Guide to Graduate Concentrations
For Frequently Asked Questions about the below concentrations, see the bottom of this page.
Graduate Concentrations:
Construction Management (9 credits)
This concentration introduces construction management concepts and principles as applied to contemporary practice and investigates the intersecting roles of construction managers, architects, clients, and general contractors. Topics encompass planning, programming, and documentation from pre-construction to project close-out; legal aspects relative to environmental protection, contract documents; insurance and bonds; labor relations and inspection; project control; heavy construction skills and ethics; and the development of analytical and communication skills.
Choose three of the following:
| CMGT-607 | Intro to Construction Project Management (Fall only) |
| CMGT-609 | Construction Site Operations (Spring only) |
| CMGT-6xx | Codes and Specs (Spring only) |
| CMGT-614 | Materials & Methods of Construction (Spring only) |
| CMGT-618 | Heavy Construction Principles & Practice (Fall only) |
Note: The delivery method of courses (on-campus, online, or hybrid) are as posted on Bannerweb. All forms are to be emailed to the CM Program Coordinator.
Historic Preservation/Urban Revitalization (9 credits)
This concentration provides a foundation in the field of historic preservation. Courses cover contemporary practice and fieldwork, urban revitalization and sustainability issues, building conservation, methods of archival research, standards for documentation, American architectural traditions, as well as design considerations in the adaptive reuse of historic structures.
| Required Courses | Course Title | Prerequisite |
| MHP-621 (fall only) | Issues in Contemporary Preservation | None |
Choose three of the following:
| MHP-602 (spring only) | Uncovering the Past: Tools, Methods and Strategies | None |
| MHP-624 (fall only) | Architectural Forensics and Documentation | None |
| MHP-626 (fall only) | Building Conservation and Assessment | None |
| MHP-603 (spring only) | Restoration and Rehabilitation of Modernism | None |
| ARCH-672 (fall only) | American Architecture | None |
| ARCH-671 (fall only) | Vernacular Architecture | None |
Real Estate Development (9 credits)
This concentration introduces the economic, social and physical issues inherent in environmentally and fiscally sustainable real estate and land-use development. Through real-world case studies presented by leading developers, coursework encompasses market analysis and valuation, finance and investment, legal issues of ownership and land-use, public-private partnerships, urban regeneration and adaptive reuse, construction science and management, in addition to multiple design and development paradigms and their long-term local, national, and global impacts. Sustainable strategies inform a curriculum sensitive both to the ethical dimension of development and the parameters of a capital-driven market.
| Required Courses | Course Title | Prerequisite |
| MRE-601 | Sustainable Real Estate Development Process | None |
Choose two of the following:
| MRE-604 | Case Study: Mixed-Use, Commercial, & Health Care Facilities | MRE-601 |
| MRE-620 | Urban Revitalization, Historic Neighborhoods & Adaptive Reuse | MRE-601 |
| MHP-638 | Sustainable Affordable Housing | MRE-601 |
| MHP-630 | Market Analysis and Valuation | MRE-601 |
| MRE-615 | Real Estate Finance and Investment | MRE-601 |
| MRE-635 | Public-Private Partnerships | MRE-601 |
| MRE-625 | Real Estate Law and Ethical Practices | MRE-601 |
Sustainable Design (9 credits)
The concentration introduces students to the theory of sustainability and how it is applied in the built environment. Students will be grounded in the methodologies of sustainable design, learn to measure, predict and design for thermal comfort, adaptable opportunities and resilience across scales. Students will also learn how to design and calculate sustainable systems, and learn to evaluate, compare, perform life cycle analyses of materials.
| Required Courses | Course Title | Prerequisite |
| SDN 601* (Fall, Spring, Summer) | Sustainable Design Methodologies | None |
| SDN 602** (Fall on-line only) | Adaptive Design | None |
| SDN 603* (Summer on-line only) | Sustainable Systems | None |
| SDN 604* (Fall or Spring) | Green Materials & Life Cycle Assessment | None |
| SDN 609* (Fall, Spring, Summer) | BIM for Sustainable Design | None |
* Available as an asynchronous course. The schedule for the course is not decided until the beginning of the semester. This means that students can take this course even if there is a conflict and watch the recorded lectures each week.
** This course is sometimes offered in the spring as well on Wednesday afternoons
Sustainability Leadership (9 credits)
This concentration prepares students to design and deliver sustainability initiatives in current or future organizations. With the curriculum’s project-based approach, students will build vital skills in problem scoping, systems modeling, solution framing and change management and immediately apply these skills to the sustainability challenges facing assigned organizations or clients.
Choose three of the following:
| Required Courses | Course Title | Prerequisite |
| SDN 601* (Fall, Spring, Summer) | Sustainable Design Methodologies | None |
| SDN 625 (Fall online only) | Environmental Impact Analysis | None |
| SDN 626 (Spring online only) | Sustainability Advocacy & Change Management | None |
| SDN 627 (Summer online only) | Models & Metrics for Sustainable Organizations | SDN 626 |
* Available as an asynchronous course. The schedule for the course is not decided until the beginning of the semester. This means that students can take this course even if there is a conflict and watch the recorded lectures each week.
