Architecture

Department of Architecture Portfolio Guidelines
Every applicant to the Master of Architecture, Master of Environmental Building Design, Master of Science in Architecture, or PhD in Architecture is required to submit a portfolio. The portfolio is a synopsis of one's creative work. As a visual essay, it tells a story of a person's interests, skills, and development over time. It should include projects that best express one's visual, spatial, and constructional abilities. These projects might include drawings, paintings, sculpture, or photography; graphic, industrial, or interior design; architectural, landscape, or urban design. The faculty who evaluate the portfolios look less for competence in architectural or landscape architectural design and more for a coherent demonstration of visual and spatial abilities expressed through a basic understanding of material and construction. All work should be identified as academic, professional, or personal. If professional or team projects are included in the portfolio, the specific role and responsibility of the applicant in the production of the project must be clearly identified. Labels and writing should be kept to a minimum and clearly explain the work. Applicants to the MEBD and MArch II should include at least five fully developed projects done solely by the person submitting the portfolio; other group work can be added.

Applicants must submit their portfolios digitally. A PDF document of no more than twenty 10 x 12" pages, no more than 25 MB, and screen resolution 72 dpi should be submitted on a CD that has been tested on both Mac OSX and Windows. No fewer than four projects should be included. The document should be saved as Program_LastnameFirstname_Portfolio (eg: MArchII_GrayTom_Portfolio). The CD should have your name written on it with a Sharpie marker and be enclosed in a paper sleeve. MEBD, MArch II, MS and PhD Architecture applicants are encouraged to include their list of computer proficiencies (MEBD and MArch II only) and writing samples on the CD. Each file should be clearly labeled as "Resume", "Writing Sample I", "Writing Sample II", or "ComputerProf" (eg: PhDArch_GrayTom_Resume).

The portfolio will be returned to the applicant after April 1 only if a self-addressed stamped return envelope is provided. Overseas applicants may enclose postal coupons or money orders along with envelopes for their portfolio return.