During the two and a half terms that they are in residence, students in the Master of Science program are full members of the H/T community, sharing the same resources, opportunities, courses, and advisors available to PhD students. They also share many of thse same research interests and join them in some of the same core courses, as outlined in the MSc degree requirements. But instead of a dissertation, the MSc curriculum culminates during the final spring half term with a major writing project based on substantive research under the direction of a faculty advisor. Several graduates of the MSc degree in H/T have gone to pursue doctoral studies, at the UM or at another institution.

The MSc, as opposed to the MArch degree, as is explained in the MSc description, is a non-professional, non-terminal, and non-studio based program. In terms of the H/T area, it can be the initial step for those considering the possibility of doctoral studies: graduates of professional architecture programs who wish to have additional coursework in history and theory in order to add to their knowledge and strengthen their research abilities prior to pursuing a doctorate. The degree however is also the means by which long-term practitioners, recent MArch graduates, or even current students enrolled in Michigan's Architecture Program, can pursue research-based historical and/or theoretical work that complements and reinforces their studio-based design activities. The degree also allows those already holding non-architecture undergraduate or graduate degrees to pursue an intense, shorter course of study that is not the design-based, professional MArch.

The MSc degree is the means by which knowledge and skills leading to PhD studies can be established. At the same time it provides the opportunity for those committed to careers as architects to spend a period of time devoted to a focused investigation of architectural history and theory in relationship to design studio and practice.