Master of Architecture

Course MC-ARCH3Y (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010 - Parkville
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate

Coordinator

Dr Alexander Selenitsch

Contact

Environments and Design Student Centre
T:+61 3 8344 6417 /9862
F: +61 3 8344 5532
E: msd-courseadvice@unimelb.edu.au
Course Overview: Architecture is a creative and exciting design-based profession concerned with virtually all aspects of the built environment. It combines art, science and technology with business, social and environmental concerns.The Master of Architecture is a professional program which prepares graduates for employment as architects. The ethos of the program emphasises the central role of design in the studio. Students can take a research subject which may enable progression to further studies as a PhD candidate.

With over thirty full-time academics and a broad range of leading architectural practitioners, the program has a depth and breadth of teaching and research performance unmatched within the Southeast-Asian and Australasian regions. Graduates will be equipped with the creative and critical thinking skills to push the envelope of architectural change in terms of the design and production of buildings as well as critique of their technical, aesthetic, social and environmental performance.

Professional/International Recognition

This course has been designed to meet the requirements of the professional associations shown below, and for quality assurance will undergo a regular review by:
  • Royal Australian Institute of Architects
  • Architects Registration Board of Victoria
  • Commonwealth Association of Architects
Objectives: The Master of Architecture aims to:
  • Offer advanced education in architectural design in conjunction with critical understanding of aesthetic, socio-political and environmental implications of architectural form, space and expression;
  • Enable students to explore an understanding of cross cultural issues in the planning, design and construction of the built environment;
  • Offer academic opportunities to address contemporary concerns in local and international communities through architectural design;
  • Encourage debate about the theoretical and practical aspects of architectural culture and production; and
  • Provide a vehicle to meet the continuing professional development requirements of the architecture profession in Australia and internationally.
Course Structure & Available Subjects:

All student must complete:

237.5 points core

37.5 architecture electives (at least 25 points from the same elective group).

25 points multidisciplinary electives.

Subject Options:

First year core subjects (100 points)

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Second year core subjects (75 points)

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
25
Semester 1, Semester 2
25

Third year core subjects (62.5 points)

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
25
Semester 1, Semester 2
25

Architecture electives (37.5 points)

Students wishing to specialise in an architecture elective area must undertake at least 25 points in that area with the remaining 12.5 points undertaken from the same or another architecture elective area.

Architecture electives: Asia/Pacific Architecture

Students wishing to specialise in Asia/Pacific Architecture must undertake at least 25 points in this area with the remaining 12.5 points of architecture electives undertaken from the Asia/Pacific Architecture elective group or another architecture elective group.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2010
12.50

Architecture electives: History and Conservation

Students wishing to specialise in History and Conservation must undertake at least 25 points in this area with the remaining 12.5 points of architecture electives undertaken from the History and Conservation elective group or another architecture elective group.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2010
12.50
Not offered in 2010
12.50
Not offered in 2010
12.50

Architecture electives: Production, Practice and Sustainability

Students wishing to specialise in Production, Practice and Sustainabilitymust undertake at least 25 points in this area with the remaining 12.5 points of architecture electives undertaken from the Production, Practice and Sustainability elective group or another architecture elective group.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2010
12.50
Not offered in 2010
12.50
Not offered in 2010
12.50

Architecture electives: Society and Culture

Students wishing to specialise in Society and Culture must undertake at least 25 points in this area with the remaining 12.5 points of architecture electives undertaken from the Society and Culture elective group or another architecture elective group.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2010
12.50
Not offered in 2010
12.50
Not offered in 2010
12.50

Architecture electives: Digital Architecture

Students wishing to specialise in Digital Architecture must undertake at least 25 points in this area with the remaining 12.5 points of architecture electives undertaken from the Digital Architecture elective group or another architecture elective group.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Multidisciplinary electives (25 points)

Students may choose any masters level subjects including -
  • Melbourne School of Design graduate subjects without prerequisites. To view list click here.
  • Melbourne School of Design graduate subjects with prerequisites (provided prerequisites are met). To view list click here
  • Any University of Melbourne graduate subject provided pre-requisites are met and written approval is submitted to the Environments and Design Student Centre.

To view a sample course plan go to:

http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/environments-and-design-students/architecture.html
Entry Requirements:

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria –

  • an undergraduate degree in any discipline with at least H3 (65%) in the final two years, or equivalent; and
  • completion of one design studio subject and one art/architecture/built environment/design history subject at undergraduate level, or equivalent; and
  • a design portfolio in a format as specified by the selection committee*; and
  • a personal statement of no more than 1000 words outlining relevant prior study and work experience, and motivation to undertake the course.


2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews or tests and may call for referee reports and employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Note: It is highly recommended that students obtain at least 16 weeks of documented relevant full-time professional work experience, before commencing the final 100 points of the degree.

*The design portfolio should consist of not more than eight A3 pages. The Selection Committee will look for evidence that the applicant has worked successfully in a studio learning environment. Any of the range of pedagogical approaches to the teaching of introductory design is appropriate background, although the Selection Committee will be particularly interested in the exploration of the design manipulation of 3D objects and spaces.

For information about the two year Master of Architecture program, designed for students with an undergraduate degree in a cognate area, click here.

For information about how to apply click here.

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Graduate Attributes: The main focus of the Master of Architecture is architectural design and practice. The degree provides graduates with:
  • Design skills that will contribute to the improvement of our built environment;
  • A grounding in the rich lessons of architectural history, theory and technology enabling them to develop innovative architecture, relevant to time and place, people and culture;
  • The skills to manage an architectural practice and work within teams; and
  • The ability to use resources, materials and technologies to produce responsible and sustainable architecture.
Professional Accreditation:

Professional/International Recognition

This course has been designed to meet the requirements of the professional associations shown below, and for quality assurance will undergo a regular review by:
  • Royal Australian Institute of Architects
  • Architects Registration Board of Victoria
  • Commonwealth Association of Architects
Generic Skills: The Master of Architecture has been specifically designed around the University of Melbourne postgraduate coursework graduate attributes and the requirements of professional associations. The Master of Architecture will incorporate research-led teaching, problem-based collaborative learning, professional engagement, and a diverse mature cohort. Graduates of the Master of Architecture will have high level professional and intellectual capabilities enabling them to demonstrate leadership, a commitment to life-long learning, and professional integrity.
Links to further information: http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/graduate-school/master-of-architecture.html

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