Admission Requirements

Qualifications to Proceed to the Master of Architecture Track II Degree

Master of Architecture Track II Admission Requirements

Admission standards for Graduate Studies at California Baptist University can be found in the Admissions section of the University Catalog. Specific application requirements for the Master of Architecture Track II (Bachelor to MArch) are:

1. Grade Point Average

• A minimum 3.0 GPA for unconditional admission and a minimum 2.75 GPA for conditional admission
• Applicants with a GPA below 2.75 may be considered for admission with compelling additional materials (GRE, Work experience, etc.) 

2. Completion of a BA or BS in Architecture, or related discipline, from an accredited institution of higher education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the evaluated equivalency
3. Prerequisites:

• Design Studio I
• Design Studio II
• Computer Modeling
• Architectural History I
• Architectural History II
• Materials and Methods

4. Two Recommendations, completed on forms provided, from sources who can address your potential for scholarly and professional success. At least one recommendation should be from a professor or instructor. Family members and friends may not complete recommendations.
5. Essay Requirement - complete one of the following:

• Letter of intent detailing your motivation to pursue a professional graduate degree in architecture, the rationale to pursue studies at California Baptist University, and professional ambitions post graduate school, or
• Essay of approximately 1500 words outlining initial proposal for Thesis Design Project. Essay should include:
  • Project Description (approx. 300 words): Description of your intended thesis project, including specific discussion of the project’s focus, scope, and context.
  • Line of Inquiry (approx. 400 words): What key questions, historical developments, or current discussions will the project explore?  Please utilize 1-4 citations to demonstrate 1) the validity and or significance of this line of inquiry 2) and its relationship to a larger body of thought, gap in knowledge, or societal discussion.
  • Impact Statement (approx. 300 words): How could the project, and exploration of the line of inquiry within the project, influence the broader discussion of architecture.
  • Personal Motivation & Future Impact (approx. 500 words): What is your motivation to engage in this project?  Why is CBU your institution of choice for this study?  What are your future career aspirations and how do you see this project influencing your future aspirations?

6. Current Resume documenting all related professional and extracurricular experiences
7. Current Design Portfolio documenting student and/or professional design work
8. Successful interview with the Director of the Architecture Program in Architecture
9. Applications must be received by priority application deadline for equitable consideration in terms of thesis placement, teaching or research assistantships, and scholarship awards.

Program Requirements (36-89 units)

The Master of Architecture Track II program is a pathway to the accredited M.Arch. degree for students who have earned a BA or BS of Architecture or related degree at another universities.  All previous coursework transcripts will be reviewed for alignment with accreditation standards, and may require enrollment in pre-requisite coursework prior to proceeding with the requirements below.

In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a preprofessional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree. The California Baptist University College of Architecture, Visual Art, & Design, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs: M. Arch. (168 credits including 30 graduate credits). Next accreditation visit for all programs: 2021.