Programmes d'études
Offert en anglais

Architecture (M.Arch.)

Faculté des sciences, de génie et d’architecture

Laurentian University's Master’s degree in Architecture is unique in Canada.

Survol du programme

The Master’s degree in Architecture draws upon the study of northern community needs, coupled with an integrated approach to building systems for northern climates. Areas of study for advanced graduate work include building with wood, designing for climate change, architectural history and theory, and making and digital processes.

The program length is two years, with a continued focus on experiential learning through design-build and community design projects. Year one design studio options include Craft & Technology, Community, and Indigenous Design. Studios include national and international travel components. In the following two terms, students complete co-op placements in professional architecture offices locally, nationally and internationally.

Year two is devoted to a research design thesis. Students work individually with a faculty advisor. The thesis is supported by group classes on research methodology and making. The knowledge and skills gained in this program prepare students to work in a variety of related fields including urban design, community planning, sustainable design, environmental design, graphic design, manual making and digital fabrication.

The Master of Architecture program is fully accredited by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). Students who graduate from the program are eligible to become licensed professional architects with the Ontario Architecture Association (OAA) or another architecture association in Canada.

Specialized research is presented through research seminars while professional practice is emphasized through co-operative education and an advanced course in architectural practice.

Courses on fabrication further expose students to the relationship between architecture and industry through making.

A design Thesis forms the spine of the second year. Design courses (including Thesis) and co-operative placements are offered in both French and English.

Perspectives de carrière

The knowledge and skills gained in the professional program prepare students to enter into the architectural profession, as well as a variety of related design fields including urban design, community planning, sustainable design, environmental design, or digital fabrication.

Détails du programme

Langue du programme:

Anglais

Mode de présentation:

Sur campus

Coordonnées

Steven Beites, Graduate Coordinator
705-675-1151 ext. 7263
McEwen School of Architecture, Telegraph Building, Office TE-212
march@laurentian.ca

Veuillez écrire à l’adresse courriel ci-dessus et notre équipe de recrutement vous répondra!

En savoir plus sur le programme

The McEwen School of Architecture is now officially the 12th accredited architecture school in Canada! Learn more ».

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Visit the McEwen School of Architecture for more information

Exigences d’admission

Applicants for Direct Entry into 2-year M.Arch Program 

 

Due to accreditation requirements, all applicants seeking direct entry into the 2-year M.Arch Program must have a pre-professional architecture degree (i.e. BAS, BES, BEDS, etc.). Pre-professional architecture programs are those whose curriculum is designed to meet accreditation requirements established and cyclically reviewed by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) or foreign equivalent.  

 

[Note: Applicants who have a 4-year degree in architecture or a closely related field such as Environmental Design from a non-pre-professional program (i.e. the curriculum is not cyclically reviewed by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) or foreign equivalent), will be considered for acceptance into an Architecture Qualifying Year, including comprehensive design studio and other suggested courses. See the ‘Architecture Qualifying Year’ section below.] 

 

Deadline to apply: February 1st each year (please enquire at march@laurentian.ca regarding rolling deadlines). If this date falls on a weekend, then the application is due on the following business day.

 

Application Process

 

Step 1. Click here to submit the online application. Once students have applied, they will receive instructions (typically within 48 hours) from the Office of Admissions leading them to the MyLaurentian portal. Students can access the portal at my.laurentian.ca; sign-in credentials will be provided in the correspondence received from the Office of Admissions upon successful completion of an application.

 

The following are required for consideration: 

 

An overall GPA of at least 70% (min. Laurentian University GPA 5.5) is required to be admitted into the M.Arch. program.

  • Three (3) references (to begin the process at my.laurentian.ca click on

"Reference Submission" on the left-hand navigation menu – you will need to send the electronic form provided on the portal to your referees)  

  • A current curriculum-vitae/resume (to be uploaded via MyLaurentian)

  • A 1-2 page letter expressing what area(s) of design you wish to focus upon for graduate work, and your reasons for choosing the McEwen School of Architecture. Please note that M.Arch Thesis advisors are assigned after entry into the program

 

A) For those who hold or will hold a BAS and are continuing to the M.Arch after the program at Laurentian, you must also submit:

  • A Design Portfolio showing your creative and design skills, technical knowledge, and relevant professional experience. Due to the pandemic, portfolios must be submitted electronically via the platform Issuu.

  • We ask that you:

    • Send the link of your online portfolio to march@laurentian.ca.

    • Embed the link in the letter of interest requested above.

 

B) For those applying to the M.Arch program from outside of the BAS program (including those applying for the Architecture Qualifying Year), you must also submit :

  • Official transcripts, indicating your previous pre-professional architecture degree* (or previous undergraduate degree if applying to the Architecture Qualifying Year). 

  • A Design Portfolio showing your creative and design skills, technical knowledge and relevant professional experience. For each project in your portfolio please note the following:

    • If it was completed for school (what studio level), extra-curricular or during employment

    • Which climate and what location it was designed for

    • If it was completed individually or as part of a team/group; if the project was a team/group effort note your specific contribution (note the analogue and/or digital tools used (eg. Drawing mediums, computer software etc.)

 

Due to the pandemic, portfolios must be submitted electronically via the platform Issuu. (Remember to send the link of your online portfolio to march@laurentian.ca and also embed the link in the letter of interest requested above).

