You will likely take a number of classes covering the history of architecture to gain a foundation for further study. You will likely take some classes that outline the history of architecture design and aesthetics, as well as innovations in engineering.
Architectural theory classes examine architecture from the perspective of political and cultural theorists. For example, a Marxist critique of architecture might examine architecture's relationship to industry and the ruling class, while a post-modern critique might deconstruct the supposed "authenticity" of various historical styles.
Design classes inculcate in architectural students the principles of architectural design. These include principles relating to engineering, architectonics, environment, technology, materials and aesthetics, as well as the tools architects use in creating designs.
Professional practice courses provide a primer in issues relevant to the practice of architecture, including law, economics and contractual issues. You should come out of the classes having a better idea of what extra-architectural issues architects must contend with.
Most architects are proficient technical drawers, able to sketch out their designs so that they're comprehensible to others. Draftsmanship classes are important in teaching basic drawing skills.
No structure exists in a vacuum. Almost all buildings are subject to various kinds of weather, such as wind, rain and snow. Environmental systems courses provide you with an understanding of how these elements affect buildings, both aesthetically and structurally.
Architects must have a deep working knowledge of the materials that can be used in building their structures. Materials classes provide an outline of the characteristics of various materials common to architecture, including their advantages, disadvantages and accepted uses.
Most M.Arch students are required to complete an independent study on a topic of their choice. You may design a structure or posit and attempt to answer an historical or theoretical question or problem relevant to architectural studies.
Many older buildings require considerable maintenance and repair. In preservation classes, you learn both what happens to buildings as they age and some of the options available for preserving them, such as adaptive reuse.
Urban planning classes help you understand the ecology of a city and the role that architecture plays in its functioning. Students examine what goes into a well-planned city, drawing on real-world examples of urban areas that have attempted to shape their built environment.