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Portfolios are not required to be accepted into the Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) or Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS) for new freshmen.

Priority Application Deadlines
March 1 | Fall admission
December 1 | Spring admission

We recommend applying well before the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

We welcome transfer students who started an architecture program elsewhere and those who have never taken an architecture course in college.

Priority Application Deadlines
April 1 | Fall admission
November 1 | Spring admission

We recommend applying well before the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

GPA

College cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale.

Process for Evaluating Prior Degrees

Students need to provide a transcript and syllabi for architecture classes already taken so that an advisor can review college-level courses for Department of Architecture equivalents. Your transcript will be reviewed by advising staff for course equivalencies or deficiencies in order to provide you with a curriculum path towards architecture degree requirements. Where clarification about courses is needed, you may be asked to provide syllabi. Final approval of course placement or exceptions is made by the Undergraduate Committee.

Note: No course equivalencies are granted for Architecture classes that satisfy NAAB requirements. Those classes are: ARCH 352 History and Theory III, ARCH 311 Design V, ARCH 353 History and Theory IV, ARCH 312 Design VI, ARCH 341 Professional Practice I, ARCH 412 Design VIII, ARCH 422 Building Technology IV, ARCH 423 Building Technology V, ARCH 343 Professional Practice III.

Portfolio

If you have not taken architecture courses in college, a portfolio is not required. You will simply apply to UWM as a transfer student.

If you have taken architecture courses in college, a portfolio is required for correct placement into the core studio sequence.

The portfolio should show evidence of interest in design as well as critical and independent thinking, and should be carefully conceived, curated, well designed, neatly prepared, and easily readable. Design your portfolio for digital review rather than submitting an electronic version of your printed portfolio.

For successful submission, the portfolio:

• Must be no larger than 15 MB. Any portfolio over 15 MB will not be accepted.
• Must be a PDF file. We do not accept any other file types.
• Format your portfolio for view on a computer screen, as it will be reviewed digitally.
• Do not include photos of yourself, or your Social Security Number.
• Include a cover page with your first and last name and the undergraduate program (BSAS or BArch) you’re applying to.

Send the above items to sarup-ugrad@uwm.edu.

UWM alumni who have earned a BSAS degree from SARUP are eligible to return to complete the credits required to earn a BArch degree. You will apply to UWM as a second degree seeking student.

Priority Application Deadlines
March 1 | Fall admission
December 1 | Spring admission

We recommend applying well before the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

Academic Preparation

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies (BSAS) degree from UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning.

Transcript Review

Your transcript will be reviewed by advising staff for course equivalencies or deficiencies in order to provide you with a curriculum path towards architecture degree requirements. Where clarification about courses is needed, you may be asked to provide syllabi.

Note: SARUP does not award course equivalency for the following classes unless they were taken at UWM: ARCH 352 History and Theory III, ARCH 311 Design V, ARCH 353 History and Theory IV, ARCH 312 Design VI, ARCH 341 Professional Practice I, ARCH 412 Design VIII, ARCH 422 Building Technology IV, ARCH 423 Building Technology V, ARCH 343 Professional Practice III. Most alumni with a BSAS degree from UWM will need to take Design VIII, Building Tech III-V, and Professional Practice I-III to fulfill the requirements of the BArch. We recommend that you appointment with an advisor to confirm your particular degree needs.

Here are important dates, academic preparation requirements and materials to prepare for a successful application to the Master of Architecture (MArch I).

Priority Application Deadlines

MArch I – 2-year
December 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

MArch I – 3-year
December 15 | Fall admission only

MArch II – 1-year
December 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We recommend applying by the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

Academic Preparation

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

MArch I – 2-year
Pre-professional bachelor’s degree in architecture with 5 architecture design studios.

MArch I – 3-year
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

MArch II – 1-year
Professional bachelor’s degree in architecture.

GRE

The GRE is not required.

Transcript Review

Your transcript will be reviewed by advising staff for course equivalencies or deficiencies in order to provide you with a curriculum path towards architecture degree requirements. After you have applied to UWM, you will next need to submit a portfolio and transcript to an architecture advisor for faculty review. If you are seeking course equivalencies, submit a syllabus from each class to an architecture advisor for faculty review. 

Note: No course equivalencies are granted for Architecture classes that satisfy NAAB requirements. Those classes are: ARCH 718 Topics in Professional Practice, ARCH 741 Professional Practice I, ARCH 743 Professional Practice III, ARCH 812 Design VIII, ARCH 822 Building Technology IV, ARCH 823 Building Technology V

Letters of Recommendation*

Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and/or professional work. You will be able to send a request directly to your references through the UWM Graduate School online application. Each individual letter of recommendation can then be uploaded by your recommender directly into your online application.

