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 offers two graduate programs, The professional Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) program and the post-professional Master of Urban & Community Design (MUCD) program. The SACD does not currently offer undergraduate degree programs.

Among requirements for admission to the M. Arch. program is the completion of at least 60 undergraduate credit hours.  The SACD offers a "General Studies - Architecture" (i.e. pre-architecture) area of study to help first-time-in-college students, current undergraduate USF students, and undergraduate transfer students meet the SACD M.Arch. Program Admission requirements. 

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

First-time-in-college students and undergraduate transfer students (with or without an Associate’s degree)  must apply to USF as an undergraduate freshman or transfer student and choose the “General Studies – Architecture” area of study. 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 discuss a change of major with the architecture academic advisors in the College of Design, Art & Performance's Advising Center about a Change of Major.

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

SACD Application Deadline: February 1, 2026, 5pm (EST) Fully completed applications must be submitted prior to this deadline.

Applicants must satisfy all SACD Graduate Architecture Program Admissions Requirements to be fully admitted into the graduate M. Arch. program. New students are admitted to M. Arch. program only once a year 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- e.g. course prerequisites, GRE Scores, etc. 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 and in the application record by the end of the USF Summer Session ‘B’ (on or about August 08, please see USF’s academic calendar for exact date), or the provisional admission will be revoked and the applicant will be denied admission.

 

Step 1:

PREPARE SACD M.Arch. Application

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) for ALL STUDENTS (including USF students)
• Design portfolio. A design portfolio must be submitted digitally AND as a printed, bound document. The printed portfolio must measure a minimum of 8” in either dimension and should measure between 80 and 100 square inches total, e.g., 8x10, 8x12, 9x9, 10x10, 8.5 x 11. The digital file format must be a PDF (Portable Document Format) with file size not to exceed 20 MB.
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation from academic/professional references.
• A one-page Statement of Academic/Professional Intent. Note that if an applicant has not met all admission course prerequisites prior to the 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 SACD application deadline, they must state in their Letter of Intent when they will take it and that they will 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 SACD 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 revoke its provisional admission and deny admission to the applicant. 

Step 2:  (all applicants): 

SUBMIT SACD M.Arch. Application

SACD Application Deadline: February 1, 2026, 5pm (EST) Fully completed applications must be submitted prior to this deadline.

Applicants from within the United States must submit a printed, bound 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).

Step 3 (only applicants with a baccalaureate degree): 

SUBMIT USF Graduate Admissions Application by the SACD Application Deadline

APPLICATION Evaluation Process

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

Questions

We are happy to help with any questions you may have! Architecture academic advisors, centrally located in the College of Design, Art & Performance 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 (Pre-Architecture and Master of Architecture) academic advisors may be reached via e-mail at  architectureadvise@usf.ed