Graduate Admissions: Architecture

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Master of Architecture (Professional) 

The Department of Architecture has the following admissions requirements for the professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program:

  • Individuals must hold a bachelor's degree in any field. Some students may have previous backgrounds in a design discipline or may hold preprofessional undergraduate degrees in a design discipline.
  • Admission may also be offered to individuals with no previous experience in design but who exhibit talent and promise in a design-related activity or interest. Individuals who have completed a four-year bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in a field other than architecture are eligible for admission. Preference for admission is given to individuals who have completed a balanced undergraduate education, including studies in the arts, sciences, and the humanities.
  • Once admitted into the program, applicants receive a class equivalency information packet. Applicants will have the opportunity to submit class syllabi and transcripts from previous class work for review by a faculty member charged with reviewing that area of study (history, building technology, professional practice, etc.). Faculty members then determine if equivalency credit is appropriate. Please note that for ARCH 5511 Freehand Drawing and ARCH 5512 Digital Drawing, applicants must submit a portfolio of relevant work done in those classes along with the class syllabi and transcripts. Applicants should prepare these materials in advance so they can be submitted promptly if an offer of admission is made. Only course equivalency materials received by June 1 can be considered. We will not accept course equivalency materials before an offer of admission is made.
  • Learn more about the M.Arch. program.
  • The M.Arch. degree is NAAB accredited. Learn more about AAP's NAAB-accredited programs.

Application and Portfolio Requirements

The deadline for receiving application materials for the M.Arch. program is January 3. This includes the portfolio, which must be submitted at the same time as the rest of the application. There is no spring semester admission. Students interested in the M.Arch. program must submit an online application with supporting documentation including:

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts from each college or university previously attended
  • All applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement 
    • For applicants to the M.Arch. program who must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, AAP has a preferred minimum overall score of 100 for the TOEFL iBT and an overall band score of 7 for IELTS. Section minimums set by the graduate school must also still be met.
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
    • A one- or two-page statement outlining interests and intents for graduate study in the M.Arch. program. Please relate these intents to previous design and academic experience, and to future goals. 
  • A portfolio of creative work must be submitted online via the CollegeNET application. Portfolios must be no larger than 20 MB, or they will not successfully upload. All applicants are required to submit a portfolio that consists of a maximum of 20 pieces representing the applicant's best work, including, but not limited to, drawings, images of two- or three-dimensional work, and models. The entire portfolio must be uploaded as one PDF file, preferably using a landscape (horizontal) format for each page, to ensure that the width of the screen is maximally used to view each portfolio page (approximately a 4:3 ratio). If any project, drawing, or model has been produced by several designers, or if the design was produced in a professional setting, each drawing must be labeled, clearly stating the number of designers, which drawings were produced by the applicant, and a list of the names of all members of the group project. If the project was produced in an office, an office setting, or as an assistant to an author, the office name, supervisor, and all members of the team must be identified. Please note: The portfolio must be uploaded at the same time as the application (deadline January 3). Please plan your application process accordingly.
  • Resume/CV optional, but strongly encouraged.
  • The GRE general test is no longer a required component of the application.
  • Apply now to the M. Arch. program.

Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (Post-Professional) (M.S. AAD):

The Department of Architecture has specific requirements for the admissions process for the Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (M.S. AAD) program:

  • Students holding a professional bachelor of architecture degree (B.Arch.) or a professional master of architecture degree (M.Arch.) may be admitted as candidates for the post-professional M.S. AAD program. International students must submit an official certification that the degree held is a professional degree entitling them to practice architecture in their country.
  • The M.S. AAD program has a summer start term; there is no fall or spring semester admission.
  • Applicants still enrolled in a B.Arch. or M.Arch. at the time of application must have a conferral date no later than May 31 in order to be eligible for admission.
  • Learn more about the M.S. AAD program

Application and Portfolio Requirements

The deadline for receiving application materials for the M.S. AAD program is January 3. This includes the portfolio, which must be submitted at the same time as the rest of the application. Students interested in the M.S. AAD program must submit an online application with supporting documentation, including:

