Online Master's Programs in Architecture - M.Arch Degrees

Architects are involved in the planning and designing of houses, office buildings, factories, and other structures. They work on private or public projects and design outdoor and indoor spaces. These professionals can be commissioned to design almost anything from a room to an entire building complex.

Architects are expected to make designs and plans for the renovation and construction of homes, healthcare facilities, schools, and other structures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2025) expects architectural openings nationwide to increase 4 percent between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than the average growth projected for all occupations during that time (3 percent).

According to the BLS, about two-thirds of states require that architects hold a degree in architecture from one of more than 120 schools of architecture accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). State licensing requirements can be found at the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

The BLS stated that the mean annual wage for architects was $103,550 in May 2025—the latest data available as of July 2026. While architectural programs are usually available on campus, many colleges and universities now offer online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in this lucrative field. This allows students to take classes from anywhere while also fulfilling their personal and professional commitments.

An online master’s in architecture generally comprises 30 to 36 credits and can be completed in two to five years. The coursework typically explores design studio; architectural history; sustainable design; construction documents and building codes; architectural theory; and architectural professional practices, though the curriculum varies across different programs.

Upon completing the program, graduates can take roles as BIM managers, architects, developers, construction managers, facilities managers, energy modelers, urban planners, and regional planners.

The following article outlines the admission requirements, curriculum, accreditation, and tuition of noteworthy online architecture master’s degrees.

Meet the Expert: Karen Nelson

Karen Nelson is dean and faculty member of architecture at the Boston Architectural College (BAC). She received her Master of Architecture (MArch) from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Science (BS) in Art and Design from MIT.

Nelson has practiced architecture, working on housing for people with AIDS in New York City, a school building in Massachusetts, and commercial projects. In 2011, she received the Edmund C. Toomey Award for Student Advocacy. In 2012, working alongside Tina Blythe and Len Charney, Karen received an NCARB grant to explore collaborative global practice.

OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What’s something you wish the public understood about architecture?

Nelson: Architecture serves the public. Architecture is a collaborative act that is most productive when the community is involved from the beginning. Emerging from design practice, the BAC’s School of Architecture educates students to become citizen architects who learn from faculty, professionals, and one another to envision a more equitable, ecological, social, and beautiful built environment. We believe resilient works of architecture integrate personal expression, theoretical frameworks, and building technology; design practice is a tangible form of applied research that accelerates change in society and in the professions.

The BAC’s commitment to design practice and its community of students, educators, and professionals work and build collectively. The School of Architecture brings together diverse individuals to create a dialogue and to transform place and the larger world.

OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: Do you have any advice for aspiring architects?

Nelson: Learn to listen. Learn to draw what you see. Learn to adapt to different sites, communities, and cultures. If you learn how to translate what you hear into possible design futures, you will have a storied career in architecture.

OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What does the future of this field look like to you?

Nelson: With the growing use of AI, architects who are able to collaborate, to hold competing ideas and priorities, and to synthesize many dimensions of an open-ended problem will thrive.

Featured Online Master’s Degrees in Architecture

Arizona State University

Arizona State University also has an online master of architecture program that is NAAB-accredited. Exploring the practice and theory of how buildings are designed and put together, students will gain professional experience and will discover how to use architecture for enhancing the natural environment and the lives of people. The program covers all aspects of architecture from practice and design to theory and research.

The program has a flexible curriculum offering two tracks to accommodate students of varying experiences. The two-year track is for those who have an undergraduate degree in architecture, while the three-year track is for those who have an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than architecture. Both tracks can be completed entirely online.

As part of the program, students learn topics such as project-based architectural studio; architectural technology; architectural representation; architectural history; and architectural practice.

Applicants to the program must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's program, a completed graduate application, official transcripts, a personal statement, a portfolio of creative work, and two letters of recommendation.

Upon completing the program, graduates can take roles such as architects, BIM managers, construction managers, developers, energy modelers, facilities managers, regional planners, and urban planners.

Location: Tempe, AZ
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years

Boston Architectural College

Boston Architectural College’s online track of the Master of Architecture is the first primarily online program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The coursework for this program is practice-based, highly flexible, and is conducted online through several formats. Each semester is rounded out by a week-long intensive residency, either onsite or online.

The advanced standing path is made up of 36 credits, the program includes courses such as sustainable systems; practice management; architecture studio; building systems; project management; architecture thesis research strategies; and construction and evaluation.

This four- to six-semester online program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree in design or architecture and a satisfactory portfolio. The program encourages students to engage in professional practice experiences with community projects, design firms, research, and more. Also, by enrolling in NCARB's Architectural Experience Program (AXP), students may be eligible to take their licensing exams while they earn their degrees.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for a range of professional careers in the architectural field, including architectural education, architectural design, and architectural history.

