The Professional Master's in Architecture, Project and Environment, the first in Brazil recognized by CAPES in the area, whose first class began in August 2010. The professional master's degrees have the same prerogatives as academic master's degrees, including for future admission to doctoral studies, but prioritize content and work that is more applied to professional practices in its area of coverage. The course's central focus is the architectural project, its technological supports, and its relationship with the environment. It is aimed at architects, urban planners, and civil engineers, professionals with a non-academic profile, linked to offices, industries, companies, and public or private agencies, and whose interests are focused on issues related to environmental sustainability. Broadening the contact between the University and the job market, the Professional Master's will offer courses and final products in tune with the characteristics of this market, responding to the encouragement and expectations of teaching and research institutions and representative entities of the professional environment in Architecture, Urbanism, and Civil Engineering. The course aims at the qualitative deepening of the relationship between architectural design, technology, and environment, intensifying the practical and immediate applicability of research results related to sustainability, environmental comfort, energy efficiency, accessibility, and building safety. It offers a single area of concentration in Architectural Design and Technology, with the following research lines:

1. Architecture Project

          The research line in Architectural Design aims to narrow the bridge between theories and practices of architectural design, including studies on concepts and methods of conception, representation, and development of design processes; studies of form, uses, and tectonics of buildings; analysis and evaluation of projects and built environments; information technologies and tools to support the conception and management of design processes; accessibility and orientability in buildings; specificities of intervention in the built cultural heritage.

2. Technology, Comfort and Sustainability in Architecture

      The Technology, Comfort, and Sustainability in Architecture research line addresses the relationship between design and the constructive realization of architecture, emphasizing materials and building systems; strategies for the adequacy of the building to the environment, energy efficiency, retrofit; performance and thermal, acoustic, and lighting comfort, and fire safety in buildings.

The duration of the Professional Master's program in Architecture, Project and Environment is 18 months and the maximum time for completion is 24 months. The Professional Master's program is structured around 9 compulsory courses, exclusively designed for this level of Master's, which total 17 credits or 255 class hours (at UFRN, 1 credit is equivalent to 15 class hours). In addition to these compulsory courses, every semester optional courses and thematic seminars are offered, from 01 to 03 credits. Students must complete a minimum of 7 credits among the optional components (105 class hours), reaching a grand total of 24 credits to complete the course (360 class hours).

Due to the characteristics of the student body (all working in the professional field) and the availability of the Program's professors, the courses are taught at night (during the week) and in the morning (on Saturdays), without competing with the other activities developed in the undergraduate and graduate levels (academic master's and doctorate), which occur, essentially, from Monday to Friday and in the morning and afternoon shifts. The night shift starts at 6:45 pm and ends at 10:15 pm (composed of four schedules, i.e. four classes).In some specific cases, there is the possibility for students of the Professional Master's to take some courses in conjunction with the academic master's: these are optional components offered by the teachers of the two programs that are directed to both master's degrees (academic and professional). In this sense, as long as the Professional Master's student is available, he or she can take them normally during the morning or afternoon shifts, according to the schedule of the subjects.

Form of Admission: Selective process, with specificities in each announcement.