Architectural History, M.Ar.H.

Admission

Students in the Master of Architectural History (MArH) program hold a wide variety of undergraduate degrees from accredited colleges or universities. Recently these have included Architecture, Art History, Archaeology, English, History, Biology, French, American Studies, Engineering, and Historic Preservation, as well as Architectural History. Students may be asked to submit a written reflection essay for advising purposes before the beginning of their first semester. Students applying from within the University of Virginia to the Fifth Year Master of Architectural History program should consult the requirements detailed in the Fifth Year Master of Architectural History program.

For additional information please visit www.virginia.edu/arch. 

Curriculum

The Master of Architectural History is a 2-year graduate degree with a minimum of 36 credits at the graduate level. Typically students take credits beyond the 36 required during their four semesters of residency, generally attaining 48 credits by the end of the program. The graduate program offers two different tracks:

1. Master of Architectural History;
2. Master of Architectural History with Historic Preservation Certificate:

Each track enables students to gain distinctive knowledge and experience. Our graduates work in a variety of capacities, including as architectural historians in the public realm or in academia, historic preservation and cultural heritage specialists, public historians, architectural critics, editorial and research consultants, or curators and educational outreach specialists in leading cultural institutions.

Thesis

The thesis is a major piece of independent work completed under the close supervision of a faculty member who is the director of the three-member thesis committee that oversees the project. This committee may consist entirely of faculty from the Department of Architectural History, or it may include one person from outside the Department, pending approval by the student’s thesis advisor and the Director of the Graduate Program. Students are encouraged to explore the thesis topic in greater depth through an independent study course taken prior to the thesis semester.

Language Qualification

Candidates are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language appropriate to the student’s major field of study. 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 prior to admission to the University of Virginia graduate program. Alternatively, the student can take the ETS Graduate School Foreign Language Test and pass with a score of at least 550, receive a passing grade in a University of Virginia language courses at the intermediate level, or pass a foreign language reading competency test administered by the appropriate language department at the University of Virginia. Architectural History students should fulfill the language requirement before or soon after entry into the program.

Typical Program of Study

The typical course of study develops a critical understanding of architectural history. Combining core competencies with an individually tailored course of study, this curriculum focuses on the development of rigorous research and analytical skills that will allow students to develop an area of expertise along with the ability to engage broadly in historical interpretation as a critical practice that takes many forms. 

Total Required Credits: 36

Additional Information

Master of Architectural History students may, with departmental approval, enroll in the Venice program, as well as attend selected international summer programs, including the China program.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) credit received for summer or fall break internships cannot be applied toward overall credits for degree requirements.  Course credits are applied to allow the student to participate in an internship/externship per the F-1 eligibility.