As an undergraduate studying Architecture at MassArt, you’ll be immersed in rich learning experiences that focus on design, fabrication, and problem solving. You’ll gain practical skills, community-based project experiences, and a deep understanding of the relationship of culture, environment, and the built world.
Students working in class in the Architecture department on the 10th floor of the Tower Building
In coursework, students are exposed to a wide range of technical skills and tools. They dig into the nuts and bolts of the field, producing technical drawings, interpreting building codes, and outlining material specifications. They design buildings, interiors, exhibitions, and furniture – all while balancing the needs of clients and the constraints of the surrounding environment.
Our program features small class sizes and a collaborative community of undergraduate and graduate critical thinkers and designers, partnering within and across levels. At MassArt, we continue to understand architecture to be, above all, a social art. We aim to cultivate students who will engage with these departmental learning goals, build meaning within the department and studio culture, and learn to responsibly engage in their communities.
Architecture at MassArt is fundamentally a social art, embracing a hands-on approach to drawing and building.Paul Hajian Graduate Program Director, Architecture
MassArt Architecture students also know the importance of understanding the broader social context of the built environment. In projects and research, they explore racial justice, social equity, accessibility, sustainability, and civic engagement as central components of architectural practice.
Upon completion of the program, students are ready to work in a range of positions within architecture firms. Many also go on to get their Master of Architecture degree at MassArt, with an additional five semesters of study, following the four-year undergraduate program.
Alumni from the Architecture program have acquired positions at the following firms & organizations:
Students who complete the Architecture BFA program are expected to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes, which are necessary and part of successful entry into professional design practice.
Architecture students have access to multiple fabrication studios, shops, digital labs and individual studio spaces within a collaborative work environment.
Whether you are looking to study architecture as an undergraduate or earn your M.Arch, MassArt offers a welcoming and highly participatory learning environment. Through hands-on making, studio work, and community projects, Architecture students have endless opportunities to gain technical skills and real-world experience. They also share a commitment to socially responsible design and a deep interest in the relationship of culture, the environment, and the built world.
Each semester, the M.Arch program welcomes visiting architects, who lecture about recent projects and experiences in the architectural design field.
View Recent LecturesOur emphasis on hands-on creation, and commitment to addressing current climate challenges in the built environment, aligns seamlessly with MassArt’s public mission.Patricia Seitz Chair, Architecture
Our Community Build Program allows Master of Architecture students and communities the opportunity to work as partners on design-build projects.
Graduate student Justin Brazier lends his design skills to community projects in the Greater Boston neighborhoods where he grew up.
“From a young age, Brazier loved to draw. But when it came time for college, he didn’t think he could get a viable job as an artist. Instead, he searched for other exciting careers, hopping between colleges in and out of the Boston area and cycling through numerous majors, from engineering to business to chemistry. But he had no luck with finding a match.
“Finally, after years of searching, “I bit the bullet to pursue art,” figuring that even “if I don’t make any money, at least I’ll be happy,” he says. Brazier returned to Boston to study at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. At first, he pursued industrial design with the goal of designing sneakers. But then, some of his professors encouraged him to look into architecture, where he could develop a broader skill set. “I took some classes and everything clicked,” he says.”
