Students currently enrolled in the M.Arch. program.
M.Arch. in Architecture
Explore, build, and lead the profession architecture.
The professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree is designed for students with undergraduate baccalaureate degrees in fields other than architecture and for those holding a non-professional baccalaureate degree in architecture. The three-year (seven-semester) program helps prepare students to become leaders in the profession of architecture. Students enroll in a two-year core curriculum that helps prepare them with techniques, principles, histories, theories, and technologies related to the discipline of architecture. In the final year of the program the students develop a thesis project.
The M.Arch. program is a companion to our more than century-old accredited Bachelor of Architecture program and enjoys the curricular explorations and experiences that have gone into designing and maintaining a cutting-edge professional architectural education. The program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Effective January 2020, the M.Arch. is designated as a STEM program with the CIP code 04.0902.
In its 2019 accreditation visit, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) praised Penn State’s M.Arch. program by pointing out that four accreditation conditions are met “with distinction”: (A2) Design Thinking Skills, (A7) History and Global Culture, (C1) Research, and (C3) Integrative Design.
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.
M.Arch. Students
Current Cohort
Kailyn Clancy
Research Cluster: Culture, Society, Space
Academic Advisers: Rebecca Henn, DK Osseo-Asare
kbc5274@psu.edu
LewYong Gerbrandt
Research Cluster: Culture, Society, Space
https://lygerbrandt.wixsite.com/interior-designer | lxg261@psu.edu
Josette Kafando
Research Focus: Fostering cultural identity
Academic Advisers: Rebecca Henn, DK Osseo-Asare
jxk1349@psu.edu
Niousha Keyvaninejad
Research Focus: Design computing
Research Cluster: Design Computing
nmk5551@psu.edu
Tiffanie Leung
Research Focus: Re-examining earthbag geometries and their impact on structure and construction workflow
Research Cluster: Material Matters
Academic Advisers: Marcus Shaffer, DK Osseo-Asare
https://tleungdesign.com | tiffanieleung@psu.edu
Blanche Tarabrella
Academic Adviser: Rebecca Henn
https://btarabrella.wixsite.com/website | brt5192@psu.edu
M.Arch. Student Awards
- Madhubala Ayyamperumal: 2018 SOM Women’s Initiative Shadowing Opportunity Award
- Shannon Capone: 2018 Kossman Award Winner
- Quinn Pullen: 2017 ASLA Honor Award, Communications Category
- Christopher Hazel: 2017 Penn State Professional Master’s Excellence Award
- Ambikesh Mishra: 2017 Lyceum Fellowship Competition – 2nd Prize
- Guangmao (Forrest) Xu: 2017 Tritschler Prize – Merit Award
- Shokofeh Darbari: 2016 AIA Pennsylvania’s Student Award for Exceptional Scholastic Achievement

Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight
Marilia Rodrigues
B.Arch. in Architecture 2002Marilia Rodrigues is a principal at KieranTimberlake, an internationally recognized architecture firm noted for its commitment to research, innovation, and invention. She brings multiple technologies, voices, and talents together to achieve award-winning designs.












Faculty Spotlight
DK Osseo-Asare
Assistant Professor of Architecture and Engineering Design
Fulbright scholar, TED Global Fellow, and Africa 4 Tech Digital Champion, DK Osseo-Asare is assistant professor of architecture and engineering design, facilitating collaboration among the Stuckeman School, the School of Engineering Design, Technology and Professional Programs, and the Materials Research Institute. He is also the director of the Humanitarian Materials Lab (HuMatLab), affiliate to the Materials Matters and Stuckeman Center for Design Computing research clusters, and associate director of Penn State’s Alliance for Education, Science, Engineering and Design with Africa (AESEDA). Outside the University, he is cofounder and principal of architecture and integrated design at Low Design Office (LOWDO), based in Austin, Texas, and Tema, Ghana.

News from A&A
Arts and Architecture appoints interim head of landscape architecture
UNIVERSTY PARK, Pa. — Charles Andrew “Andy” Cole, associate professor of landscape architecture and ecology and the director of the E+D: Ecology plus Design research initiative, has been appointed the