Apply / Incoming Undergraduates
Applicants do not apply directly to the UG Architecture Program from high school. Students must complete two years of college before beginning the UG Architecture Program. The first two years of undergraduate study before joining the UG program (the freshman and sophomore years) are called pre-architecture or pre-arch and may be completed at the University of Michigan or at any other accredited university or community/junior college offering the required courses. Typically, undergraduates apply to transfer to the Michigan Architecture Program (from either UM or another school) during the winter term of sophomore year and, if accepted, begin the two-year UG Architecture Program junior year.
Applying to the University of Michigan to Complete Pre-Arch Coursework
Students applying to UM as freshmen are advised to apply to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LS&A), where they will be able to complete all of the prerequisite courses. Students may also enroll in other schools such as Art & Design (A&D), Engineering, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (SMT&D), etc, but it is usually more difficult to complete the prerequisites when enrolled in these programs.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions handles application procedures for incoming students. Students are required to apply online. To find out more about applying to the University of Michigan as an incoming undergraduate please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.
The application deadline is February 1st annually.
After completing two years of pre-arch coursework, students will apply to transfer from LS&A (or A&D, Engineering, etc) into the Architecture Program as a cross campus transfer.
Freshman applicants that meet the qualifications may also apply for architecture preferred admission Status when applying to the College of LS&A, which would guarantee them a spot in the Architecture Program for their junior year. Please note all preferred admission students are required to complete the application process as a cross campus transfer applicant. They will not be reviewed competitively with other applicants but reviewed only for merit-based scholarships.
Completing Pre-Arch Coursework at Another School
Students may complete their first two years at any other university, school, or college to complete the prerequisite courses. Students apply to transfer into the Architecture Program at the end of their sophomore year as a new transfer student. New transfer students are admitted for the summer half term only. All new transfer students will enroll in Arch 302 - Architectural Design UG0. Beginning in 2010, all new transfer students will be required to attend a mandatory summer workshop (UG0), which begins in late July and ends in late August. UG0 is an intensive skill-building workshop and an opportunity for transfer students to begin their first semester strongly. Detailed information is sent to new transfer students as part of their admission letter. Three credits will be granted for the completion of UG0, and tuition associated with a three-credit class will be charged.
