The Master of Advanced Architectural Studies course at the University of Southern California (USC) requires students to research and examine contemporary urban issues.

School: University of Southern California School of Architecture
Course: Master of Advanced Architectural Studies
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Course dates: August 2025 to May 2026
Application deadline: May 1 2025 (domestic applicants)/July 1 2025 (international applicants)

The Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies (M.AARS) at the USC School of Architecture examines the 21st-century city and the diverse social and cultural landscapes of Los Angeles as living laboratories for examining global contemporary urban issues.

This degree is for students who have completed a professional degree in architecture (BArch or MArch) with an interest in advanced non-professional graduate study pursuing careers in urban design, urban planning, community development and adequate and affordable housing design.

The one-year, three-semester post-professional graduate degree offers two concentrations – city design and housing, and performative design and technology.

Each concentration focuses on specialised scholarly research and professional development in relevant topics that are affecting the built environment of today and shaping the built environment of tomorrow.

Working across disciplines and at multiple scales, both degree concentrations move between real-world issues and innovative architecture thinking to explore ideas for radically rethinking the ways in which we design, inhabit and build.

As a STEM programme, international students may be eligible for a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT for a total eligibility of up to 36 months.

Find out more about the course and apply ›

Top image courtesy of USC School of Architecture.

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