Other courses at the 500-level or higher, inside or outside the School, if relevant to the program of study, can be approved by the student's supervisor and Graduate Program Director.
Architecture (Thesis) (M.Sc.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Architecture (Faculty of Engineering)
Degree: Master of Science
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The M.Sc. in Architecture (Thesis) is a research-intensive program of study, focusing on critical skills in research, analysis, experimentation, design research, and interpretation that are applicable in the profession, allied disciplines, and society. The program accommodates several areas of study, capitalizing on faculty expertise. It offers flexibility between a written or design-oriented thesis, and promotes close interaction between students and faculty in sponsored and unsponsored research. Original research on architectural, engineering, landscape, and urban issues of interest with implications for the built environment are conducted to develop the student's research skills and competencies for doctoral studies or a leadership role in professional practice.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (33 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 627 | Research Methods. | 3 |
Research Methods. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of research methods relevant to architecture. Introduction to research ethics; differentiating between primary and secondary methods; contrasting macro- and micro-social approaches; setting research questions; undertaking literature scans; reviewing empirical findings by others; designing instruments and tools for primary research; conducting field research; presenting findings. | ||
| ARCH 630J1 | Research Symposium. | 1 |
Research Symposium. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparation and delivery of work in progress toward the thesis to peers and faculty. | ||
| ARCH 630J2 | Research Symposium. | 1 |
Research Symposium. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparation and delivery of work in progress toward the thesis to peers and faculty. | ||
| ARCH 630J3 | Research Symposium. | 1 |
Research Symposium. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparation and delivery of work in progress toward the thesis to peers and faculty. | ||
| ARCH 694 | Thesis Preparation. | 3 |
Thesis Preparation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Definition of thesis proposition, including general preoccupations and methodology; exploration of theoretical antecedents, epistemological foundations, and practical techniques pertinent to contemporary theory and practice. | ||
| ARCH 695 | Detailed Research Proposal. | 6 |
Detailed Research Proposal. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Development and presentation of formal proposal for the Master's thesis. Research methods and methodology; research design; major debates in contemporary architectural scholarship. | ||
| ARCH 696 | Thesis Submission. | 18 |
Thesis Submission. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research work under the direction of the thesis supervisor. | ||
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits selected from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 515 | Sustainable Design. | 3 |
Sustainable Design. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will address sustainable design theory and applications in the built environment with students from a variety of fields (architecture, urban planning, engineering, sociology, environmental studies, economics, international studies). Architecture will provide the focus for environmental, socio-cultural and economic issues. | ||
| ARCH 517 | Sustainable Residential Development. | 3 |
Sustainable Residential Development. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Design strategies of sustainable residential environments at the community and the unit levels. Historic references, siting principles, high density, healthy developments, green homes, urban renewal, circulation and parking, open spaces and implementation approaches. | ||
| ARCH 604 | Urban Design Seminar. | 3 |
Urban Design Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Advanced concepts and methods used in urban design, focusing on epistemological debates, practical techniques, and philosophical concerns that shape contemporary theory and practice in the field. | ||
| ARCH 626 | Critical Design Strategies. | 3 |
Critical Design Strategies. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Study of specific contemporary design practices to inform the development of a detailed proposal for the final independent research project. | ||
| ARCH 635 | Selected Topics in Housing 1. | 3 |
Selected Topics in Housing 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Special topics related to housing. | ||
| ARCH 641 | Energy and Environments 1. | 3 |
Energy and Environments 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Examination of technical relationships among building materials, architectural proportions, thermoregulation strategies, and human capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change. | ||
| ARCH 642 | Energy and Environments 2. | 3 |
Energy and Environments 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theories and methods for the energetic and environmental basis of architecture. | ||
| ARCH 651 | Architectural History and Theory Seminar 1. | 3 |
Architectural History and Theory Seminar 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on the thematic study of modern architecture and its theoretical underpinnings as a response to technological, cultural,environmental, and philosophical challenges. Historiographic and design approaches to architectural problems encountered from the pre-industrial age to contemporary post-industrial expansion. | ||
| ARCH 652 | Architectural History and Theory Seminar 2. | 3 |
Architectural History and Theory Seminar 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on the thematic study of modern architecture and its theoretical underpinnings as a response to technological, cultural, environmental, and philosophical challenges. Historiographic and design approaches to architectural problems encountered from the pre-industrial age to contemporary post-industrial expansion. | ||
| ARCH 653 | Architectural History and Theory Seminar 3. | 3 |
Architectural History and Theory Seminar 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on the thematic study of modern architecture and its theoretical underpinnings as a response to technological, cultural, environmental, and philosophical challenges. Historiographic and design approaches to architectural problems encountered from the pre-industrial age to contemporary post-industrial expansion. | ||
| ARCH 654 | Architectural History and Theory Seminar 4. | 3 |
Architectural History and Theory Seminar 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar on the thematic study of modern architecture and its theoretical underpinnings as a response to technological, cultural, environmental, and philosophical challenges. Historiographic and design approaches to architectural problems encountered from the pre-industrial age to contemporary post-industrial expansion. | ||
| ARCH 670 | Advanced Landscape Theory. | 3 |
Advanced Landscape Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Landscape as both process and medium linking human history and environmental change. Abiotic and biotic processes. Conceptualizations of nature, ecology, and landscape. Climate change and other anthropogenic impacts. Design as discipline-transcending work at multiple scales. | ||
| ARCH 675 | Architecture in Global Perspective. | 3 |
Architecture in Global Perspective. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Global history of architecture and urbanism, examining contemporary cities with an architectural lens. Case studies are presented to develop capacities for critical analysis of the built environment. Key ideas and ongoing debates on urbanism and architectural design. | ||
| ARCH 684 | Contemporary Theory 1. | 3 |
Contemporary Theory 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar exploring critical readings in architectural design and research. | ||
| ARCH 685 | Contemporary Theory 2. | 3 |
Contemporary Theory 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar exploring critical readings in architectural design and research. | ||