Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Record 2005-2006 
    
Graduate Record 2005-2006 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Master of Architectural History


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Admission


Applicants must hold an approved baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Admission to graduate study will normally require an average of B or better and a command of at least one foreign language. Candidates admitted to the program must, before beginning their work for the degree, have taken the equivalent of AR H 101 and 102 (Intro to Architectural History) and one semester of architectural design studio (ARCH 201). These prerequisites may be satisfied by taking AR H 112 and ARCH 204, or the equivalent, during the school’s summer session. (Students do not normally enter the program in the spring semester, although this is permitted in special circumstances with approval of the chair.)

Curriculum


The program’s purpose is to equip the student with a sound background in architectural history, including its principles and interpretation. The degree requires a minimum of 36 credits at the graduate level.

The degree requirements should be considered as a minimum core program. Architectural History is the primary vehicle for students who wish to obtain the Certificate in Historic Preservation. Others may wish to explore interests in fields related to the History of Architecture. Thus, the student should expect to take more than the required minimum courses during the normal four semesters of residency. Qualified students interested in historic preservation can complete the requirements for the Certificate in Historic Preservation and the Master of Architectural History within a two-year period.

Historic Preservation Certificate Program


Students wishing to enter the Historic Preservation Certificate Program must be admitted to one of the graduate degree programs in the School of Architecture. In order to ensure proper academic advising and program coordination, students interested in the Historic Preservation Program should attend the program meeting at the start of the fall semester. Upon arriving at the Architecture School they should also file a program participation form with the Architecture School’s registrar. Students who complete the required 21 credits of preservation course work receive a Certificate in Historic Preservation, in addition to their master’s degree. There are individual courses that fulfill the requirements of the historic preservation certificate curriculum that also fulfill requirements within the architectural history department curriculum. Thus, students normally complete the course work for the historic preservation certificate during the same period in which they complete their degree program. For example, the course in the Theory of Historic Preservation counts as one of the 700-level seminar courses required by the department. The overall certificate program fulfills the degree program’s requirement for minor field of study. The courses in Group B of the Foundations of Preservation Core can count towards a major field requirement in American architectural history. 

Placement Examination


Students from different disciplines apply to the program. For those students who lack adequate undergraduate preparation in the field, the curriculum has been structured to allow deficiencies to be remedied.

Upon entry into the program, candidates will take a placement examination composed of two sections. Section one is Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic, and Early Renaissance. Section two is 1500-present, and includes High Renaissance, Baroque, and European including, England, France, Germany, Italy and North American, since the first European contact. Students who fail in one or more of these fields are required during the first year to take the appropriate course or courses. Only one such course may be used to satisfy the degree requirements; it would take the place of the free elective.

Language Qualification


Candidates are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language, preferably French, Italian, or German. This requirement may be satisfied by earning the grade of B or better in an intermediate-level university course in the language within two years of admission, by a score of at least 550 on an ETS Graduate School Foreign Language Test, or by a language departmental reading test.

Course Distribution


Three credits must be in AR H 800 (Methods in Architectural History), three credits in SARC 600 (The Common Course), and three thesis credits. In addition, each student must have at least nine credits at the 800 level or above, and at least one course from four of the following distribution areas: Ancient and Medieval Architecture, Renaissance and Baroque Architecture, European Architecture since 1700, American Architecture, and non-Western Architecture. Courses taken at other institutions are normally not accepted. Under special circumstances a petition for an exception of one or two courses might be granted.

Major and Minor Field Areas


Each student must complete a major field of nine credits and a minor field of six credits selected from among the distribution areas listed above. Students enrolled in the Historic Preservation Certificate Program may select historic preservation as their six-credit minor. Of the 36 credits required for the degree, 33 must be in AR H courses, although in extraordinary circumstances, and by prior approval of the Department Chair, the student may substitute other courses, e.g., art or history.

Comprehensive Examination


The examination is given during the spring semester of the second year, and requires mastery of the discipline of architectural history including its less familiar aspects. The preparation required for this examination should be kept in mind when selecting courses, conducting student-run seminars, pursuing outside reading, and attending additional courses informally.

Thesis


The thesis is a major piece of independent work undertaken under the supervision of a committee from the Department. The committee is normally composed of two full-time Department Faculty, one of who serves as Chair, and a third member. The thesis represents three credits, normally taken during the student’s fourth semester. It is possible to explore the thesis topic more broadly by enrolling for an independent research course in conjunction with the thesis course.

Typical Program of Study


First Year


First Semester - Credits: 12


  • AR H ___ - Major field area Credits: 3
  • AR H ___ - Elective Credits: 3

Second Semester - Credits: 12


  • AR H ___ - Elective Credits: 3
  • AR H ___ - Other distribution areas Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
    A course beyond the 36 credits required to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree. These electives may be used to explore interests in related fields or to satisfy the requirement of a second or third preparatory course from among AR H 701, 702.

Second Year


First Semester - Credits: 12


  • AR H ___ - Major field area Credits: 3
  • AR H ___ - Minor field area Credits: 3
  • AR H ___ - Minor field area Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
    A course beyond the 36 credits required to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree. These electives may be used to explore interests in related fields or to satisfy the requirement of a second or third preparatory course from among AR H 701, 702.

Second Semester - Credits: 12


  • AR H ___ - Major field area Credits: 3
  • AR H ___ - Thesis Credits: 3
  • AR H ___ - Other distribution areas Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
    A course beyond the 36 credits required to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree. These electives may be used to explore interests in related fields or to satisfy the requirement of a second or third preparatory course from among AR H 701, 702.

Degree Total - 48 Credits


A course beyond the 36 credits required to satisfy the minimum requirements for the degree. These electives may be used to explore interests in related fields or to satisfy the requirement of a second or third preparatory course from among AR H 701, 702.

The preservation program requirements for students in the Department of Architectural History are given in the description of the Historic Preservation Program.

Architectural History students may, with approval, attend the summer program in Vicenza.

A semester in England is also offered through the Courtauld Institute at the University of London for second year students.

A Venice program is offered through the School of Architecture for second year students.

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