Texas Tech University

Graduate Programs

M.S. Arch

The Master of Science in Architecture degree is a research-based academic degree for students interested in advanced architectural studies. This degree does not prepare students to receive licensure in architecture. It is for students with an accredited professional Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, or an approved bachelor’s degree.

Students who have non-architecture degrees and wish to enter the program and those who do not have a basic understanding of computing and computer-assisted design skills may be required to complete leveling work that will not accrue graduate credit toward their degree.

Academic requirements will vary depending on the specialization chosen.

After the first semester, students will be matched with a faculty member who will serve as their academic advisor and the chair of their thesis committee. All students seeking a degree must complete the program in residency, including the thesis.

Admission Requirements

The admission application includes a portfolio of creative work (writing, design, drawing, photography, etc.) that reflects the student’s level of design interest, intellectual inquiry, and communication skills. The HCOA also requires students to submit letters of recommendation and a statement of intent.*

*Graduate school requires other items/information for application. There are further requirements for international students.

Questions?

Contact our Student Services Office.


Vector art drawing of a CNC arm drawing into a material. The path the arm will take is also drawn in a zig-zag pattern.

Design & Health Specialization

The D&H M.S. has two concentration tracks: Health & Wellness Design (HWD) and Healthcare Facilities Design (HFD). This program provides students with the design and analytic skills for designing space that positively affects patient outcomes and the efficiency and safety of healthcare environments.

Catalog Entry for the Design and Health Concentration (opens in new window)

Render of a shaded outdoor space with people walking though and sitting on various benches.

Historic Preservation Specialization
(El Paso)

The Master of Science degree in Architecture specializing in Historic Preservation and Design is a research-based academic degree for students interested in advanced architectural studies, who want to enter the Historic Preservation field. This is considered a terminal degree for the architectural preservation professional discipline and is accredited by the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE).

Catalog Entry for the Historic Preservation Concentration (opens in new window)

Students visiting a library, with the photo angled upward for a view of the painted ceiling.

Drawing of a dense urban area map, with buildings highlighted in red.

Ecological and Sustainable Design Specialization

The Ecological and Sustainable Design (ESD) concentration is tailored toward forward-thinking students eager to address the complex and wicked problems of climate change, social justice, and adaptation for innovative design in architecture. Through a carefully curated selection of elective and studio courses, explore current issues such as regenerative and carbon-neutral materials, ecologically-minded technologies and integration, and energy-efficient design. With 34 hours of approved coursework, students will gain invaluable knowledge and practical skills to advance ecological and environmental systems through architecture. Students will shape the future while making meaningful contributions to sustainable design and while advancing the field of architecture at the intersection of ecology, equity, and innovation.

Catalog Entry for the Ecological and Sustainable Design Concentration (opens in new window)


Transboundary Spatial Practice Specialization
(El Paso)

Topics:

  • Environmental Border Studies
  • Climate Change on the Border
  • Border Urbanism
  • Borders and the Build Environment
  • Resilient Border Communities

Uniquely positioned on the U.S. – Mexico border, in the bustling binational metroplex of El Paso & Ciudad Juárez, this research-based program will focus on intersections of climate change, climate impact on migration, and the built environment in the borderlands. Course and thesis content is embedded within the unique context of infrastructural architectural systems shaped by binational policy. Some ideas will span from the design and critique of small-scale spaces to large-scale engagement with urbanism. The program will interrogate the discipline’s responsibility within a contested context, by engaging the layered issues of human rights, desertification, migration, energy extraction, and policy enacted on the U.S. - Mexico border.

Students will be invited to collaborate with local organizations and community partners to develop their thesis and will have opportunities to conduct field work in their area of interest, spanning from environmental equity to spatial practice that addresses asymmetrical generational impacts. Additionally, a unique community-engagement curricular component will guide students through research and projects that honor equitable partnerships with the communities they engage.

Please contact ersela.kripa@ttu.edu for additional information and for an opportunity to apply. Space is limited for Fall 2026.

Online Catalog Entry for the Transboundary Spatial Practice Concentration (opens in new window)

Map projection of the mainland United States and Mexico, with a green crosshair over El Paso.

Applying to the MS Arch program

The graduate application process is now completed entirely online at TTU Graduate Admissions. Please visit the Graduate School Prospective Students page for more information on applying. Fall applications are due February 1.

Apply to the MS Arch Program