 

*Please note that official transcripts or World Education Services (WES) course-by-course (for institutions attended outside of North America) must come directly to the Office of Admissions from the previous post-secondary institution by requesting at the time of your application or by contacting the institution's Registrar's Office.

 

Step 2. Once the LU Office of Admissions receives all information and the application is deemed complete, the application will be forwarded to the School. A McEwen School of Architecture Graduate Admissions Committee will meet to review all applications. 

 

Step 3. The McEwen School of Architecture Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications on file and decide the suitability of each applicant. The committee will then make a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Laurentian University. The Graduate Studies Office will verify the dossier and if satisfactory, the Dean of Graduate Studies will forward the recommendation to the Office of Admissions at Laurentian University for admission.  

 

Step 4: If approved for admission, the LU Office of Admissions will send the student an Offer of Admission via MyLaurentian. Applicants wishing to accept the offer of admission must indicate their response on MyLaurentian within 3 weeks of receiving the offer. Once the student has accepted the offer, a transition to the registration process occurs.  

 

Note: Should the applicant wish to defer their offer, a letter must be written to the Director of the McEwen School of Architecture explaining the reasons for the request. If the request for deferral is accepted, it will be valid for one year only. The applicant would be required to re-apply in any year following the one-year deferral. Requests should be submitted to march@laurentian.ca

 

Architecture Qualifying Year 

 

Applicants who have a 4-year degree in architecture (or a closely related field such as Environmental Design) from a non-pre-professional program (i.e. curriculum is not reviewed by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) or its international equivalent), will be considered for acceptance into an Architecture Qualifying Year, including comprehensive design studio and other suggested courses. The Architecture Qualifying Year is designed to allow applicants to obtain the professional M.Arch degree over a 3 year period while ensuring that accreditation requirements are met. Acceptance into the graduate program is contingent on the student maintaining good academic standing during the Qualifying Year.  

 

Similarly, in some cases, international students with limited or no experience in cold climate construction and building envelope design, and/or students who have not demonstrated sufficient comprehensive design experience, and/or students who are not deemed to have the requisite digital proficiencies to succeed in the M.Arch program will also be recommended to the Architecture Qualifying Year.  All applicants should be applying directly to the Masters of Architecture program outlined above and will be considered on an individual basis by the unit for either the M.Arch. program or the Qualifying Year. 

 

*Note: In some cases, depending on the quality of the portfolio and academic transcript, students may instead receive advanced standing into the third year of the BAS program. If so, and upon successful completion of 60 undergraduate credits at the university, the student will receive a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree and would be eligible to apply directly to the M.Arch program.

 

Students who maintain Good Academic Standing during the Qualifying Year will need to provide a “Letter of Intent to Continue into the M.Arch. Program” to the Graduate Coordinator before the February 1st application deadline, but will not need to reapply.  

 

To apply for acceptance into the Architecture Qualifying Year, applicants must follow the instructions above. In the letter of intent, applicants should clearly state that they are applying for the Architecture Qualifying Year.  

 

 

Comment déposer une demande

Pour faire une demande aux études supérieures, vous devez déposer votre demande d’admission auprès du Centre de demande d'admission aux universités de l'Ontario (CDAUO).

Pour obtenir des instructions détaillées sur le processus de demande d'admission, veuillez consulter les pages suivantes :


Déposer une demande en tant que candidat aux cycles supérieurs

Options de diplôme

Students must follow these regulations while in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Master of Architecture

 

Year 1  FALL

ARCH 5906E     Architectural Practice

ARCH 5006E     Architectural Theory

ARCH 5505E/F     Craft and Technology Design Studio / Architecture et artisanat

     (OR)  ARCH 5515E/F     Community Design Studio / Édifice communautaire

     (OR)  ARCH 5525E/F     Indigenous Design Studio / Conception autochtone

 

Year 1 WINTER

ARCH 5915E/F     Co-Operative Term 3 / Enseignement coopératif 

ARCH 5925E/F     Co-Operative Term 4 / Enseignement coopératif 4

 

Year 2 FALL

ARCH 5306E     Making 1

ARCH 5086E     Material Culture(s)

ARCH 5555E/F     Design Research Studio 1 / Thèse I

 

Year 2 WINTER

ARCH 5326E     Making 2

ARCH 5569E     Design Research Studio 2

Exemples de cours

Master of Architecture (Professional Degree)                                                     

 

Membres du corps professoral

Mark Baechler
Professeur(e) adjoint(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Steven Beites
Professeur(e) adjoint(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Tammy Gaber
Professeur(e) titulaire, École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Terrance Galvin
Professeur(e) titulaire, École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Randall Kober
Maître(sse) de conférence, École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Kai Wood Mah
Professeur(e) agrégé(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Émilie Pinard
Professeur(e) agrégé(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Thomas Strickland
Professeur(e) adjoint(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
William Edward Wilson
Maître(sse) de conférence, École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Jean-Philippe Saucier
Maître(sse) de conférence, École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Aliki Economides
Professeur(e) agrégé(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Bruce Wrightsman
Professeur(e) adjoint(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Louis-Pierre Bélec
Professeur(e) adjoint(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen
Amina Lalor
Professeur(e) adjoint(e), École d'architecture McEwen
École d'architecture McEwen

Faculty members on sabbatical 2025-2026:

  • Bruce Wrightsman

Faculty members on leave 2025-2026:

  • N/A

Adjunct Faculty members 2025-2026:

  • Izabel Amaral
  • Bruce Mau

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