Harvard University

Harvard University, established in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, it is a world-renowned private research university and one of the eight Ivy League schools. Harvard's architecture-related programs are part of the Graduate School of Design (GSD). GSD is characterized by a wide range of available programs, rich studio courses, and diverse teaching and research topics, excelling in Design, Cross-Disciplinary, and Planning directions.​

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Alumni and Faculty Insights​

​GSD offers master’s programs in Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, and Design Studies.​

In architecture, the programs include MArch I (for students without a five-year undergraduate architecture degree), MArch I AP, and MArch II.​

MArch I has the most comprehensive system, with the first four semesters being core studio, progressing step by step from small-scale to large-scale, and from formal research to urban context and texture. A thesis is mandatory in the final year of MArch I, where each student selects a faculty advisor for guidance.​

MArch II is aimed at students with a five-year undergraduate degree in architecture, though it admits relatively few students from mainland China. This program is one of the most flexible at GSD, with almost no required courses. Students must choose one option studio each semester, while most other courses or electives can be freely selected.

The three programs in the landscape architecture track, MLA I, MLA I AP, and MLA II, are similar in structure to the MArch system.​

The MAUD program is primarily designed for students who have completed a five-year architecture or urban planning education, with most students coming from an architecture background.​

This program also has a high degree of flexibility. The first semester requires completing a core studio course, while from the second semester onward, students take option studios. During the third or fourth semester, students may choose not to take a studio and instead freely select other courses.​

The core studio is the most representative aspect of the program. After curriculum reforms, it has shifted focus to urban issues in the post-industrial era in the United States, with design subjects mainly targeting large urban blocks.​

Additionally, the MLAUD program’s teaching system and curriculum are identical to those of MAUD.​

In the pre-reform MDes programs, there were no studio courses, and each specialization had only one or two required courses in the first semester. Although the directions under this degree differ slightly, all the specializations are more focused on electives, making them essentially not very different in nature. This program is also a choice for students seeking to change career paths, with the advantage of freeing up time that would otherwise be spent on studios or required courses to explore courses of interest in other schools.​

​Gund Hall and Option Studios: Gund Hall itself represents the characteristics of GSD. Its tiered open space brings together students from all disciplines, promoting exchanges between fields and individuals. In addition, GSD’s option studios are highly diverse. Regardless of the program you are enrolled in, option studios in architecture, landscape, urban design, and urban planning are all available.​

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Related Programs List​

​Harvard offers a wide range of architecture-related programs encompassing architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, and design engineering. These programs are housed within the Graduate School of Design (GSD).​

Below are the commonly applied programs by students interested in architecture-related fields:

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​Architecture Programs​

  1. Master in Architecture I - Duration: 3.5 years
  2. Master in Architecture II - Duration: 2 years

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​Landscape Architecture Programs​

  1. Master in Landscape Architecture I - Duration: 3 years
  2. Master in Landscape Architecture I AP - Duration: 2 years
  3. Master in Landscape Architecture II - Duration: 2 years

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​Urban Design Programs​

  1. Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design - Duration: 2 years
  2. Master of Architecture in Urban Design - Duration: 2 years

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​Urban Planning Program​

  1. Master in Urban Planning - Duration: 2 years

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Design Studies and Engineering Programs​

  1. Master in Design Studies (MDes) - Duration: 1.5 years
  2. Master in Design Engineering (MDE) - Duration: 2 years

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