*Optional for candidates with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Reasons Statement

Your reasons statement should reflect why you are interested in pursuing this particular program and how your career interests fit with the degree.

Portfolio

All applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio. The portfolio should show evidence of interest in design as well as critical and independent thinking. This can include examples of professional work, design work, research, teaching, and/or other work relevant to advanced research. The portfolio should be carefully conceived, well designed, neatly prepared, and easily readable digitally. Design your portfolio for digital review rather than submitting an electronic version of your printed portfolio.

For MArch I 3-year applicants, the portfolio should provide an indication of your aptitude for thinking critically and creatively through design. This can include such items as illustrated research papers, photographs of executed artwork, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, furniture, craft work, and/or freehand drawings. Present work that demonstrates the depth and breadth of your creative activity; a variety of work is important to give the admissions committee a sense of how you arrived at architecture as a course of study to pursue.

For successful submission, the portfolio:

• Must be no larger than 15 MB. Any portfolio over 15 MB will not be accepted.
• Must be a PDF file. We do not accept any other file types.
• Format your portfolio for view on a computer screen, as it will be reviewed digitally.
• Do not include photos of yourself, or your Social Security Number.
• Include a cover page with your first and last name, and the program you are applying to (e.g., Sam Greene, MArch).

Here are important dates, academic preparation requirements and materials to prepare for a successful application to the Master of Science in Architecture.

Priority Application Deadlines

Architecure, MS
December 15 | Fall admission only

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We recommend applying by the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

Academic Preparation

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Your bachelor’s degree may be in any discipline.

GRE

The GRE is not required.

Resume, CV, or Biographical Statement

1-2 pages (500-1000 words total), including your educational background, work/research experience, publications/projects completed, and any recognitions/awards received.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and/or professional work. You will be able to send a request directly to your references through the UWM Graduate School online application. Each individual letter of recommendation can then be uploaded by your recommender directly into your online application.

Reasons Statement

Your reasons statement should reflect why you are interested in pursuing this particular program and how your career interests fit with the degree.

The statement should include:

• Your proposed area of investigation, such as historic preservation
• A clear description of your intentions
• Why you believe the program is appropriate for your course of study

Portfolio

All applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio. The portfolio should show evidence of interest in design as well as critical and independent thinking. This can include examples of professional work, design work, research, teaching, and/or other work relevant to advanced research. The portfolio should be carefully conceived, well designed, neatly prepared, and easily readable digitally. Design your portfolio for digital review rather than submitting an electronic version of your printed portfolio.

For successful submission, the portfolio:

• Must be no larger than 15 MB. Any portfolio over 15 MB will not be accepted.
• Must be a PDF file. We do not accept any other file types.
• Format your portfolio for view on a computer screen, as it will be reviewed digitally.
• Do not include photos of yourself, or your Social Security Number.
• Include a cover page with your first and last name, and the program you are applying to (e.g., Sam Greene, MS Arch).

Here are important dates, academic preparation requirements and materials to prepare for a successful application to the Master of Urban Planning (MUP).

Priority Application Deadlines

Urban Planning, MUP
January 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We recommend applying by the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

Academic Preparation

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Your bachelor’s degree may be in any discipline.

GRE

The GRE is not required.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and/or professional work. You will be able to send a request directly to your references through the UWM Graduate School online application. Each individual letter of recommendation can then be uploaded by your recommender directly into your online application.

Reasons Statement

Our Master of Urban Planning program is practical and professionally-oriented. Therefore, when reviewing reason statements, our Master of Urban Planning admissions committee looks for insights about how your personal experiences have led to an interest in becoming a planner.

We encourage you to include items such as:

• Why you think professional planning is important and what you think planners could do better.
• Specific ideas about what you hope to contribute to your community and world with a professional planning degree.
• How you think that our UWM Master of Urban Planning program will help you achieve your professional goals.

Here are important dates, academic preparation requirements and materials to prepare for a successful application to the Master of Urban Planning (MUP).

Priority Application Deadlines

Urban Design, MUD
January 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We recommend applying by the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

Academic Preparation

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, design-focused urban planning, interior design, or other disciplines approved by the MUD faculty. Applicants are required to have a background in design studios from any of these disciplines.

GRE

The GRE is not required.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and/or professional work. You will be able to send a request directly to your references through the UWM Graduate School online application. Each individual letter of recommendation can then be uploaded by your recommender directly into your online application.

Reasons Statement

Your reasons statement should reflect why you are interested in pursuing this particular program and how your career interests fit with the degree.