(GIS) Geographic Information Systems (9 credits)
This concentration in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) provides students with the opportunity to learn and apply advanced spatial techniques and spatial thinking to various disciplines related to design of the built environment. Courses span introduction to advanced concepts and include desktop as well as internet technologies.
| Required Courses | Course Title | Prerequisite |
| GEOD-610 | Intro to GIS | None |
Choose two of the following:
| GEOD-615 (Fall only) | Adv GIS for Landscape Analysis | GEOD-610: Intro to GIS |
| GEOD-617 (Spring only) | Adv GIS for Urban Planning & Devl | GEOD-610: Intro to GIS |
| GEOD-625 (Fall only) | Internet GIS Tech for Design and Devl | None |
Smart Cities & Urban Analytics (9 credits)
This concentration prepares students to design and analyze planning, management, and operational functions of smart cities. The credential gives students the technical and theoretical skills needed to make a difference to the cities of today and tomorrow.
| Required Courses | Course Title | Prerequisite |
| MUD 600 | Modeling Urban Environmental Performance | None |
| MUD 617 | Advanced GIS for Urban Planning and Development | None |
| MUD 604 | Emerging Design and Technology for Future Cities | None |
| GEOD 600 | 3D Modeling for Geodesign | None |
Interior Architecture (9 credits)
This concentration introduces students to both theory and application of interior architecture in the built environment. Students will be grounded in the methodologies of interior architecture, focus on the design and construction of the built environment through an interiors perspective, consider how human behavior influences the built environment and consider how the well-being of humans and the natural environment influences interior design. Students will also learn how the interaction of space, form, light, color, materiality and furniture transforms our lived experience in buildings.
Choose three of the following:
| Prerequisite | |
| IARC-603 History of Design 2 for I.A. | None |
| IARC-604 Vis. 4 for I.A. | Vis 1 & 2 for Arch. |
| IARC-610 Textiles & Materials for Interiors | None |
| IARC-607 Interior Building Technology for I.A. | None |
| IARC-608 Light + Color | None |
| IARC-614 Furniture Design | Design 3 for I.A. or Arch. |
| IARP-502 Design 2 for I.A. | Design I for I.A. or Arch. (4 cr.) |
| IARC-601 Design 3 for I.A. | Design 2 for I.A. or Arch. (4 cr.) |
| IARC-602 Design 4 for I.A. | Design 3 for I.A. or Arch.(4 cr.) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a graduate concentration?
A graduate concentration is a secondary area of interest that complements or reinforces a graduate student’s primary discipline. Certain CABE graduate programs require that a student choose a concentration to establish a focus area within the primary discipline. Students enrolled in a master’s program that does not require a concentration may elect to declare a concentration in order to pair their major discipline with another architecture related field. A concentration allows students to group electives together in a meaningful way, providing a set of courses that provides supplemental study in a particular subject area. Options for graduate concentrations are determined by the academic programs and consist of a minimum of nine (9) credits in the subject area. Guidelines for available concentrations are below:
- A student may not use the same course for credit in both the primary discipline and area of concentration. In other words, only free elective credits can be applied to the concentration.
- Concentrations typically consist of at least one required course, plus a selection of courses from which the student may choose.
- Any substitute elective course from within the concentration must be approved by the program director of the area of concentration.
What are the advantages to completing a concentration?
In addition to integrating and unifying subjects covered in free electives, a graduate concentration enables a student to pursue a secondary area of interest and to develop a knowledge base and skill sets that complement the primary discipline.
By layering a secondary area onto a primary field of study, a concentration indicates versatility and flexibility to a prospective employer, increasing a student’s marketability and expanding prospects for internships and future employment.
What is the difference between a graduate “concentration” and a graduate “certificate”?
A graduate certificate is a grouping of four courses for a minimum of twelve credits in a subject area and is available to individuals who are NOT matriculating in one of CABE’s master’s programs. Individuals who have completed a baccalaureate degree or a master’s degree are eligible to apply for acceptance into a CABE certificate program. Unlike a concentration that is integral to a specific master’s curriculum, a certificate is a stand-alone, self-contained credential.
However, if after completing the graduate certificate a student decides to pursue a master’s degree, credits accrued in the graduate certificate will be applied to the master’s program to fulfill ether required foundational or elective coursework. In this way, the student achieves advanced standing in the master’s program, saving both time and tuition.
When should I declare a concentration?
Students determine an appropriate concentration in consultation with their program director. Students should map out a schedule in advance to assure the completion of the concentration. Certain courses are offered only once a year in specific semesters.
To formally declare a concentration requires filling out appropriate paperwork, available at the University Registrar’s website, and obtaining approval from both the student’s program director and the program director of the concentration area. Only general electives can be applied to fulfill the coursework in the concentration.
Non-CABE graduate students can declare a CABE concentration. Any non-CABE graduate student declaring a CABE concentration must meet CABE laptop requirements as well as fulfill prerequisite requirements.
All courses listed in CABE concentrations are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted.