The Graduate Program in Sustainable Design is an interdisciplinary and research-based degree path. Here, scholars are both part of a specialized, close-knit cohort of MSSD students as well as members of the larger Architecture program and UT Austin campus community. Students are encouraged to draw from the sizeable and wide-ranging knowledge of faculty within the school and across the university. The Master of Science in Sustanable Design degree's STEM designation from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board also opens up new research and funding resources, and enables additional professional opportunities for international students.
The School of Architecture has several facilities and laboratories to allow for sustainable design research at various scales and scopes to complement students’ academic experiences. The Sustainable Design Program distinguishes itself from other programs in the school as its low faculty-student ratio allows for one-to-one interaction in addition to potential opportunities for Graduate Research Assistant work to support faculty research in conjunction with the Center for Sustainable Development.
Moreover, students are able to experience and contribute to the development of one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation—Austin, Texas. Together with faculty and professionals in practice students contribute to resolving Austin’s current density, equity, and environmental issues in the living laboratory of a dynamic and ever-changing city.
sustainable design
DEGREES + PROGRAMS
The Sustainable Design Program at the University of Texas as Austin offers two graduate-level degree programs and a Ph.D. in Architecture with a concentration in sustainability.
| GRADUATE | DOCTORAL | |
|---|---|---|
|
MSSD + Master of Science in Community & Regional Planning [MSCRP] |
Ph.D in Architecture, Sustainability | |
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN NEWS
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@utsoaMasters of Science in Historic Preservation student Sonya Sehgal is the first recipient of the inaugural Theodore Prudon Education Fund Grant from Docomomo @dodomomous!
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@utsoaOn view this fall in the Materials Lab 🌿Associate Professor Danelle Briscoe’s exhibition “Eco Illusions: The Plastic Behind the Green” asks the question: Can we truly call a system ‘green’ if it’s propped up by materials that may outlive the ecosystems they aim to sustain?
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@utsoaCelebrating the accomplishments of our professors, UTSOA’s faculty studio features dive into the dynamic firms and individual practices that shape their expertise inside and outside the university.
Our second feature is Alterstudio Partner Kevin Alter.
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@utsoaJoin us in welcoming the new and visiting faculty joining the School of Architecture community this fall!
▪️ Lidia Cano Pecharroman joins us as an Assistant Professor of Community and Regional Planning and the Director of the Extreme Weather Adaptation Lab at @thelbjschoolInstagram Post
@utsoaLed by Senior Lecturer Robert Stepnoski (@robertstepnoski), the 2025 Summer course “Robots for Architecture” explored robotic automation in architectural design and fabrication using KUKA robots.
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@utsoaOur faculty are known for their expansive professional practices that extend beyond the university, so we’re kicking off a new series to feature the research and design work of our wonderful professors.
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@utsoaA little quiet before the next creative storm. Two months down, two to go—see you in August. 🗓️
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@utsoaEven in an increasingly digital profession, hands-on fabrication remains a cornerstone of design education.
