Application Deadline

Rolling Admissions

Please apply four months in advance of your desired entry date.

It is important to note that you will be notified about funding decisions on average four weeks after you have been accepted into the program.

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Minimum Requirements

Strong undergraduate record
To pursue an Architecture MS a bachelor of arts or science in humanities, sciences, environmental studies, or engineering is required, and a GPA greater than 3.0 is preferred. International applicants must be proficient in English (see language requirements).

Professional & dual-degree seekers welcome
We also encourage individuals with professional degrees in architecture and landscape architecture, as well as current M.Arch or MLA students seeking a dual degree, to apply.

Application Materials

All materials must be received by the program's deadline. The program’s review process takes between four and six weeks once the application is complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 

Materials required for all applicants

  • Complete University of Minnesota Graduate School Application
  • Unofficial transcripts of all college or university coursework
  • A statement (up to 1,000 words), outlining sustainable design as an area of study:
    • Please define research topics you are interested in, your experience and preparation for the field, career goals, and other relevant information that supports the application.
    • Upload this essay to the "Graduate Program Supplementary Information" section within the Graduate School Application.
  • Three letters of recommendation, preferably two written by faculty members who are familiar with your academic work
  • Portfolio (see portfolio requirements below for more details)
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (school code is 6874)
    • NOTE: The GRE requirement is waived for the Architecture MS programs for Fall 2022.
  • Application fee of $75, international students pay $95

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should be uploaded as a PDF file electronically to the online application. There is a 5-GB limit for the file size. 

  • The portfolio should be no more than 10 pages/sides and should demonstrate your design ability and/or professional accomplishments.
  • Design studio projects may be included. Other work showing artistic or design ability or facility with digital technology may also be included.
  • Please do not send a hard copy of the portfolio.

For applicants who are non-native English speakers

  • TOEFL or IELTS scores submitted in PDF file format to the University of Minnesota (school code: 6874)
  • Minimum accepted TOEFL scores are:
    • Total Score: 79
    • Writing Subscore: 21
    • Reading Subscore: 19
  • Minimum accepted IELTS scores are:
    • Total Score: 6.5
    • Writing Subscore: 6.5
    • Reading Subscore: 6.5

NOTE: If you will earn or have earned an undergraduate degree in the United States you do not need to submit English language test scores.

Funding

You will be notified about funding decisions on average four weeks after you have been accepted into the program.

The majority of our graduate students receive some form of financial support. Graduate assistantships in teaching and research are available based on your expertise and the needs of the department. Assistantship offers are made after you have been accepted into the program. A limited number of departmental and university-wide fellowships are available, and awards are made on a competitive basis. Grant-based funding is also available to support research and creative scholarship and to attend conferences to present scholarship.

Questions?

Learn more about the MS-SD by contacting Richard Graves, the Director of the Architecture MS Sustainable Design Track.