The college also offers a 90-credit online track of the Master of Architecture that encourages students without a background in design to join the field.

Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
Expected Time to Completion: Four to six semesters

Academy of Art University

Academy of Art University’s NAAB-accredited master of architecture program is offered in two tracks: MArch 1 and MArch 2. The placement for these degree tracks is determined individually based on portfolio reviews and transcript evaluations—but Track 1 is generally for students with an undergraduate degree in architecture, and Track 2 is for those with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field. Classes in both these programs are offered on-site and online.

The MArch Track 1 comprises 63 credits, while the MArch Track 2 comprises 87 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as structures; advanced design studio; sustainable design; digitally generated morphology; digitally generated fabrication; architectural history; construction documents and building codes; architectural theory; architectural professional practices; and spatial composition. Students will need to complete a final thesis project to earn the degree.

The faculty of the program includes practicing and knowledgeable professionals who enable students to become responsible leaders in their field. Students in these programs will be prepared to provide meaningful contributions to the environment through the practice of urban design and architecture.

Location: San Francisco, CA
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
Expected Time to Completion: MArch Track 1 (six semesters); MArch Track 2 (eight semesters)

Lawrence Technological University

Lawrence Technological University offers an NAAB-accredited online master of architecture (MArch) program combining asynchronous and synchronous experiences focusing on project-based learning.

The program offers four different tracks for better serving students’ differing educational backgrounds.

Track II comprises 48 credits and is for students with a bachelor’s degree in architecture from another accredited institution. Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree from LTU can complete this track in just 36 credits (via Track I).

Track III is for those who hold an undergraduate degree in a field other than architecture. This track consists of 90 credits.

Track IV is for those who have an undergraduate degree in interior design, environmental design, and interior architecture. This track has two options: a 57-credit program for those with a bachelor’s in interior design from LTU and a 76-credit program for those who have undergraduate design degrees from schools other than LTU. Students in this track will be required to work on campus for a week.

Courses include an arch foundational studio; comprehensive design studio; critical practice studio; basic structures; intermediate structures; advanced structures; construction systems; acoustics, electrical, and illumination systems; history of the designed environment; HVAC and water systems; and professional practice.

Location: Southfield, MI
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
Expected Time to Completion: Two to four years

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology also offers an NAAB-accredited online master of architecture program, providing students with a well-balanced education that integrates technology, research, and design with sustainability and prepares them to enter this modern field of architecture.

The program requires students to visit RIT’s campus for a minimum of two required in-person immersions where they will participate in live critiques, collaborate with their classmates on competitions and projects, and experience the RIT culture firsthand.

The program is offered in two pathways depending on the students' educational background and their experience in architecture. These online pathways feature the same advanced curriculum as the on-campus program and have the same distinguished faculty members.

The standard pathway is for those with little or no background in architecture and comprises 90 credits. The advanced pathway is for students with a bachelor’s degree related to architecture and consists of 63 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as architectural studio; integrated building systems; urban and regional planning; architectural theory; industrial ecology fundamentals; and sustainable building metrics.

Graduates of the program can pursue careers such as architects, architectural designers, intern architects, and junior architects.

Location: Rochester, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
Expected Time to Completion: Standard pathway (36 months); advanced standing pathway (24 months)

Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University’s online master of architecture program is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, meeting the education requirements needed for becoming licensed architects in the U.S. states and the provinces of Canada.

Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor of science degree in architectural studies or its equivalent, a minimum grade point average of 2.7, a statement of intent, a portfolio of work, two letters of recommendation, and TOEFL scores for international students. The GRE is not required for admission.

The program consists of 42 credits, including coursework iglobal traditions, research methods, professional practice, and energy & systems. Electives are offered in topics such as environmental behavior studies, architectural visualization, ecological anthropology.

Location: Carbondale, IL
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
Expected Time to Completion: 16 months

University of Missouri

Students at the University of Missouri can pursue either a master of science in architectural studies, emphasizing environment and behavior studies. The MS program culminates in a thesis. Emphasis areas include aesthetics of design, facility management and design, design education, housing and neighborhood design, inclusive design and accessibility, and sustainable design.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0, transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, three letters of recommendation, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for students whose native language is not English. GRE scores are not required for admission.

The program comprises 30 credits including courses such as sustainable technologies and systems; readings in environmental design; energy-efficient building design; problems in environmental design; theories in architectural and interior design; information visualization and visual analytics; and philosophy of environmental design research, among others.

Graduates of the program can take up teaching and researching positions in universities, architecture consulting or interior designing, and also take up environmental design initiatives.

Location: Columbia, MO
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

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