Students of YSOA+E complete and integrate two rigorous masters programs. Graduates of the joint-degree program receive one of two accredited architectural degrees (MArch I or MArch II) and one of four environmental or forestry degrees (MEM, MESc, MFS, MF) in one year less than would be required if each degree were pursued independently. Through their course of study, students gain expertise in cutting-edge approaches to the design of the built environment with the most current research on environmental science.
Program of Study
Each YSOA+E cohort is trained to innovatively merge environmental science with architecture at the material, building, site, city, regional, and global scales. Harnessing the breadth and depth of expertise of both YSE and YSoA, students work side-by-side with faculty at the forefront of interdisciplinary practice and research. Depending on their chosen degree pathway, students may choose to focus their studies within two focus areas–Cities as Climate Change Solutions or Regenerative Design Across the Built Environment–while satisfying the requirements and specializations within their two degrees.

Choose where to start the Program
Choose a Degree Pathway
Consider the Thematic Electives
Joint Degree students have the opportunity to choose one of two thematic focus areas of study:
Cities as Climate Change Solutions
Read DescriptionCities are leading contributors to climate change, consuming two-thirds of the global energy supply and generating 75% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions. At the same time, urban populations are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, from floods and extreme heat to food insecurity and poor health outcomes. Cities are also centers of innovation and are positioned to lead the clean energy transition while adapting and building resilience in a changing climate to protect and provide opportunities to thrive for all residents. The Cities as Climate Change Solutions pathway positions students to delve into the analysis of complex systems underlying urbanization and its impacts on climate and biodiversity. Students will explore new methods of interdisciplinary and collaborative practice that leverage the potential of the urban environments to drive climate change solutions.
Regenerative Design Across the Built Environment
Read DescriptionAccounting for nearly 40% of global emissions and ecological pollution, the built environment sits at the nexus of an interrelated crisis around carbon, biodiversity and environmental pollution. Through the exploration of circular design principles at the material to ecosystem scale, this pathway identifies a range of electives that offer students new theoretical, material and design frameworks for low carbon futures centered on environmental justice and regenerative material practices.
View the MArch I to MEM Program of Study
MArch I + MEM is a four-year course-based path of study that is suitable for students who do not have a prior professional architecture degree. Students can expect to gain both architectural foundations and environmental management expertise and merge these two domains during their course of study. This is the most common joint-degree pathway. MArch I and MEM are both professional degrees.
View the MArch I + MESC / MFS Program of Study
MArch I + MESc or MFS is a four-year hybrid course and research path of study that is suitable for students who do not have a prior professional architecture degree. Students can expect to gain architecture foundations while pursuing their own environmental or forest research to merge these two domains during their course of study. MArch I is a professional degree and MESc/MFS are Research Degrees.
View the MArch I + MF Program of Study
MArch I + MF is a four-year course based path of study that is suitable for students wishing to gain professional licensure in both architecture and forestry. This rigorous course of study is the most course-heavy with demanding requirements in both degrees.
View the MArch II + MEM Program of Study
MArch II + MEM is a three-year hybrid course and research path of study that is suitable for students who already have a first professional architecture degree. Students can expect to deepen their architecture practice with environmental knowledge and expertise and inform their environmental training with their architecture background. MArch II is a post-professional degree and MEM is a professional degree.
View the MArch II + MESc / MFS Program of Study
MArch II + MESc or MFS is a three-year research based path of study that is suitable for students who already have a first professional architecture degree. Students can expect to deepen their research practice and merge the domain of the built environment with rigorous scientific research. MArch II is a post-professional degree and MESc/MFS are Research Degrees.
View the MArch II + MF Program of Study
MArch II + MF is a three-year hybrid course and research path of study that is suitable for students who already have a first professional architecture degree. This unique course of study allows students with a background in architecture to augment their practice with rigorous forestry management expertise.
View the MEM + MArch I Program of Study
MArch I + MEM is a four-year course-based path of study that is suitable for students who do not have a prior professional architecture degree. Students can expect to gain both architectural foundations and environmental management expertise and merge these two domains during their course of study. This is the most common joint-degree pathway. MArch I and MEM are both professional degrees.
View the MEM + MArch II Program of Study
MArch II + MEM is a three-year hybrid course and research path of study that is suitable for students who already have a first professional architecture degree. Students can expect to deepen their architecture practice with environmental knowledge and expertise and inform their environmental training with their architecture background. MArch II is a post-professional degree and MEM is a professional degree.
View the MESc / MFS + MArch I Program of Study
MArch I + MESc or MFS is a four-year hybrid course and research path of study that is suitable for students who do not have a prior professional architecture degree. Students can expect to gain architecture foundations while pursuing their own environmental or forest research to merge these two domains during their course of study. MArch I is a professional degree and MESc/MFS are Research Degrees.
View the MESc / MFS + MArch II Program of Study
MArch II + MESc or MFS is a three-year research based path of study that is suitable for students who already have a first professional architecture degree. Students can expect to deepen their research practice and merge the domain of the built environment with rigorous scientific research. MArch II is a post-professional degree and MESc/MFS are Research Degrees.
View the MF + MArch I Program of Study
MArch I + MF is a four-year course based path of study that is suitable for students wishing to gain professional licensure in both architecture and forestry. This rigorous course of study is the most course-heavy with demanding requirements in both degrees.
View the MF + MArch II Program of Study
MArch II + MF is a three-year hybrid course and research path of study that is suitable for students who already have a first professional architecture degree. This unique course of study allows students with a background in architecture to augment their practice with rigorous forestry management expertise.
View YSOA+e Faculty
Emily Abruzzo
Read BioAnthony Acciavatti
Read BioMelinda Agron
Read BioShimon Anisfeld
Read BioSunil Bald
Read BioPhilip Bernstein
Read BioStella Betts
Read BioNikole Bouchard
Read BioPeter Boyd
Read BioBrennan Buck
Read BioPaolo Campos
Read BioJordan H. Carver
Read BioAbigail Chang
Read BioTrattie Davies
Read BioPeter de Bretteville
Read BioAmity Doolittle
Read BioAna Maria Duran
Read BioAnna Dyson
Read BioKeller Easterling
Read BioDov Feinmesser
Read BioMartin Finio
Read BioKenneth Gillingham
Read BioJoyce Hsiang
Read BioYoko Kawai
Read BioHeather Kim
Read BioMelissa Kops
Read BioSusana La Porta Drago
Read BioXuhui Lee
Read BioMae-ling Lokko
Read BioSparkle Malone
Read BioNicholas McDermott
Read BioTess McNamara
Read BioBimal Mendis
Read BioEsther da Costa Meyer
Kyoung Sun Moon
Read BioJustin Garrett Moore
Read BioCristian Oncescu
Read BioAlan Organschi
Read BioAlan Plattus
Read BioVyjayanthi Rao
Read BioMatthew Rosen
Read BioElihu Rubin
Read BioArianna Salazar-Miranda
Read BioJoel Sanders
Read BioKaren Seto
Read BioAniket Shahane
Read BioJen Shin
Read BioMichael Szivos
Read BioDorceta Taylor
Read BioGerald Torres
Read BioIfe Vanable
Read BioLindsey Wikstrom
Read BioAïcha Woods
Yuan Yao
Read BioJulie Zimmerman
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