Getting Started
With close to 100 faculty members and 430 undergraduate students, the School is committed to shaping student experiences so that not only will you perform well in the profession, but will also lead the discipline in new directions, sensing, responding to and helping to cause positive change in society. Your experience in the program will be a continuous act of discovery: of observing, recording, interpreting, and finally, inventing proposals for the built environment which are in response to ideas and critical intentions.
USC takes a holistic, qualitative approach to reviewing applications. Grades and academic rigor are weighed against personal qualities such as leadership, service and unique talents. We look for those students we believe would be an ideal fit for, and thrive in, the challenging academic environment USC provides.
Download a copy of our 2017 Program brochure below.
2018 Deadlines
December 1, 2017
First-Year (freshman) Application and Portfolio Deadline for Scholarship Consideration
January 15, 2018
First-Year (freshman) Application Deadline and Portfolio Deadline for Regular Consideration
February 1, 2018
Transfer Application and Portfolio Deadline for Scholarship and Regular Consideration
- USC defines a transfer student as anyone who has attended college since graduating high school.
- USC does not accept first-year or transfer applications for spring admission.
- USC does not use an Early Action or Early Decision Program.
First-Year Application Checklist
Apply online using the Common Application and the USC Writing Supplement (the 2018 application is available August 1).
Submit a portfolio + Architecture Writing Supplement via the link provided in the Common Application or directly to https://uscarch.slideroom.com
Transcripts. First-year applicants should submit official transcripts of all high school and college coursework completed.
Official Test Scores. Arrange for the testing agency to send your SAT or ACT scores directly to USC. For students who take the SAT more than once, USC records the highest scores for each section —even if achieved in different sittings — but will not combine section scores from the old SAT (prior to March 2016) and the redesigned SAT. For students taking the ACT, USC will record the highest composite score. The essay portion of the ACT is optional. The essay portion of the SAT will be optional for students taking the redesigned test in March 2016 or after.
School Report. All first-year applicants are required to submit the Common Application School Report by providing the name and e-mail address of a recommender.
Letter of Recommendation from a Teacher or a Counselor.
Submit your fall grades (when available). Use the Mid-Year Report Form included in the Common Application or visit www.usc.edu/midyeargrades to submit your fall grades.
International students must also submit:
Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support: www.usc.edu/financialstatement
TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores, if the student’s native language is not English.
Please visit the International Applicants page for more information.
For more Prospective First-Year Student information, please visit the USC Undergraduate Admission website: http://admission.usc.edu/firstyear/prospective/
Questions? Please review our FAQ section for questions you may have about the First-Year application process (see tab above) or contact us using the form below (Related Content). More FAQs may be found on the USC Admission website: http://admission.usc.edu/faq/academics.html
Transfer Application Checklist
Apply online using the Common Application and the USC Writing Supplement (the 2018 application is available August 1).
Submit a portfolio + Architecture Writing Supplement via the link provided in the Common Application or directly to https://uscarch.slideroom.com
Official final high school transcript with date of graduation.
- Students who attended secondary school/high school in a non-U.S. system may substitute the appropriate leaving certificate or comprehensive diploma result, provided it shows the completion date.
- Students who did not finish high school should also submit a copy of their completion certificate (such as a GED) and may also submit a letter of explanation.
All official college transcripts. Official transcripts from ALL colleges you have attended. We need to review your fall terms grades, so be sure your current school has posted them before transcripts are sent.
SAT or ACT (with the optional Writing test) Scores. Required from applicants who have completed fewer than 30 semester units of college coursework.
Letter(s) of recommendation. Transfer applicants must submit up to 2 letter(s) of recommendation via SlideRoom. Please ask your college course instructor, academic advisor, employer, or internship supervisor to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Please note that the deadline for recommendations is February 1, 2018. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that ample time is given to the person to write and submit their letter online. No separate recommendation form is required.
International students must also submit:
Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support: www.usc.edu/financialstatement
TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores, if the student’s native language is not English.
Please visit the International Applicants page for more information.
For more Prospective Transfer Student information, please visit the USC Undergraduate Admission website: http://admission.usc.edu/transfer/prospective/
Questions? Please review our FAQ section for questions you may have about the Transfer application process (see tab above) or contact us using the form below (Related Content). More FAQs may be found on the USC Admission website: http://admission.usc.edu/faq/transfer_students.html
Current USC Students
It may be possible to change your major to Architecture, however, keep in mind that the Bachelor of Architecture consists of 5 years/10 semesters of major requirements. As a change of major, the time to degree completion will be 5 years (starting in fall semesters only) plus the time spent in the previous major. An internal transfer application will be required (short answer responses, portfolio, USC Completed Course Summary). For more information, please contact Undergraduate Admissions for the School of Architecture.