MArchMaster of Architecture

At the heart of our curriculum is the studio, where you’ll leverage design methodologies that synthesize diverse issues, integrate emerging technology, and respond to contemporary culture. We use design as a form of research, and we use material to merge conceptual, historical, and physical contexts to both imagine possible futures and transform the present. You’ll create immersive environments; envision alternative urban forms; build robots that can dig, draw, and print; and prototype parklets and pavilions for local communities. Hands-on studios are pioneered by our core faculty, who weave public programming, industry partnerships, and exhibitions into the learning experience.

Collaborate in cross-disciplinary research

We believe that architects can imagine alternative futures, and we translate this belief into direct action through research and project-based platforms offered by our five research labs:

Summer studios and study-abroad courses

Each summer, architecture students have the opportunity to study abroad. Recent courses have focused on the reimagining of urban sites and extra-large buildings in Berlin and the architectural experimentation of domestic spaces in Tokyo.

The MArch program also hosts the 333 Summer Studio, which invites outside practitioners, professors, and theorists to work with students at CCA for three weeks in an intensive environment. Recent guests have included Studio Gang, SO-IL, and Peggy Deamer.

Our high-profile, dedicated faculty believe that architecture and interior design are critical cultural practices. They research and write about a range of topics and experiment with alternative materials and processes. Their primary pedagogical tools—hands-on lab work and research—guide students throughout studio and seminar investigations, from experiments in collective living to the construction of ecologically resilient structures.

The Master’s in Architecture program has an impressive track record of alumni who launch award-winning design practices, work with international architecture offices, and lead the design of iconic civic buildings. With both pragmatic skills and the ability to broadly speculate, they find opportunities to practice architecture at many scales, in locations throughout the world. Many stay in the Bay Area, working for technology companies like Google and Airbnb, while others take their knowledge back home as leaders in the profession.

Gather materials to build your application

The Master’s in Architecture is designated for those who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another field or have started their architectural studies at the undergraduate level. Advanced standing may be granted to accepted students who have previous education in the field. Overall, admission and placement are based on the strength of your portfolio and transcripts.

Start your application

You’ll apply to CCA and submit all required application materials via SlideRoom. Afterward, you may be contacted for an interview with a faculty member as part of the application process. Being selected for an interview doesn’t indicate applicant status or increase or decrease an applicant’s chances of being admitted into their desired graduate program. Interviews are conducted at the program’s discretion and are used to gain more insight into an application.

MArch application requirements

• Application and $70 nonrefundable application fee
  To be completed and submitted on SlideRoom.
  
  
• Resume/curriculum vitae
  Please outline your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work. Resumes/CVs must be in PDF document format.
  
  
• Two recommendation letters
  You’ll request two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources in SlideRoom by entering the contact information for your recommenders/references. They’ll then receive an automated email from SlideRoom with instructions for uploading their letter of recommendation.
  
  
• Unofficial college transcripts
  You are required to provide your complete undergraduate academic history. Students who have already taken graduate courses are encouraged to submit those transcripts, too. For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
  
  Please provide an unofficial transcript from the college where you will receive or have received your bachelor’s degree, as well as unofficial transcripts for all other undergraduate coursework. Unofficial transcripts will be used for review purposes.
  
  Once admitted and enrolled, all students will need to submit official, sealed transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree to our graduate admissions office by August 1 of the fall semester they begin enrollment at CCA.
  
  
• Proof of English proficiency (international applicants only)
  Review and plan to meet our English proficiency requirements for graduate students.
  
  
• Portfolio
  Your portfolio should demonstrate creative achievements and should be treated as a design opportunity. Assemble your portfolio into one PDF document no longer than 30 pages and no larger than 10 MB. You may provide links to relevant external materials (videos, websites, etc.) within the PDF.
  
  Candidates without an architectural background should use the portfolio to demonstrate their potential in one or more of the following areas: visual and spatial sensibilities, visual and material explorations, and synthetic/conceptual thinking.
  
  Candidates for advanced standing should demonstrate clear evidence of their architectural education and level of ability. In addition to academic and professional work, candidates are encouraged to submit examples of personal work as well.
  
  
• Personal essay
  In a personal essay, submitted as a PDF, write 500 to 1,000 words about what motivates you to pursue a degree in architecture and how this specifically relates to one or more of our program’s strengths:
  
  
  • Integration of artistic, critical, and material approaches to architecture
  • Alternative models of fabrication and practice
  • Contemporary investigations of culture, media, technology, and their relationship to architectural production
  • Position within a multidisciplinary art and design school in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area

For prospective student inquiries, including questions about the program or how to apply, please contact us