Apply for Admission

Welcome to the USF School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD)! We are glad to help you through the application process. Note that the SACD Architecture Program is a graduate program that, among entry requirements, is the completion of at least 60 undergraduate credit hours before admission. However, the SACD offers a “General Studies – Architecture” (i.e. pre-architecture) area of study to help first-time-in-college students, current USF students, and transfer students meet the SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admission requirements.

TO APPLY TO THE UNDERGRADUATE PRE-ARCHITECTURE
MAJOR/AREA OF STUDY

First-time-in-college students and transfer students who do not meet the SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admission requirements below must apply to USF and/or choose the General Studies – Architecture area of study. Apply to USF as an undergraduate student through the USF Office of Admissions. Please visit the USF Office of Admissions website for university undergraduate admission requirements, deadlines, and application information.

Continuing USF students who are interested in studying architecture should communicate directly with the architecture academic advisors in the College of the Arts Advising Center about a Change of Major.

To Apply to the SACD Graduate Architecture (M.ARCH.) Program

Fully completed applications to the SACD AND USF Graduate Admissions must be submitted prior to March 01.

Applicants must satisfy all SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admissions Requirements to be fully admitted into the graduate architecture (M.Arch.) major. New students are admitted to SACD once a year and may begin only in the fall semester.

Applicants who fulfill all SACD admissions requirements by the end of the spring semester of the application year will best position themselves for admission. Only provisional admissions may be extended to applicants who need time beyond the spring semester to fulfill admission requirements. The SACD Admissions Committee may choose not to offer any provisional admissions.

If a provisional admission is offered to an applicant, all admission requirements must be satisfied by the end of the USF Summer Session ‘B’ (on or about August 09, please see USF’s academic calendar for exact date),or the provisional admission will be withdrawn and the applicant will be denied admission.

In order to enroll in the graduate M.Arch. major, applicants must be accepted by the Office of Graduate Studies AND by the SACD. These are separate admission processes that involve different application forms, supportive materials, and deadlines. For more detailed information, applicants should see Graduate Admissions online and visit the SACD website. Final acceptance into the graduate M.Arch. major is contingent upon admission by BOTH the USF Office of Graduate Admissions and the SACD.

Step 1:

Apply for graduate admission to the University of South Florida. Select "Master of Architecture" in the application. If interested, you may also select "Master of Urban and Community Design."

To begin a graduate admission application to the University of South Florida, please refer to the USF Office of Admissions website for requirements, deadlines, and information on how to apply.

Step 2:

Apply for admission to the School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD) by submitting the SACD Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program Application Materials before March 1 of the same calendar year in which the applicant is seeking fall admission:

Pathways To The Sacd Graduate Programs By Student Status

An application for admission to the SACD graduate architecture program must include the following:

Completed School of Architecture & Community Design Application form
Undergraduate Transcripts (unofficial)
Design portfolio. A design portfolio must be submitted in printed form on 8 1/2 X 11 paper, unless you are submitting the portfolio from outside the United States in which case it may be submitted in PDF format (no links please).
Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
A one-page Statement of Academic/Professional Intent Note that if an applicant has not met all admission requirements prior to the March 01 application deadline, they must include in their Letter of Intent a statement detailing how they will complete outstanding requirements prior to the end of USF’s Summer Session B.
Official GRE General Test score. The GRE is delivered online and will not be waived. Applicants must submit official GRE test scores to USF using institution code 5828 and also submit unofficial copies directly to the SACD. If an applicant is unable to have GRE scores submitted prior to the March 01 application deadline, they must state in their Letter of Intent that they will take it and have their score to the SACD Admissions office no later than May 10, 5:00 PM EST.

If the SACD Admissions Committee decides to admit an applicant who has not submitted a GRE score by the March 01 application deadline, it will be a "provisional admit" pending GRE score receipt by the extended May 10 GRE deadline. After that deadline, the SACD Admissions Committee and/or the SACD Director may withdraw its provisional admission and deny admission to the applicant.

To Submit an SACD Graduate Architecture (M.ARCH.) Program Application:

Submit all SACD Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program Application Materials after January 01 and no later than March 01, 5:00PM EST.

Applicants from within the United States must submit a printed Design Portfolio hand-delivered to Mr. James Spear, HMS-311 or shipped to the following address:

USF SACD Portfolio Submission
12316 USF Genshaft Dr.
Tampa, FL 33620
Attention: James E. Spear HMS-311

Please send all other admissions documents in a single e-mail to: SACDAdmissions@usf.edu .Only applicants from outside the United States may submit an electronic Design Portfolio (PDF only, no links).

Pathways To The SACD Graduate Programs By Student Status

The USF School of Architecture and Community Design (SACD) offers multiple pathways to qualify prospective students to apply to its graduate programs.

First-Time-In-College Students And Non-Degreed Transfer Students

1. Apply as an undergraduate student to the University of South Florida through the USF Office of Admissions and choose “General Studies – Architecture” as your area of study/major.

Continuing USF Undergraduate Students

1. If you did not enter the university as a “General Studies – Architecture” major, establish your major/area of study as “General Studies – Architecture.”

2. Prior to registering for courses each semester, communicate with your architecture academic advisors in the College of the Arts Advising Center to review your progress toward fulfillment of the SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admission and USF Graduate Admission Requirements.

3. Prior to registration for spring courses in the academic year that you expect to fulfill the USF and SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admission and USF Graduate Admission Requirements, meet with your architecture academic advisors in the College of the Arts Advising Center to review your standing and ensure you are on-track to fulfill all admission requirements before you apply to the program.

4. Take the GRE General Test (institution code 5828) by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically before the March 01 SACD application deadline.

5. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 1 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

6. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 2 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

Students With 4-Year Bachelor's Degree Not In Architecture

1. Fulfill the USF and SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admission and USF Graduate Admission Requirements. Prospective students can make an appointment with architecture academic advising through USF Escheduler to discuss their fulfillment of the requirements.

2. Take the GRE General Test (institution code 5828) by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically before the March 01 SACD application deadline.

3. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 1 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

4. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 2 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

Associate Of Arts Transfer Student With AA In Architecture

1. Take the GRE General Test (institution code 5828) by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically before the March 01 SACD application deadline.

2. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 1 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

3. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 2 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

Students With 4-Year Pre-professional Bachelor's Degree In Architecture

4. Take the GRE General Test (institution code 5828) by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically before the March 01 SACD application deadline.

5. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 1 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

6. Prior to March 01 of the spring semester when the requirements will have been fulfilled, complete Step 2 of To Apply to the Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program.

Admissions Evaluation Process

For information about how SACD Graduate Architecture (M.Arch.) Program applications are processed, please review Admissions Evaluation Process.

Questions

We are happy to help with any questions you may have! Architecture academic advisors, centrally located in the College of the Arts Advising Center (FAH 120), are here to assist prospective and current students with individualized academic planning.

Prospective students can make an appointment with Architecture academic advising through USF Escheduler.

Architecture advisor offices are located at FAH 120.

Architecture (Pre-Architecture and Master of Architecture) academic advisors may be reached via e-mail at architectureadvise@usf.edu