Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 58.58
Liaison Margaret Lo
Submission Date July 14, 2022

STARS v2.2

Ball State University
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Adam Beach
Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of English
Graduate School
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Majors and degree programs 

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
Master of Architecture 1 (Professional Degree)

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:
The master of architecture (MArch) professional degree is the second component of architectural education at Ball State University. It is for students who seek licensure in the profession and is accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB).

Our college is listed among "America's World-Class Schools of Architecture" by Design Intelligence, ranked in the top 10 nationally for our work in digital design and fabrication and our commitment to social justice by Architect magazine, and nationally known for our leadership in sustainability.

With two options, our graduate degree is for those committed to developing—with faculty and fellow students—the attitudes, skill, and methods needed to work as an architect in support of the sustainability of a built environment of the highest quality.

We see the built field—and architecture as part of it—as an embodiment of culture in all its diversity and complexity. It is in constant flux while adhering to an underlying coherence. The built field consists of both ordinary and special buildings. Spaces found in built fields span time and space from dense urban agglomerations to the most rural settlements.

The evolution of the built field—depending on both convention and invention for its sustenance—is guided by professionals from a wide range of disciplines, including architects, engineers, planners, as well as public officials, corporate leaders, product manufacturers, and everyday users.

In light of these realities, and because we expect our graduates to engage in diverse forms of local and global practice during their careers, we challenge students with knowledge both new and old. We stress how to learn and how to design, incorporating the methods that constitute the profession’s shared body of knowledge.

Because we respect the lessons practice offers, we emphasize the idea of the reflective and global practitioner as a conceptual framework linking our teaching in classrooms and studios, and a variety of immersive learning experiences away from the campus.

Given this viewpoint, a distinct part of our program is a required academic internship experience of at least 14 weeks following the framework articulated by National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s Intern Development Program (IDP) for architectural licensing. Students who have already fulfilled the academic internship requirement prior to enrollment in the program, may pursue more internship experience or utilize study away experiences including the following options:

• Foreign travel and study in one of Ball State's foreign study centers or with cooperating institutes and universities in the United States and around the world
• On-campus immersive and experiential learning experiences such as the Virginia Ball seminar
• Another distinct component of our program is the opportunity to embark on one of several certificate programs offered within the College of Architecture and Planning and in the university at large.

We welcome students from around the world—of all ages, races, and backgrounds—who wish to work with us on the vital issues and opportunities that face the profession as it seeks to contribute to improving our manmade environment.

Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:

Additional degree programs (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
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A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):
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Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
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Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
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A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
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Minors, concentrations and certificates 

Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
Yes

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
Graduate Certificate in Sustainability

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Build your credentials as a visionary and innovative leader in sustainability efforts. Whether you're advancing your current career or starting a new one, the graduate certificate in sustainability is designed to prepare you to guide businesses, organizations, and communities in anticipating, implementing, and celebrating the achievement of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Using knowledge and skills gained in critical thinking, ethics, data analysis, modeling practices, and more, graduates completing the certificate will be able to confidently develop, implement, and evaluate sustainability initiatives.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:

Additional minors, concentrations and certificate programs (optional) 

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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