Fifth-Year Master of Architectural History Program
Eligible students in the University of Virginia’s Bachelor of Architectural History (BArH) program may consider pursuing the Master of Architectural History (MArH) degree by applying for a fifth year of study. All undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Architectural History program who complete their 7th semester with a 3.3 GPA or higher are guaranteed admission into the Master of Architectural History program upon application and successful review of a research writing sample. The offer of direct admission will include the option of deferred enrollment for up to two years, allowing a student to gain up to two years of work experience before returning to graduate school.
Current students who wish to continue directly on for the Fifth-Year Master of Architectural History should meet with the Architectural History Graduate Director during the spring semester of their second year, or no later than fall semester of their third year to ensure that they are following an appropriate course of study. The undergraduate thesis should be completed during the fall semester of their fourth year, before the application deadline in January for the MArH program. Graduates of the BArH program should be in contact with the Graduate Director before submitting their application. All students interested in the Fifth-Year MArH Program must follow the School of Architecture’s direct admit process and submit their application prior to the January deadline. We strongly recommend that students continuing immediately on to the Fifth-Year MArH program finalize their MArH thesis proposal in the spring semester before they receive their BArH degree.
Advance standing for the Fifth-Year MArH Program will be determined by departmental review. Graduate Financial Aid will be awarded following the same process that applies to all graduate students. Application for financial aid from the Department of Architectural History should accompany the MArH application in addition to the application to the Office of Financial Aid.
Curriculum Requirements for the Fifth-Year MArH Program
A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level courses is required in order to complete the MArH degree. Students in the Fifth-Year MArH Program may transfer in applicable credits for graduate level courses taken, but these credits must be beyond the 122 credits required for the Bachelor of Architectural History degree. In total, the combined BArH + Fifth-Year MArH requires 150 unique credit hours. Students are required to take ARH 8001 (Methods in Architectural History), at least three graduate seminars (8000- or 9000-level), and ARH 8994 (Thesis). At least one course must cover the period before 1450. Those students interested in also obtaining the Certificate in Historic Preservation should consult with the director of that program.
Waivers
When a student has previously passed a course (earning a grade of B or better) that satisfies a core course in architectural history, the graduate director, in consultation with the instructor of the course to be waived, may waive the requirement for that student. The student must take an approved elective to count in lieu of a waived course. No reduction in hours for the MArH degree results from waiving a course.
Students who earned a Bachelor of Architectural History from the University of Virginia will have satisfied the foreign language requirement at the undergraduate level, which will satisfy the graduate program Language Qualification should they enroll in the MArH program within two years of graduation.
Curriculum Requirements for the 4+1 track MARH Program
A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level courses is required in order to complete the MArH degree. Students are required to take the following:
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- 8 ARH elective courses, determined in consultation with the Graduate Director and the thesis advisor (24 credits)
Three of the above courses must be graduate seminars (8000- or 9000-level).
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