Joint-degree Programs

The Yale School of Architecture and the Yale School of Management offer a joint-degree program in Architecture and Management. This program is especially oriented to individuals who wish to integrate the design, urban development, and management professions in pursuing careers in government or the private sector.

Joint-degree students in the three-year first professional M.Arch. program must complete all requirements for the degree, including six terms of design studio, with the first four terms taken consecutively. This is an accredited, professional degree and specific requirements may not be bypassed, except when waivers are granted for course work previously completed at other institutions. Students in this program will have their overall number of course credits required for the M.Arch. degree reduced from the normal 114 credits to 96 credits. This means they will take 18 fewer elective credits (six elective courses) and may be waived from the History and Theory and/or Urbanism and Landscape elective requirements. Normally this adjustment will allow the student to divide the final (fourth) year schedule between the two required advanced studios at the School of Architecture and courses at the School of Management.

Joint-degree students in the two-year post-professional M.Arch. program must complete 54 credits in the School of Architecture, including three advanced studios and the post-professional research studio (ARCH 1121). They will complete the joint-degree program in three years, normally consisting of one full year in each school and a final year divided between the two schools.

At the conclusion of the required studies, the joint-degree program awards both a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.). Withdrawal or dismissal from the School of Management will automatically obligate a student to complete all normal requirements for the M.Arch. degree (114 credits for first professional degree; 72 credits for post-professional degree option). The M.Arch. degree will not be awarded to joint-degree candidates until they have completed all requirements for both degrees.

Admissions are determined independently by the two schools. Students may apply to both schools at the same time and, if accepted, will begin their studies at the School of Architecture, since admission to the School cannot be deferred; or they may apply to the School of Management prior to their final year at the School of Architecture. Students enrolled at the School of Management may apply to the School of Architecture during their first year. Those who apply simultaneously should so indicate on both applications. Applications to the School of Architecture must be approved by the committee of the joint-degree program. Inquiries may be directed to the registrar at the School of Architecture and to the director of student services at the School of Management.

Elisa Iturbe, Coordinator

The Yale School of Architecture and the Yale School of the Environment offer a joint-degree program in Architecture and Environmental Management. This program is directed to individuals who wish to become leaders in sustainable architecture and ecological design, with a focus on the integration of ecological science, energy systems, and global urbanization patterns with architecture and urbanism. Capitalizing on the breadth and depth of expertise at the School of the Environment in ecosystem ecology, land change science, environmental economics, industrial ecology, and ecological anthropology, this program fosters students who can innovatively merge ecological knowledge with architecture at the site, city, and regional scales.

The joint-degree program offers a focused curriculum that enables a student to obtain both a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree and a Master of Environmental Management (M.E.M.) degree one year earlier than would be required if each degree were pursued independently; that is, in four years if admitted to the first professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch. I) program, or in three years if admitted to the second professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch. II) program.

Individuals seeking admission to this joint-degree program must apply and be admitted to one of the two School of Architecture Master of Architecture programs (M.Arch. I or M.Arch. II) and also apply and be admitted separately to the School of the Environment Master of Environmental Management program. Consequently, applicants must submit all required admissions materials and prerequisites for application to each of these programs, indicating their desire to be, in addition, considered for the joint-degree program.

Students may apply to both schools at the same time and, if accepted, will begin their studies at the School of Architecture, since admission to the School of Architecture cannot be deferred. Those who apply simultaneously should indicate their desire to be considered for the joint-degree program on both applications. Students may also apply to the joint-degree program once they have enrolled in one of the schools. At the School of Architecture, students may apply to the School of the Environment prior to their final year. Students enrolled at the School of the Environment may apply to the School of Architecture during their first year. Inquiries may be directed to the registrar at either the School of Architecture or the School of the Environment.

Master of Architecture I—Master of Environmental Management

Joint-degree students admitted to the first professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch. I) program must complete all requirements for this degree as specified in the Course of Study listed below. The Master of Architecture degree for this program is an accredited, professional degree and specific requirements may not be bypassed, except when waivers are granted for course work previously completed at other institutions. Students in this program will have their overall number of course credits required for the Master of Architecture degree reduced from the normal 114 credits to 96 credits and for the Master of Environmental Management degree reduced from the normal 48 credits to 36 credits by, in effect, satisfying what would have been elective requirements in one program with required courses of the other. Students in the joint-degree program may be waived from the History and Theory and/or Urbanism and Landscape elective requirements at the School of Architecture.

Joint-degree students within the Master of Architecture program may waive specific course requirements if they have taken equivalent courses at other institutions, although total credit requirements will not be altered.

The joint-degree curriculum is composed of core courses and electives in both Schools, plus two short summer courses in visualization and technical skills training, two summer internships, and the first-year building project at the School of Architecture and a summer internship or project required for the M.E.M. degree.

