University of South Florida

School of Architecture & Community Design

USF College of The Arts

Apply for Admission

Welcome to the USF School of Architecture & Community Design (SACD)! We are glad to help you through the application process. To be considered for acceptance, all prospective students must complete their application in the following order: 1) Apply for admission to the University of South Florida; 2) Apply for admission to SACD.

Please note that admission into the university and admission into the school are separate processes which involve different application forms, supporting materials, and deadlines.

SACD ADMISSION EVALUATION PROCESS

Step 1:
Apply for admission to the University of South Florida

To begin your 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. The links below will guide you to the specific requirements for admission based on your academic status:

 

Step 2:
Apply for admission to the School of Architecture & Community Design

New students are admitted to SACD once a year and begin in the fall semester only. The deadline for application is March 1 of the same calendar year for which the prospective student is seeking fall admission.

Before you apply, review the SACD Admissions Requirements to be sure you have fulfilled all of the prerequisites.

 

Application Materials

All SACD admission application must include the following:

  1. A completed School of Architecture & Community Design application form
  2. Undergraduate transcripts (as applicable)
  3. A design portfolio - design portfolio must be submitted in hard copy form on 8 1/2 X paper.  The portfolio can be delivered to USF School of Architecture & Community Design (third floor - Room HMS 311). If you are submitting the portfolio outside the state or country it can be submitted in pdf format (no links please) to SACD-Portfolio@usf.edu.  If you'd like to mail your portfolio please use the following address and please allow time for delivery.

    USF School of Architecuture 
    Portfolio Submission
    12316 USF Genshaft Dr.
    Tampa, FL 33620
    Attention: 
    James E. Spear HMS-311
  4. Three (3) letters of recommendation
  5. A one-page statement of academic/professional intent
  6. A GRE test score - THE GRE will not be waived and is REQUIRED.
    • The institution code for the University of South Florida is 5828 and applies to all tests administered by ETS. - The School of Architecture and Community Design prefers to have the GRE information from applicants, the test is available online. 
    • In the event a student is unable to complete the GRE before the March 1 deadline, they need to include in their Letter of Intent that they will take it and have it submitted to the SACD Admissions office by the deadline of May 10th, 5:00PM EST.

      If the Admissions Committee decides to admit that student who does not have an official GRE score at the time of the admissions reviews, it will be a “provisional admit” pending the successful completion of the GRE and submitted to the SACD Admissions Office by the deadline listed above.  Providing the student successfully completes the GRE and their scores are received by the deadline, the Admissions Committee and or the Director will then reconsider the provisional admission status of the student and either admit or deny the student admission at that time.

      A side issue but related - let’s say a student has not completed all the program pre-requisite courses by the March 1st deadline.  If the Admissions Committee decides to admit that student who has not completed all of their prerequisites at the time of the admissions reviews, it will be a “provisional admit” pending the successful completion of these courses and transcript submitted to the SACD Admissions office by the deadline listed below. 

      In that case, similar to GRE issue, the student must list in their letter of intent the required remaining pre-requisites.  But unlike the GRE, these prerequisites must all be successfully completed by the end of Summer Semester B, August 9th and submitted by way of an updated transcript to the SACD Admissions office by 5:00PM, EST. Summer grades are visible in OASIS on this date.  Providing the student successfully completes all of the required prerequisites, submitted the updated transcript that reflects that courses have been taken, and that information is received by the deadline, the Admissions Committee and or Director will then reconsider the admission status of the student and either admit or deny the student admission to the program. If any of the courses required have not been completed and submitted by the deadline students will be removed as Provisional Admits and denied admission to our program.

       

Take the GRE

instructions for submitting applications:

All above application materials must be submitted no later than March 1st.  Please note that hard copies of your Design Portfolios can be delivered to James Spear in HMS-311 or sent to the school at the following address:

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

Please send all other Admissions documents to: SACDAdmissions@usf.edu

Each student should submit one application email containing:

  • Completed SACD application form
  • Design portfolio - hard copies must be delivered to USF SACD prior to March 1, 2024. If you reside out of the state of Florida or the United States the Design Portfolio can be sent via email as a pdf ( no links, please) to SACD-Portfolio@usf.edu
    Hard Copies of your portfolio can be sent via US Mail to:

    USF School of Architecture 
    Portfolio Submission
    12316 USF Genshaft Dr.
    Tampa, FL 33620
    Attention: 
    James E. Spear HMS-311
  • Statement of intent
  • A .PDF of GRE test scores downloaded directly from ETS website is REQUIRED and will not be waived

Students who are not already admitted to USF can have digital copies of transcripts sent to the email address provided.

The window for submitting applications will open beginning the first week of January and close on March 1st. However, students should be working to collect and finalize all application materials prior to the application window opening.

 

Specific steps for admission by academic status

First-Year Undergraduate and Non-Degree Transfer Students

  1. Apply to the University of South Florida through the USF Office of Admissions and select "Pre-Architecture" as your intended major.
  2. After you receive your acceptance into USF, meet regularly with your undergraduate advisor to complete the Pre-Architecture courses, then follow the steps for Current USF Undergraduate Students to apply for admission into the master's degree programs.

Current USF Undergraduate Students

  1. Meet with the undergraduate advisor about your status as a Pre-Architecture student prior to spring semester registration to ensure you are on-track to complete the Pre-Architecture courses before you apply for admission into the master's degree programs at SACD.
  2. Take the GRE exam by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically by the February 1 admissions deadline.
  3. Submit your application containing the materials listed above by March 1 directly to the School of Architecture & Community Design via email. Note: Current USF students do not need to send an official transcript. We can access USF transcripts internally.

Associate of Arts Transfer Student with AA in Architecture

  1. Take the GRE exam by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically by the February 1 admissions deadline.
  2. Apply to the University of South Florida through the USF Office of Admissions and select "Pre-Architecture" as your intended major.
  3. Submit your application containing the materials listed above by March 1 directly to the School of Architecture & Community Design.

Students with 4-year Preprofessional Bachelor's Degree

  1. Take the GRE exam by January 1 to ensure scores are received electronically by the March 1 admissions deadline.
  2. Apply to the University of South Florida through the USF Office of Admissions as a graduate student and select "Master of Architecture" and/or "Master of Urban and Community Design" in the application.
  3. Submit your application containing the materials listed above by March 1 directly to the School of Architecture & Community Design

Admissions Evaluation Process

Questions?

We are happy to help with any questions you may have! Please email Architecture Advising if you have with any questions. Prospective students can also make an appointment to meet in person.