Master of Architectural History
Master of Architectural History students learn how to search, document, understand, and interpret building sites, construction materials, architectural drawings, and texts, as well as intellectual frameworks that construct histories in relation to larger social and political objectives. Our World Heritage Lab combines scientific and intellectual research in historic preservation at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the University of Virginia and Monticello. The curriculum offers several tracks in order to maximize the opportunities for our graduate students to engage in research interests of their choice, and to work closely with our highly dedicated and accomplished faculty. UVA MArH graduates continue to professional careers in a variety of fields ranging from public architectural historians, private preservation consultants, to those in critical and curatorial roles in leading cultural institutions and in academia.
Why Study Architectural History at UVA?
UVA Architectural History Chair Sheila Crane and Professor Louis Nelson share highlights of the program.
Student Perspectives
Learn about the MArH program from our students.
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MArH Tracks
The graduate program in Architectural History offers three different tracks:
1. Master of Architectural History
2. Master of Architectural History with Historic Preservation Certificate
3. Master of Architectural History with Urban Design Certificate
Each track will give students an opportunity to refine the course of study that enables them to gain distinctive knowledge and experience for different career prospects. Our graduates work in a variety of fields ranging from public architectural historians, private preservation consultants, to those in critical and curatorial roles in leading cultural institutions and in academia.
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. It is possible 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, or take University of Virginia language courses at the intermediate level, or pass the language departmental reading test. Architectural History students should fulfill the language requirement before or shortly after entry into the program.
36-48 CREDITS
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. Those interested in historic preservation can complete the requirements for the Certificate in Historic Preservation and the Master in Architectural History within two years, and those interested in urban design can complete the requirements for the Certificate in Urban Design and the Master in Architectural History within two years.
MArH Thesis Guide + Schedule
1. Typical Program of Study for Architectural History
This study track offers a curriculum focused on critical understanding of architectural history as a culturally constructed knowledge. Through examination of histories assembled in different periods and places, and by different interest groups, this curriculum focus on the development of rigorous research and analytical skills to engage with the central task of critically writing and curating histories for the future.
Course Distribution
Each student must have at least nine credits, or three courses at the 8000 or 9000 level. Fifth year MARH students should consult with the Director of the Graduate Program concerning their requirements.
2. Typical Program of Study for Architectural History with Historic Preservation Certificate
This study track prepares students in the expanding field of historic preservation. Architectural heritage plays a central role in defining a civic sense of place, buttressing sustainable communities, conserving urban neighborhoods, protecting rural and scenic areas, and enriching public understanding of social, cultural, and architectural history. Students gain a Historic Preservation Certificate with this program of study.
Course Distribution
Each student must have at least six credits, or two courses at the 8000 or 9000 level. Each student must have at least six credits, or two courses at 7000 level that also fulfill Historic Preservation Requirement. Fifth year MARH students should consult with the Director of the Graduate Program concerning their requirements.
3. Typical Program of Study for Architectural History with Urban Design Certificate
This study track aims to provide a greater capacity for students to engage with the process of urban developments that often involves aspects of cultural heritage conservation. Half of the world’s population live in urban areas; balancing the need for development, and the role of architectural history, heritage, and culture in urban developments will remain one of the most important and challenging tasks in the future. Students gain an Urban Design Certificate with this program of study. This track is not open to fifth year MARH students.
Course Distribution
Each student must have at least six credits, or two courses at the 8000 or 9000 level. Students must take nine credits, or three courses of required Urban Design seminars: Introduction to Urban Design History and Theory, Urban Design Methods and Strategies, and Applied GIS. Students without design experience in their undergrad education are further requested to participate in the Summer Design Institute prior enrolling in the Urban Design Certificate program.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
The interdisciplinary Program in Historic Preservation offers masters degree candidates in all of the School of Architecture’s disciplines (architecture, architectural history, landscape architecture and urban + environmental planning) the opportunity to expand their professional studies through specialized training in the theory, practice and ethics of historic preservation.
URBAN DESIGN GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
The Urban Design Certificate program is open to graduate students in any department of the School of Architecture who want to pursue an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the critical questions raised by planetary urbanization, from urban and infrastructural development, to social equity and resilience.
Any potential Master of Architectural History student can apply for a dual degree in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, or Urban and Environmental Planning. Learn more about our Dual Degrees and Graduate Certificates.
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 upon application and successful review of a research writing sample.
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 admissions procedures 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.
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.
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