School of Architecture

Consistent with the revolutionary legacy of the University of Virginia, the School of Architecture educates the next generation of innovative leaders, thinkers, designers and makers who will not only engage the most difficult and complex challenges of our time, but also envision, design and build the most just, compelling and courageous of futures. The School is an established leader in addressing some of the most pressing global issues, from planetary urbanization and social justice, to climate change and the transformation of information technologies, through interdisciplinary research focused on the built environment, urban futures, spatial and material strategies, advanced fabrication and ecological resilience. By prioritizing the connections between design research and pedagogy, established research centers within the School of Architecture are committed to advancing knowledge on cultural landscapes, community design, spatial justice, healthy environments, and the 21^st century global city. They allow students, especially at the graduate and PhD levels, to work alongside our award-winning faculty across four departments and with collaborators across the University and beyond – with ongoing research and design projects established in India, China, the Arctic, Brazil, Ghana, Spain, amongst others.

Five distinct, yet importantly interrelated, disciplines provide a rich setting for professional education at the post-undergraduate level. Architecture and Landscape Architecture seek to integrate the academic and professional aspects of their disciplines in the belief that acts of design must be responsive to cultural, historical, and physical contexts as much as to functional need. Architectural History aims to develop a deep awareness of the value of the past to inform and enrich the future. Urban and Environmental Planning addresses community sustainability and the balance between environment, economy, and social equity. The PhD in the Constructed Environment allows for advanced scholarship and innovative research across the four disciplines.

With nearly 20,000 square feet of open studio and classroom space and state-of-the-art digital fabrication labs, the School of Architecture supports approximately 250 graduate students who are part of and contribute to a dynamic collective community. Small class sizes allow for engaged learning and one-on-one dialogue with professors. The school’s highly recognized faculty create an energetic and productive learning environment with challenging and varied curriculum. The award-winning faculty are leading practitioners, scholars, and researchers with a common goal to foster meaningful change through the transformation of the built environment.

The School of Architecture at the University of Virginia draws on Jefferson’s words, “always in the name of tomorrow,” by extending his bold vision into the next century of architectural education. The School aims to ensure its impact as proactive agents of change in relation to the conception and design of collective future. As its disciplines hold both the creative promise and critical responsibility to define and build environments that are dynamic, meaningful, and sustainable cultural artifacts, its students and faculty are leading in the stewardship and strategic re-visioning of the built world through the creation of new knowledge and transformative design practices.

The School of Architecture offers a Ph.D. in the Constructed Environment and four graduate Master’s programs: Master of Architectural History; Master of Architecture; Master of Landscape Architecture;  Master of Urban Design and Master of Urban and Environmental Planning. The School of Architecture has one annual admissions process and, in most cases, admits students for the fall semester only.

For specific admissions information, including application instructions and deadlines, please visit https://www.arch.virginia.edu/apply/graduate-admissions

Please note, if an applicant wants to apply to more than one department within the School of Architecture, s/he must create one account and submit one application per program. Applicant must also, submit one copy of all other required materials per program/department.

Additional Information

Awards, Honors and Scholarships  

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