Undergraduate Admissions
All prospective students must complete the online University of Kansas application. This application serves as the application for admission to KU, University Scholarships, and the School of Architecture & Design.
Apply to KUDeadlines
Priority Consideration: November 1
Final Deadline: February 1
Architecture
Applicants to the Master of Architecture 5-Year program or the Interior Architecture program who apply by November 1 and meet the following criteria will be guaranteed admission:
- 3.8+ GPA on a 4.0 scale and at least 1 high school drawing or art class with grade of B or higher OR
- 3.5 – 3.79 GPA on a 4.0 scale and ACT 24+/SAT 1160+ and at least 1 high school drawing or art class with grade of B or higher
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria or who apply after November 1 will be holistically reviewed and admitted as space permits. Applicants whose high schools do not offer drawing or art classes are encouraged to contact Joan Weaver, Admissions Coordinator, at jweaver@ku.edu to submit drawing or artistic samples.
Design
Design applicants must submit a portfolio to be considered for admission. Admission is highly selective and competitive.
Criteria:
- Applicants must be admissible to KU by assured admission or individual review, and submit a portfolio containing a short essay and images of creative work in SlideRoom.
- Applicants will be holistically reviewed for admission based on GPA, test score (if applicable, not required), and portfolio.
Portfolio Requirements:
Images: Please upload 10-15 images of your strongest creative works. Please title each piece. In the description, include the medium or software used, the size, date of completion, and a brief one to two sentence description. In the case of documented professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities. Work generated primarily with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be accepted. Your portfolio must include at least two mediums. Examples: sketches, photographs, drawings, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, 3-D pieces, logos, branding, publications/yearbook, posters or any art or design-related works. Displaying a variety of work is essential; use your strongest pieces and good judgment.
Essay: To complete your application please provide a response to the prompt: “Why are you interested in studying design, what have you done to prepare, and how do you hope to use your degree?” Please limit your response to 200-250 words. Your response should be in your own words. Responses using Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tools will not be accepted.
Deadlines
Fall & Summer: February 1
Spring: October 1
All prospective transfer students should complete the online application and select a major in Architecture or Design in their application. Transfer students can use KU’s credit transfer tool to learn more about how courses may transfer to KU. Please note: transfer studio courses with a grade of C+ or lower will not be accepted by the Department of Design for credit.
Advanced studio placement may be available to students transferring from another architecture or design program. Students transferring from Johnson County Community College should review the transfer guides published on their website in order to determine studio placement eligibility.
Architecture
- 3.5+ cumulative GPA over 2 semesters of full-time enrollment
- Complete online application
- Submit official transcripts to the KU Office of Admissions
Design
- 3.0+ cumulative GPA from previous institutions
- Complete online application
- Submit official transcripts to the KU Office of Admissions
Deadlines
Fall: February 1
Spring: October 1
All current KU students interested in switching to a major within the School of Architecture & Design should submit the Change of School form. Students will be reviewed for admission once grades have been finalized following their second semester of full-time enrollment and will be admitted as space permits. Applicants are usually placed in ARCH 108 in the fall semester for their first KU studio.
Architecture:
- 3.5 GPA after being enrolled full-time for 2 semesters at KU.
Design:
- 3.0 GPA
Deadlines
Priority Consideration: November 1
Final Deadline: February 1
Architecture
Applicants to the Master of Architecture 5-Year program or the Interior Architecture program who apply by November 1 and meet the following criteria will be guaranteed admission:
- 3.8+ GPA on a 4.0 scale and at least 1 high school drawing or art class with grade of B or higher OR
- 3.5 – 3.79 GPA on a 4.0 scale and ACT 24+/SAT 1160+ and at least 1 high school drawing or art class with grade of B or higher
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria or who apply after November 1 will be holistically reviewed and admitted as space permits. Applicants whose high schools do not offer drawing or art classes are encouraged to contact Joan Weaver, Admissions Coordinator, at jweaver@ku.edu to submit drawing or artistic samples.
Design
Design applicants must submit a portfolio to be considered for admission. Admission is highly selective and competitive.
Criteria:
- Applicants must be admissible to KU by assured admission or individual review, and submit a portfolio containing a short essay and images of creative work in SlideRoom.
- Applicants will be holistically reviewed for admission based on GPA, test score (if applicable, not required), and portfolio.
Portfolio Requirements:
Images: Please upload 10-15 images of your strongest creative works. Please title each piece. In the description, include the medium or software used, the size, date of completion, and a brief one to two sentence description. In the case of documented professional or group projects, applicants should indicate personal responsibilities. Work generated primarily with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be accepted. Your portfolio must include at least two mediums. Examples: sketches, photographs, drawings, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, 3-D pieces, logos, branding, publications/yearbook, posters or any art or design-related works. Displaying a variety of work is essential; use your strongest pieces and good judgment.
Essay: To complete your application please provide a response to the prompt: “Why are you interested in studying design, what have you done to prepare, and how do you hope to use your degree?” Please limit your response to 200-250 words. Your response should be in your own words. Responses using Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tools will not be accepted.
Deadlines
Fall & Summer: February 1
Spring: October 1
All prospective transfer students should complete the online application and select a major in Architecture or Design in their application. Transfer students can use KU’s credit transfer tool to learn more about how courses may transfer to KU. Please note: transfer studio courses with a grade of C+ or lower will not be accepted by the Department of Design for credit.
Advanced studio placement may be available to students transferring from another architecture or design program. Students transferring from Johnson County Community College should review the transfer guides published on their website in order to determine studio placement eligibility.
Architecture
- 3.5+ cumulative GPA over 2 semesters of full-time enrollment
- Complete online application
- Submit official transcripts to the KU Office of Admissions
Design
- 3.0+ cumulative GPA from previous institutions
- Complete online application
- Submit official transcripts to the KU Office of Admissions
Deadlines
Fall: February 1
Spring: October 1
All current KU students interested in switching to a major within the School of Architecture & Design should submit the Change of School form. Students will be reviewed for admission once grades have been finalized following their second semester of full-time enrollment and will be admitted as space permits. Applicants are usually placed in ARCH 108 in the fall semester for their first KU studio.
Architecture:
- 3.5 GPA after being enrolled full-time for 2 semesters at KU.
Design:
- 3.0 GPA
If you have questions about your application, please contact arcd@ku.edu