Architecture, MSD: Environmental Building Design
The Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Environmental Building Design (MSD-EBD) is an advanced, two year (four semester), post-professional degree that offers a more in-depth research focus than the professionally oriented MEBD degree. It is designed for architects seeking to develop new approaches to environmental design. A wider range of skills, which are tested through experiment and validation, are required to achieve real innovation in this rapidly changing field. The challenge for architects is to operate between the synthetic activities of design and the analytic procedures of research. The EBD Research studio develops and tests physical prototypes of buildings and components as part of an iterative design process.
The degree requires 16 Course Units, completed over 3 semesters of full-time study and one semester of part-time study. Students will be billed at the part-time tuition rate in the final term when taking 2 CUs. Students who wish to take more than 2 CUs in the final semester have the option of doing so, but this will result in billing at the full-time tuition rate and federal loan (and some private loan) eligibility is based on part-time tuition in the final semester. There is no additional Weitzman scholarship disbursement towards additional tuition costs.
For more information: https://ebd.design.upenn.edu
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| ARCH 7080 | Bioclimatic Design Studio | 2 |
| ARCH 7090 | Environmental Building Design Research Project | 2 |
| ARCH 7180 | History and Theory of Architecture and Climate: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century | 1 |
| ARCH 7510 | Ecology, Technology, and Design | 1 |
| ARCH 7520 | Fundamentals of Bioclimatic Design | 1 |
| ARCH 7530 | Building Performance Simulation | 1 |
| ARCH 7540 | Performance Design Workshop | 1 |
| ARCH 7550 | Environmental Building Design Research Methods | 2 |
| ARCH 7560 | Thermodynamic Systems and Methods | 1 |
| 4 Designated Electives (with FMEB attribute) | 4 | |
| Total Course Units | 16 | |
A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Course Units | |
| ARCH 7510 | Ecology, Technology, and Design | 1 |
| ARCH 7520 | Fundamentals of Bioclimatic Design | 1 |
| ARCH 7530 | Building Performance Simulation | 1 |
| Select 2 Designated Electives (with FMEB attribute) 1 | 2 | |
| Course Units | 5.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARCH 7080 | Bioclimatic Design Studio | 2 |
| ARCH 7180 | History and Theory of Architecture and Climate: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century | 1 |
| ARCH 7540 | Performance Design Workshop | 1 |
| Select 1 Designated Elective (with FMEB attribute) | 1 | |
| Course Units | 5.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ARCH 7550 | Environmental Building Design Research Methods | 2 |
| ARCH 7560 | Thermodynamic Systems and Methods | 1 |
| Select 1 Designated Elective (with FMEB attribute) 1 | 1 | |
| Optional: One additional elective 2 | ||
| Course Units | 4.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARCH 7090 | Environmental Building Design Research Project | 2 |
| Optional: up to 3 additional electives 3 | ||
| Course Units | 2.00 | |
| Total Course Units | 16.00 | |
International students on a visa and following the standard course of study will need to apply to ISSS for a Reduced Course Load in the final semester. The Reduced Course Load for the standard course of study will not impact OPT eligibility.
- 1
Other courses may be approved as designated electives by the MSD-EBD program director.
- 2
In the Fall term of the second year, students only need 4 CUs, but can choose to take a 5th credit at no additional cost (due to Weitzman's full-time billing structure).
- 3
The degree is designed to be completed with part-time enrollment in the final (4th term). Financial aid and estimated program costs are based on 2 CU enrollment in the final term. Students may choose to take additional CUs (for example, in order to complete a certificate) but enrolling in more than 2 CUs will result in billing at the full-time tuition rate with no additional Weitzman financial aid (if applicable). Federal student loans cannot be used to cover courses that are not required for the degree, and students using private loans may have the same restrictions.