same course code when the topic subtitle is different. Students may also choose to take elective courses to replace the additional 6 credits of Advanced Technology Topics and Research Topics: History Theory Courses.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Architecture

ARCH 6450 Inquiry by Design 3 cr

(Formerly 050.645) An exploration of design/research, to contrasting design and research via dialectical and practical inquiry. Research design and research methods instruction, in support of applied research to critique design theory and to build new design knowledge.

ARCH 7000 Advanced Technology Topics I 1.5 cr

One five-week seminar and/or project-based topics offering in-depth study of advanced building systems, technology, and methods. Options are grounded in faculty research and build upon foundation technology courses. Some topics may be deemed mandatory at the department's discretion. Topics may be taken in the fall and/or winter terms.

ARCH 7010 Advanced Technology Topics 2 1.5 cr

ARCH 7020 Research Topics: History and Theory 1 1.5 cr

One five-week lecture, seminar and/or project-based topics offering an in-depth study of an historical and/or theoretical subject. Options are grounded in faculty research and build upon foundation history/theory courses. Some topics may be deemed mandatory at the department's discretion. Topics may be taken in the fall and/or winter terms.

ARCH 7030 Research Topics: History and Theory 2 1.5 cr

One five-week lecture, seminar and/or project-based topics offering an in-depth study of an historical and/or theorectical subject. Options are grounded in faculty research and build upon foundation history/theory courses. Some topics may be deemed mandatory at the department's discretion. Topics may be taken in the fall and/or winter terms.

ARCH 7040 Professional Practice 3 cr

Is concerned with the duties and responsibilities of an architectural practice; its divisions, office organization and administration, in Manitoba and Canada. The lectures relate in scope and standard to current models of practice and their requirements, including issues of building economics and construction cost control.

ARCH 7050 Arch Studio 5 and Comprehensive Program Report 9 cr

Develop design explorations and seek to clarify relations between architectural criteria and the urban/natural environments in national or international contexts. Conceptual, programmatic, material, technological, economic, and political principles and systems employed are to be evident in the Comp. Prog Report.

ARCH 7060 Arch Studio 6 9 cr

The previous term's investigations are further developed into a comprehensive architectural design proposal. The thorough integration of design and programming criteria, with building and environmental systems and assemblies are examined.

ARCH 7070 Design Research Studio 9 cr

This final design studio involves concerted research and design explorations of an individually defined subject of inquiry, within a selected studio thematic focus. These investigations are intended to prepare students for their final Design Thesis.

ARCH 7080 Technology Thesis Report 3 cr

Technology Thesis Report is an advanced project-based course done in conjunction with the Design Thesis project. The report is related to an individual student's design thesis topic, focusing on specific aspects of technology and applied tech. research. Advisor supervision and external engineering consultancy or agreed equivalent are required.

ARCH 7100 Advanced Technology Topics 3 cr

Seminar and/or project-based topics offering in-depth study of advanced building systems, technology, and methods. Options are grounded in faculty research and build upon foundation technology courses. Some topics may be deemed mandatory at the department's discretion. Topics may be taken in the fall and/ or winter terms. Different topics under the same course may be taken for credit.

ARCH 7120 Research Topics: History and Theory 3 cr

Lecture, seminar and/or project-based topics offering an in-depth study of an historical and/or theoretical subject. Options are grounded in faculty research and build upon foundation history/theory courses. Some topics may be deemed at the department's discretion. Topics may be taken in the fall and or winter terms. Different Topics under the same course number many be taken for credit.

ARCH 7350 Legal Aspects of Architectural Practice 3 cr

Discusses the importance of the knowledge of law as it relates to professional practice of architecture, including a discussion of the historical development of legal responsibilities of a practicing professional generally and of architects specifically. There is also discussion of trends in the development of professional responsibility and liability.

Academic Calendar