Ph.D. Program Admission
Admission and Eligibility
An applicant to the doctoral program must hold a professional Master of Architecture degree (M.Arch.) from a NAAB-accredited U.S. university or the equivalent. Candidates who have not completed the required professional M.Arch. Degree may apply for the Master of Architecture program at IIT to fulfill that requirement, as a non-terminal program of studies preparatory for the doctoral program.
The applicant should meet all entrance requirements of lIT's Graduate College, plus a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; a TOEFL score of at least 550; and at least three letters of recommendations, from immediate supervising professors plus additional list of references. The applicant should also submit a statement of purpose indicating a subject of study or research work and should provide a portfolio demonstrating the qualities of his or her accomplishments and expertise.
| Doctor of Philosophy Applications | Deadline |
| Spring 2013 | November 15, 2012 |
| Fall 2013 - Priority Deadline | January 4, 2013 |
| Fall 2013 - Final Deadline | April 15, 2013 |
You may download the graduate application here.
Degree Requirements
The program requires a minimum of 52 credit hours usually completed in three and a half to four years beyond the M.Arch degree, which will include a minimum of 26 credit hours of course work. The course work will be comprised of seminars, specialty courses, and electives. The majority of the course work will be selected from the curriculum within the College of Architecture, though students are encouraged to have their research find connections to other doctoral programs at the university.
Upon completion of the first academic year, the candidate will be required to pass a Qualifying examination before he or she will officially be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. At the end of the program, the candidate will take a final examination which will consist of an oral presentation and defense of the dissertation. Current areas of study include high-rise and long-span buildings, technology applications, energy conscious design, emerging urbanisms, and housing and advanced computer applications.
Length of Program
The program is expected to be a minimum of two and a half years (five semesters, not including the summer.) Work for the doctorate must be completed within six years after admission to doctoral candidacy.
Residency Requirements
Students must be in residence and registered as full time students until they complete all of the course requirements and pass the qualifying examination.
Student Dissertation Advisory Committee:
The director of the doctoral program will assign an initial adviser to each student enrolled in the program. The initial adviser will work with the student to form a dissertation advisory committee, which will be chaired by the student's principal dissertation adviser. The advisory committee will consist of a minimum of four faculty members, three of whom are from the College of Architecture and one from outside.
The committee will supervise all portions of the student's work, conduct periodic reviews, conduct the Qualifying and Comprehensive examinations, and preside at the final dissertation presentation, known as the Defense examination.
Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture Advisory Board
The program's seven-member advisory board, comprised of distinguished individuals representing academia and various areas of the profession, monitors the progress of the program and provides guidance and support.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the 2012-2013 academic year is $1140 per credit hour. Applicants are expected to have financial support from their sponsors. However, limited financial support will be awarded in the form of assistantships, fellowships, or tuition scholarships.
Admission Requirements
All of the following items must be on file with the College of Architecture before an admission decision will be made.
- Application form
- Original official transcripts
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Portfolio
- Professional statement
- $55 non-refundable application fee
- Financial Affidavit (International students only)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores (International students only)
For more information, click here: Graduate Application Guide
Please send all application materials to: IIT College of Architecture, Graduate Admission, Crown Hall, 3360 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60616-3793.