The Master of Science in Architecture with a concentration in Sustainable Design [MS ARCH in Sustainable Design] is an advanced post-professional degree for students concentrated on the research and design of sustainable design at multiple scales-ranging from energy-efficient buildings, to better neighborhood design, and smart growth. <br><br>Before air-conditioning became ubiquitous, designing with the local climate in mind was not a virtue, but a necessity. Passive design-taking advantage of the cyclical nature of the sun and maximizing natural ventilation-was widely practiced centuries before that phrase was coined. In the years since the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability as ''meeting today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,'' we have come to better understand that technological innovations can present both problems and solutions. Taking advantage of being located in Houston, the world's energy capital, our program works closely with the UH Energy research group where academics collaborate with industry on multi-disciplinary projects to promote a better built environment.