Effective July 1, 2019, the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design is pleased to offer STEM-designated professional degree programs with our Master of Science (MS) degree in Architecture and Master of Architecture (MARCH) degree in Architecture, approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

This designation allows for international students to participate in the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension that provides an additional 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT, in addition to the 12 months currently allowed to provide an overall period of 36 months. 

Additionally, it allows architecture faculty to be eligible for STEM funding at the NSF and similar federal research funding agencies that either give preference to STEM-designated disciplines or in some cases are solely limited to STEM-designated disciplines. 

Learn more about our Graduate Programs.