Welcome to the Office of Undergraduate Advising in the School of
Architecture, Preservation and Planning!
Visit the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation:
CLICK HERE to schedule a tour of the School of Architecture or meet with one of our Undergraduate Advisors for an advising appointment!
Freshmen Applicants
The University of Maryland is the state's premier center for research, advancing knowledge and providing high quality undergraduate education. A publicly supported, land-grant institution, Maryland is dedicated to educating the most promising students in the state, the nation and the world.
Deadlines for Freshman Application:
The University of Maryland’s priority deadline to apply to the B.S. in Architecture program is November 1st. Students seeking merit scholarships and invitations to special programs should apply by the priority deadline. The regular application deadline is January 20th. Admitted students will have until May 1 to confirm their fall enrollment. For more information, please consult the link below:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/FreshmanApplicationDeadlines.php
Additional Admissions Information:
For your convenience, we have provided links to vital information for all freshman applicants to the University of Maryland.
Freshman Application deadlines:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/FreshmanApplicationDeadlines.php
Freshman Application Checklist:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/FreshmanApplicationChecklist.php
Profile of Freshman admitted to UMD:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/requirements/Freshmen.php
Admission Review Factors:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/requirements/AdmissionReviewFactors.php
Apply Now!
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/apply/index.php
Pre-College Summer Discovery Programs:
Have you considered a career in architecture? High school students interested in the design professions are encouraged to join us at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation for our Pre-College Summer Discovery Programs.
ARCH150: Discovering Architecture
Get a taste of what it’s like to be an architecture student at the University of Maryland with an introductory studio course. Students will live on campus, earn three college credits and explore the field of Architecture. ARCH150 is open to all high school freshman, sophomores, and juniors. For more information, please visit:
http://www.arch.umd.edu/architecture/academics/discovering_architecture.cfm
EXST014: Exploring Architecture
If you dream of designing buildings, bridges or parks, this course will help you discover the many possibilities! Designed to explore careers in architecture, this course will allow you to learn about the different opportunities that exist within the field. EXST014 is open to all students entering their freshman year of high school. For more information, please visit:
http://oes.umd.edu/index.php?slab=architecture
Questions? Contact Advising!
Email: archadvise@umd.edu
Phone: (301) 405-9583
FAQ:
Q: Are internships apart of the Architecture curriculum?
A: Mandatory internships or Co-ops are not a part of the curriculum at the University of Maryland; however, students are highly encouraged to seek out internships during the summer and winter recesses.
Q: Do I need a portfolio to apply as an incoming freshman?
A: The University of Maryland does not require freshman applicants applying directly to the B.S. in Architecture program to submit a full portfolio. Instead, the applicant must submit a drawing with their application material. For specifications on the drawing, please visit:
http://www.admissions.umd.edu/requirements/ArchitectureMajors.php
Additionally, after completing 45 credits, students are required to apply to a Review Process before entering the studio sequence, during which a portfolio is required. For more information on the review process application, please visit:
http://www.arch.umd.edu/students/admissions/undergraduate/gateway.cfm
Q: I’m not a student yet, but can I still come in to talk to an advisor?
A: Any student interested in Architecture is welcome to make an advising appointment with the Undergraduate Advisors. Taking a tour of the Architecture building and facilities is highly recommended in addition to an advising appointment.
Q: Will I be able to become an architect with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture?
A: Since the B.S. in Architecture is considered a pre-professional architecture degree, students holding this degree will have to complete a professional degree before being able to sit for the Architect Registration Exam. Many students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Architecture continue in our professionally accredited Master of Architecture program or elect to pursue graduate studies at another institution.
Q: Who should I contact if I have any questions?
A: The Undergraduate Advisors in the Office of Advising will be happy to answer any and all questions you might have. Architecture Undergraduate Advisors are graduate students (M. ARCH candidates) who are trained in the curriculum, admissions process, and the review process. Please contact them at archadvise@umd.edu.
Q: Will I get credit for my AP, IB and CLEP Scores?
A: Maryland will give credit for many different AP, IB and CLEP tests and scores. Generally, you must earn a minimum score on a test to receive credit. You can find a complete list of the tests and credits here: http://www.tce.umd.edu/tclookup.html.
Q: What is studio?
A: Design studio is an intensive teaching-learning environment that involves hands-on learning. It is an integrated experience where students learn not only from faculty members, but also from their peers. Students analyze and propose innovative solutions to contemporary problems using a variety of media (hand drawing, physical modeling, and digital media). The studio environment encourages integration of knowledge gleaned from other courses taken throughout the curriculum and encourages students to work collaboratively and individually based on a “learning by doing” educational ethic.
Q: How does the Bachelor of Science (B.S. in Architecture) differ from a Bachelor of Architecture (B. ARCH)? What are the advantages of a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree?
A: First and foremost, the Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a pre-professional degree, similar to pre-Med or pre-Law. To practice these professions an accredited professional degree is typically required. The B.S. degree offers students increased opportunity to develop a solid liberal educational base, prior to delving deep into the professional and technical requirements of a professional degree. Upon completion of the B.S. in Architecture students may elect to pursue the Master of Architecture (professional degree), continue graduate studies in another profession such as historic preservation, landscape architecture, real estate development, or urban planning to name but a few fields, or they may take time to intern in an architect’s office. In contrast to the B.S. in Architecture, the Bachelor of Architecture degree is a five-year undergraduate professional degree that emphasizes a more narrow focus on professional education. The B ARCH degree historically predated the M ARCH. In the late 1960’s the American Institute of Architects issued the “Princeton Report on architectural education” and schools nationwide began to shift the awarding of the professional degree in architecture to the graduate level. Today there are three accredited professional degree tracks recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board, they are the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture (see: www.naab.org).
Q: Will I be able to become an architect with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture?
A: Since the B.S. in Architecture is considered a pre-professional architecture degree, students holding this degree will have to complete a professional degree before being able to sit for the Architect Registration Exam (in most jurisdictions). Many students who complete the Bachelor of Science in Architecture continue in our professionally accredited Master of Architecture program or elect to pursue graduate studies at another institution. For questions about professional registration prospective students should visit (www.naab.org).
Q: What kind of jobs will I be prepared for after completing my Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree at the University of Maryland?
A: Employment opportunities for students who hold a B.S. in Architecture are quite diverse. The most common is to work in the office of a registered architect in the capacity as an intern. Other fields that students commonly enter are graphic design, website design, 3-d visualization and animation, industrial design, and construction fields.