Portfolio

All applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio. The portfolio should show evidence of interest in design, and should be carefully conceived, well designed, neatly prepared, and easily readable. Design your portfolio for digital review rather than submitting an electronic version of your printed portfolio.

For successful submission, the portfolio:

• Must be no larger than 15 MB. Any portfolio over 15 MB will not be accepted.
• Must be a PDF file. We do not accept any other file types.
• Format your portfolio for view on a computer screen, as it will be reviewed digitally.
• Do not include photos of yourself, or your Social Security Number.
• Include a cover page with your first and last name, and the program you are applying to (e.g., Sam Greene, MUD).

Here are important dates, academic preparation requirements and materials to prepare for a successful application to the Master of Architecture (MArch I) + Master of Urban Planning (MUP) coordinated degree.

Priority Application Deadlines

MArch I – 2-year + MUP Coordinated Degree
December 15 | Fall admission
October 1 | Spring admission

MArch I – 3-year + MUP Coordinated Degree
December 15 | Fall admission only

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. We recommend applying by the priority deadline to maximize your financial support opportunities.

Academic Preparation

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

MArch I – 2-year + MUP Coordinated Degree
Pre-professional bachelor’s degree in architecture with 5 architecture design studios.

MArch I – 3-year + MUP Coordinated Degree
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

GRE

The GRE is not required.

Process for Evaluating Prior Degrees

Your transcript will be reviewed by advising staff for course equivalencies or deficiencies in order to provide you with a curriculum path towards architecture degree requirements. After you have applied to UWM, you will next need to submit a portfolio and transcript to an architecture advisor for faculty review. If you are seeking course equivalencies, submit a syllabus from each class to an architecture advisor for faculty review. 

Note: No course equivalencies are granted for Architecture classes that satisfy NAAB requirements. Those classes are: ARCH 718 Topics in Professional Practice, ARCH 741 Professional Practice I, ARCH 743 Professional Practice III, ARCH 812 Design VIII, ARCH 822 Building Technology IV, ARCH 823 Building Technology V

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and/or professional work. You will be able to send a request directly to your references through the UWM Graduate School online application. Each individual letter of recommendation can then be uploaded by your recommender directly into your online application.

Reasons Statement

Your reasons statement should reflect why you are interested in pursuing this particular program and how your career interests fit with the degree.

For the MUP portion of your application, we encourage you to include:

• Why you think professional planning is important and what you think planners could do better.
• Specific ideas about what you hope to contribute to your community and world with a professional planning degree.
• How you think that our UWM Master of Urban Planning program will help you achieve your professional goals.

Portfolio

All applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio. The portfolio should show evidence of interest in design as well as critical and independent thinking. This can include examples of professional work, design work, research, teaching, and/or other work relevant to advanced research. The portfolio should be carefully conceived, well designed, neatly prepared, and easily readable digitally. Design your portfolio for digital review rather than submitting an electronic version of your printed portfolio.

For MArch I 3-year applicants, the portfolio should provide an indication of your aptitude for thinking critically and creatively through design. This can include such items as illustrated research papers, photographs of executed artwork, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, furniture, craft work, and/or freehand drawings. Present work that demonstrates the depth and breadth of your creative activity; a variety of work is important to give the admissions committee a sense of how you arrived at architecture as a course of study to pursue.

For successful submission, the portfolio:

• Include a cover page with your first and last name, and the program you are applying to (e.g., Sam Greene, MArch).
• Must be no larger than 15 MB. Any portfolio over 15 MB will not be accepted.
• Must be a PDF file. We do not accept any other file types.
• Format your portfolio for view on a computer screen, as it will be reviewed digitally.
• Do not include photos of yourself, or your Social Security Number.

To pursue the Urban Planning + Civil Engineering coordinated degree, you must be accepted into both programs.

Urban Planning, MUP
Review application requirements for the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) detailed above.

Engineering, MS: Civil Engineering
Review application requirements for the Master of Science in Civil Engineering in the academic catalog. If you have questions about application requirements for the Civil Engineering program, contact: ceas-graduate@uwm.edu 

To pursue the Urban Planning + Civil Engineering coordinated degree, you must be accepted into both programs.

Urban Planning, MUP
Review application requirements for the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) detailed above.

Public Administration, MPA
Review application requirements for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in the academic catalog. If you have questions about Public Administration application requirements, contact Doug Ihrke: dihrke@uwm.edu

Review application requirements and additional information on the Urban Studies + Urban Planning accelerated degree webpage. If you have questions about accelerated program requirements, contact Dr. Jamie Harris: jmh@uwm.edu