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts from each college or university previously attended
  • All applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement 
    • For applicants to the M.S. AAD program who must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, AAP has a preferred minimum overall score of 100 for the TOEFL iBT and an overall band score of 7 for IELTS. Section minimums set by the graduate school must also still be met.
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
    • A one- or two-page academic statement of purpose or statement of research intents for graduate study in the M.S. AAD program. This statement should describe a critical topic you wish to investigate at Cornell, including any past work in this area.
  • A portfolio of creative work must be submitted online via the CollegeNET application. Portfolios must be no larger than 20 MB, or they will not successfully upload. All applicants are required to submit a portfolio that consists of a maximum of 20 pieces representing the applicant's best work, including, but not limited to, drawings, images of two- or three-dimensional work, and models. The entire portfolio must be uploaded as one PDF file, preferably using a landscape (horizontal) format for each page, to ensure that the width of the screen is maximally used to view each portfolio page (approximately a 4:3 ratio). If any project, drawing, or model has been produced by several designers, or if the design was produced in a professional setting, each drawing must be labeled, clearly stating the number of designers, which drawings were produced by the applicant, and a list of the names of all members of the group project. If the project was produced in an office, an office setting, or as an assistant to an author, the office name, supervisor, and all members of the team must be identified. Please note: The portfolio must be uploaded at the same time as the application (deadline January 3). Please plan your application process accordingly.
  • Resume/CV optional, but strongly encouraged.
  • The GRE general test is not a required component of the application but is optional.
  • Apply now to the M.S. AAD program

Master of Science in Advanced Urban Design (Post-Professional) (M.S. AUD):

The Department of Architecture has specific requirements for the admissions process for the M.S. AUD program:

  • Students holding a professional bachelor of architecture degree (B.Arch.) or a professional master of architecture degree (M.Arch.), or a professional degree from a closely related field may be admitted as candidates for the post-professional M.S. AUD program. International students must submit an official certification that the degree held is a professional degree entitling them to practice architecture in their country.
  • Learn more about the M.S. AUD program

Application and Portfolio Requirements

The deadline for receiving application materials for the M.S. AUD program is January 3. This includes the portfolio, which must be submitted at the same time as the rest of the application. There is no spring semester admission. Students interested in the M.S. AUD program must submit an online application with supporting documentation, including:

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts from each college or university previously attended
  • All applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement 
    • For applicants to the M.S. AUD program who must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, AAP has a preferred minimum overall score of 100 for the TOEFL iBT and an overall band score of 7 for IELTS. Section minimums set by the graduate school must also still be met.
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
    • A one- or two-page academic statement of purpose or statement of research intents for graduate study in the M.S. AUD program. This statement should describe a critical topic you wish to investigate at Cornell, including any past work in this area.
  • A portfolio of creative work must be submitted online via the CollegeNET application. Portfolios must be no larger than 20 MB, or they will not successfully upload. All applicants are required to submit a portfolio that consists of a maximum of 20 pieces representing the applicant's best work, including, but not limited to, drawings, images of two- or three-dimensional work, and models. The entire portfolio must be uploaded as one PDF file, preferably using a landscape (horizontal) format for each page, to ensure that the width of the screen is maximally used to view each portfolio page (approximately a 4:3 ratio). If any project, drawing, or model has been produced by several designers, or if the design was produced in a professional setting, each drawing must be labeled, clearly stating the number of designers, which drawings were produced by the applicant, and a list of the names of all members of the group project. If the project was produced in an office, an office setting, or as an assistant to an author, the office name, supervisor, and all members of the team must be identified. Please note: The portfolio must be uploaded at the same time as the application (deadline January 3). Please plan your application process accordingly.
  • Resume/CV optional, but strongly encouraged.
  • The GRE general test is not a required component of the application but is optional.
  • Apply now to the M.S. AUD program.

Doctor of Philosophy in the History of Architecture and Urban Development (Ph.D. HAUD)

In addition to the Ph.D. HAUD admissions requirements of the Graduate School at Cornell University, the Department of Architecture, has specific requirements for the admissions process for the Ph.D. HAUD program:

  • Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in architecture, archaeology, history, history of art, anthropology, or an undergraduate degree in any area and appropriate experience in the field. Degree candidates must have proficiency in two languages other than English before beginning the second year of study.
  • Students are encouraged to participate in or watch the Virtual Open House before submitting their applications to learn more about the program and to improve their applications. Please check the Department of Architecture website for the date and details.
  • Learn more about the Ph.D. HAUD program

Application Requirements

The deadline for receiving application materials for the Ph.D HAUD program is January 3. There is no spring semester admission. Students interested in the Ph.D HAUD program must submit an online application with supporting documentation, including:

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts from each college or university previously attended
  • All applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement 
  • Academic Statement of Purpose for research programs
    • Please use the Academic Statement of Purpose to describe (within 1000 words) the substantive research questions you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies and explain how our program would help you achieve your intellectual goals. Additionally, detail your academic background, intellectual interests, and any training or research experience you have received that you believe has prepared you for our program. Within your statement, please also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own interests.
  • Writing Sample: approximately 20 pages
  • Resume/CV 
  • Apply now to the Ph.D. HAUD program
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