Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Admission Policies : Admission to the lower-division programs of the School of Architecture is open to all UNLV students. Students may choose to major in any of the school's four design programs.

Before a student may enroll in upper-division courses , including studio, within the School of Architecture , each student must be admitted to Upper Division Studies in their choice of major. Approval is granted by a Faculty Review Committee and is based upon the following criteria:

  1. Grade Point Average- the 2006-2008 UNLV catalog requirements include a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
  2. Evidence of completion of, or successful completion of, current enrollment in, all lower division coursework. All courses required by the School of Architecture must be completed with a grade of C or above.
  3. A copy of your official up-to-date degree checklist from your file is required. See the CFA Advising Center (702.895.5390; CDC, Building #2) immediately to get your degree checklist as soon as possible.
  4. Portfolio demonstrating design, graphic, written and verbal skills necessary for potential satisfactory completion of upper division work. Two essays, as defined below and in the application form.
  5. Evidence of service to the community, school or profession as documented in the Application for Admission.

Upper Division Application Submittals

All of the work listed below must be in an 8.5 by 11 inch format (either portrait or landscape format is acceptable). Design/graphic work is to comprise no more than ten (10) pages, and the entire application may not contain more than twenty (20) single-sided pages. The applicant is to consider the application submittal as a design problem where clarity of content is of primary concern. Elaborate or expensive bindings are discouraged and any submittal that cannot be easily filed with be returned as unacceptable. All pages, including covers, must be flat – no three-dimensional work.  

  1. Application for Admission to Upper Division (counts as one page)
  2. Copy of your official degree checklist for your major signed by your program advisor.  Schedule an appointment with the CFA Advising Center now to fill in your official checklist through the spring 2008 semester.
  3. Statement of Professional Interest, maximum of 300 words (see page two of the application form for topic).
  4. Presentation of a design and graphic work portfolio completed by the student as a part of lower division studies.  Student may include one (1) design and graphic work completed in professional practice.  A maximum of ten (10) pages of design and graphic work is allowed
  5. A one page written essay (single space, 12 point Arial font prepared by you based on your review of a short, professional article that will be provided as part of your application packet by the School of Architecture. Your written response should be based on your understanding and interpretation of the article to answer the question: “How does the threat of climate change impact your major and future profession?”Your response should include the knowledge you have gained during the first two years in the School of Architecture as well as the content of the article to answer this question. Your rating for the essay will include consideration of the following items: A) understanding of the required reading demonstrated through content of the essay, B) integration of lower division program knowledge, C) demonstration of effective written communications and E) correct punctuation and grammar.
  6. Letter of professional intent;

The application deadline is 5:00p.m. March 13, 2008.

Each application is checked for compliance with the minimum requirements prior to ranking by the review committee . Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Transfer Policies:

Transfer students applying for upper-division programs of the school from other institutions must submit the following to be considered for admission based upon faculty review:

  1. Portfolio of design work that demonstrates graphic skills, model making skills, basic two- and three-dimensional composition, basic understanding of spatial organization, understanding of color , and basic site and handicap accessibility planning;
  2. Completed School of Architecture Application for Upper Division form including documentation and description of community service and/or professional experience;
  3. A creative or research essay produced for any course, or essay as defined by the School of Architecture faculty annually;
  4. Letter of Professional Intent;
  5. Official transcripts from other institutions previously attended. While the university accepts credits transferred from other accredited institutions, transfer credits are not applied to the School of Architecture programs until reviewed and accepted by this unit. Transfer credits for required program courses must be from NAAB, FIDER, or LAAB accredited institutions. Transfer course work must be equivalent in both content and level of offering. In addition, a faculty review of samples of work (or portfolio of work) from previous studio or laboratory classes is required.

M. Arch. Admission Requirements

Each Master of Architecture program applicant must hold a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university recognized by the University of Nevada , Las Vegas . Applicants must meet one of the following minimum grade point average (G P A ) requirements: a cumulative undergraduate G P A of 3.00 or higher , or a G P A of 3.00 or higher during the last two years of undergraduate course work .

Applicants are also required to submit a design portfolio for review , a statement of intent, two letters of reference, and GRE scores of 410 or higher in the verbal section and 430 or higher in the quantitative section . The combined GRE score of these two sections may be no less than 850. International students whose native language is not English must also submit a TOEFL score of 550 (written) or 213 (computerized) or better.

Interested applicants may request, from the School of Architecture directly, a more detailed statement outlining the Master of Architecture program. Updated information can also be accessed through UNLV's website (http:// www.unlv.edu).