MS in Architecture with a Track in Sustainable Design
University of Minnesota, Crookston
Description
The planet, for better or worse, is becoming urbanized. By 2050, according to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, six billion people, representing two-thirds of humanity, will be living in towns and cities. Today, one billion people-or one of every three urbanites-live in slums. The solutions to this and other environmental challenges hinge on sustainability: preserving the earth's resources, inhabitants, and environments for the benefit of present and future generations. The School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota's College of Design (CDes) has responded by developing the MS in Architecture-Sustainable Design Track (MS -S. D. ). Bringing together a rich group of multidisciplinary courses, projects, and research opportunities, students can customize the program to meet their individual needs. Options for an MS -S. D. + M. Arch. professional degree are also available. The school's unique dual-degree program allows students to combine professional architecture studies with a focus on sustainable design theory and practice. This dual-degree curriculum provides designers and researchers with the knowledge and expertise to address issues including energy and resource efficiency, water, waste reduction, materials, and technological innovations in sustainable design. The dual degree prepares students to integrate sustainable design practice and research in the design professions, government agencies, research institutes, and business. The MS -S. D. can be completed in three semesters (34 credits). The dual degree, which combines the MS -S. D. and the professional Master's of Architecture (M. Arch. ) degree, can be completed concurrently as a full-time student in three-and-a-half years (100 credits).