Withdrawal or dismissal from the School of the Environment will automatically oblige a student to complete all normal requirements for the School of Architecture M.Arch. degree (114 credits for first professional degree; 72 credits for post-professional degree option). Furthermore, the M.Arch. degree will not be awarded to joint-degree candidates until they have completed all requirements for both degrees. Course of Study*

96 credits from School of Architecture and 36 credits from School of the Environment. If beginning the joint-degree program at the School of Architecture, the course of study is as follows:

First Year

At School of Architecture: all required courses of the first-year M.Arch. I program

Second Year

At School of Architecture: all required courses, except only one elective, of the second-year M.Arch. I program

At School of the Environment: Perspectives course, Basic Knowledge course, summer technical skills training (MODS)

Third Year

At School of Architecture: one advanced studio†

At School of the Environment: Basic Knowledge course, Specialization core and electives, general electives, summer internship

Fourth Year

At School of Architecture: one advanced studio†; 2031a, Architectural Practice and Management

At School of the Environment: Specialization and general electives, Capstone course, Integrative Project

*Once accepted into the joint-degree program, candidates should consult with the program’s coordinator to determine a more definitive course of study. The Schools reserve the right to change the prescribed course of study as necessary.

†Please see below for advanced studio sustainability requirements.

Master of Architecture II—Master of Environmental Management

Joint-degree students admitted to the second professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch. II) program must complete all requirements for this degree as specified in the Course of Study listed below. The Master of Architecture degree for this program is a non-accredited degree. Students in this program will have their overall number of course credits required for the Master of Architecture degree reduced from the normal 72 credits to 54 credits, including two advanced studios, the post-professional design studio (1121b) and the advanced sustainable design studio, and for the Master of Environmental Management degree reduced from the normal 48 credits to 36 credits by, in effect, satisfying what would have been elective requirements in one program with required courses of the other.

The joint-degree curriculum is composed of core courses and electives in both Schools, plus one short summer course in technical skills training and one summer internship. Course of Study*

54 credits from School of Architecture and 36 credits from School of the Environment

First Year

At School of Architecture: all required courses of the first-year M.Arch. II program†

At School of the Environment: summer technical skills training (MODS)

Second Year

At School of Architecture: all required courses of the second-year M.Arch. II program†

At School of the Environment: Perspectives course, Basic Knowledge courses, summer internship

Third Year

At School of the Environment: Specialization core and electives, general electives, Capstone course, Integrative Project

*Once accepted into the joint-degree program, candidates should consult with the program’s coordinator to determine a more definitive course of study. The Schools reserve the right to change the prescribed course of study as necessary.

†Please see below for advanced studio sustainability requirements.

Advanced Studio Requirements

As of Fall 2020, all YSOA-YSE dual-degree students must use one of their two Advanced Studios to earn a ‘sustainable studio credit.’ This is a graduation criterion for this program, and does not result in course credits towards graduation, but must be completed in order to graduate with dual M. Arch and M.E.M. degrees.

In order to earn this credit, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• In advance of their first advanced studio (Aug 1 for Fall semester; Dec 1 for Spring semester), students must submit a 500-word statement that includes the following:
  
  • A summary of their academic trajectory in the dual-degree program so far. Students should describe their YSE concentration and area of focus during the research colloquium and YSE summer requirement.
    
  • A general description of how their environmental knowledge could be brought to bear on their design work. Given the expertise students have formed over the course of the past three years, they should have a sense of which environmental aspects they would want to bring into their advanced studio, independent of who their studio critic may be.
    
  • A list of critics and scholars that students would like to invite to evaluate their work. During the semester, student work will undergo additional evaluation (see below), and this is a preliminary list of scholars, architects, practitioners, and critics with whom students would like to engage in that process.
    
• Students will participate in the lottery as they normally would and once enrolled in a studio, their design work will undergo additional evaluation in the form of two additional juries at midterm and finals to evaluate, assess, and give feedback on the work according to the environmental parameters set by the student. The goal is for each joint-degree student to bring the knowledge acquired at YSE into the space of the studio. Given the variety in research and topic areas at YSE, the terms of the conversation will be set by each student, and this also presents an opportunity for joint-degree students to bring in critics and thinkers from other schools and disciplines to discuss their work. Involvement by the studio head is optional, and not required. Each jury will be curated by the student, with approval of the joint-degree coordinator.
  
• Students are responsible for:
  
  • Submitting a list of jurors to the joint-degree coordinator at the start of the semester. The coordinator must approve the jury in order for the student to proceed.
    
  • Coordinating dates of each jury and sending invitations.
    
  • Pre-recording a 20 minute presentation of the project so that the jury itself can focus on discussion and feedback.
    
  • Producing additional drawings and models as needed to describe the environmental aspects of the project with rigor and depth.
    

In order for the student to receive the ‘sustainable studio credit,’ both of these assessments must be completed by the end of the semester and the program coordinator must approve the work. This assessment is independent of the students’ studio grades/evaluations.

If the student fails this assessment, they do not receive the ‘sustainable studio credit’ for that studio. If this occurs during their first advanced studio, students can make another attempt during their remaining advanced studio. If this occurs during their final advanced studio, students will be required to undertake remedial coursework set by the program coordinator and the Curriculum Committee.

Yale School of Architecture students who are enrolled in the M.Arch. program and who are interested in continued advanced study in an area of specialization in architecture, environmental design, or planning/development, may apply for admission to the M.E.D. program. Students may take courses supporting areas of advanced study during the M.Arch. curriculum and, after receipt of the M.Arch. degree, may qualify for up to one term’s advanced standing in the M.E.D. degree program.