Most students have several years of professional experience. The program is carefully designed to provide specialized skill development in discrete areas of architectural study. These skills build upon the student's undergraduate study and require considerable in-depth exploration and discovery of new knowledge. Contemporary developments in each specialty area are explored, and students have opportunity, through the thesis or other means, to propose new constructs, theories, and procedures. Students may center their academic efforts on community and facility design for special populations, experience of place and landscape, project planning and programming, or other topics addressing individual educational and career goals.
Design theory focuses on architectural and urban theory and history.
Students may center their academic efforts on architectural history, application of architectural theory through design, urban design theory, architectural history, urban history, historic preservation, sustainable architecture, geometry in architecture, pattern language, and vernacular architecture.