Masters in Architecture - Urban Design Concentration

The College of Architecture and Design offers an exciting program in urban design that provides graduate education, community outreach, and applied research opportunities. Students receive graduate education by enrolling in the Master of Architecture concentration in sustainable urban design and/or the Urban Design Certificate program. Students also participate in community outreach that emphasizes service learning in architecture, community design, and urban design by collaborating with real clients on real life projects. Additionally, students have opportunities to work with faculty as research assistants on applied research projects, or to conduct independent research projects with faculty in urban design. 

This program recognizes the critical need for understanding cities and their associated regions and aspires to design sustainable urban places. With interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach to place, integrating the built and natural environments, and layering culture, economics, history, technology and theory, the program capitalizes on the diverse global background of faculty and strong local connection of the faculty and prospective students to prepare graduates to be leaders in shaping sustainable urban environments.

The Urban Design Concentration allows students to focus their study and research on urban design while they fulfill degree requirements for a Master’s degree in Architecture. The concentration offers two tracks. The first is a studio focus where students take two urban studio courses, both of which allow planning and design within the city as well as the district, block, or street. The second option is a two course thesis that allows applied research on an urban topic, with a committee chaired by a full-time member of the graduate faculty; a second member from the full-time or adjunct faculty, and a third member from either the faculty or the profession.

The urban design program is offered at the Detroit Studio Community Outreach Program. The mission of The Detroit Studio is educational: to provide students with an enriched educational experience through community-based architectural, urban design, and community development projects; and to offer accessible and useful programs and information to the public, the design profession, municipal officials and the business community.

Core courses of the Urban Design Concentration

Approved Concentration Electives

Admissions Requirements and Procedures

For more information about the graduate program, please contact:

Alice McHard
amchard@ltu.edu