Purpose of Your Portfolio and Personal Statement
The Department of Architecture seeks to enroll students who have creative vision and a sense of purpose directed toward careers in architecture and design. To assist the department in evaluating the design potential and commitment of applicants, an admission portfolio is required of all applicants to the BS Architecture major.
We use the portfolio as a measure of the applicant's creative potential. We use the personal statement to evaluate the applicant's interest and motivation for the major. Our program is very small, and unfortunately we cannot admit everyone who applies. We want to make sure you have the skills and sensibilities to grow and prosper as a designer and that you have a strong likelihood of successfully completing your chosen program.
Our Evaluation Process
Admission to the Department of Architecture is a two-part process. Applicants apply to the university using the Common Application, and also submit a portfolio to the department using SlideRoom. The deadlines for these two parts of your application are the same. A link to the SlideRoom portal will be provided within the CommonApp—please make sure you select the portal for the Department of Architecture, as there is a similar portal for art applicants.
The UMass Office of Admissions is responsible for determining acceptance to the university. The results of the Department of Architecture's portfolio evaluation are forwarded to the admissions office and serve as an integral part of determining acceptance as an architecture major. Architecture faculty will evaluate your portfolio for admissions into the architecture major.
Portfolio evaluations apply only to those individuals who have submitted a Common Application for admission to UMass with a declared first major in Architecture. Applicants who do not submit a portfolio by the published deadline will not be reviewed.
If You Do Not Have a Portfolio
If you are interested in architecture but do not have a portfolio, were not admitted to architecture but were instead admitted to UMass as a College of Humanities and Fine Arts Exploratory Track or any other major, or if you discovered architecture after arriving at UMass, we encourage you to apply in your first year as an on-campus transfer student. We are happy to recommend first year courses that will help you to develop your portfolio. Please click here for transfer information.
Tips for Submitting Your Portfolio
There are no specific requirements for media, style, or content; instead, we hope to see evidence of your thoughtfulness, passion, close attention to detail, and careful execution. We value breadth (a wide range of media and content; an experimental spirit) as well as depth (multi-part projects; focused engagement with one idea, theme, or process).
- Submit 9–12 pieces.
- Art from observation: Portfolio should emphasize subjects drawn and/or constructed from life (preferably not photographs or images of previously created artworks), including but not limited to: life drawing, still life, portraiture, figure drawing, buildings, landscape, anatomy.
- Other media: In addition to observational art, you are welcome to include a limited number of works in other media, such 2-D and 3-D designs, photography, woodworking, sculpture, ceramics, architectural designs and models, stage designs, fashion or costume designs, or any other visual media that demonstrate your interest in and aptitude for creative work.
- One "piece" can include several images of the same work, but remember that reviewers are looking at the work on a small screen.
- SlideRoom provides fields for applicants to enter important information about your artwork (including title, dimensions, media, date completed, whether it was done on your own or in class, and any additional information). These fields are optional and are an opportunity to provide information to help us understand your work.
- Your portfolio should demonstrate independent thought. Please do not submit copies of others’ original artwork or work created from a kit.
- Artworks created in part or entirely using digital media are welcome, as long as the work is created based on the artist's own unique practice and development of skill with artistic media. You should not submit work employing generative artificial intelligence (AI).
- We do not expect that you have experience with architectural design or drafting programs. If you do, please focus on sharing original creative work, not technical drawings.
- We accept jpg or pdf images up to 5 MB each.
- Time-based submissions (video, audio) are not accepted.
- Please do not submit your portfolio as a presentation (such as PowerPoint or Keynote) or as a multipage PDF.
- For more help with SlideRoom, including resizing images, suggested file types, and other technical questions, please visit the SlideRoom Support page.
Tips for Submitting Your Personal Statement
You must also include a personal statement that speaks about your interest in architecture and your aspirations in response to the following prompt: "Tell us why you are interested in studying architecture at UMass Amherst."
- The UMass Admissions Office does not share Common Application information with the Department of Architecture, so please be sure to let us know any relevant information about you.
- Your statement should not be more than a page.
Portfolio Evaluation Criteria
Our admissions committee looks for the following:
- Creativity: Demonstration of innovative thinking, imagination, and personal expression.
- Design and composition: Consideration for the arrangement of visual elements in space.
- Interest and self-motivation: Portfolios may include work done in school, or outside of an academic setting, reflecting the applicant's interest and enthusiasm for the visual arts and design (e.g., sketchbook, artworks created at home or independently).
- Presentation: Care and concern for preparation, submission, and documentation of work; artwork is presented clearly with the appropriate editing (e.g., cropped, neat, use of appropriate lighting, in focus, detailed, high-resolution images).
- Exploration of media: Flexible use of a range of materials and approaches. Experience with more than one medium is encouraged (e.g., ink, paint, pencil, pastels, crayons, colored pencils, markers, collage, fibers, metals, found objects, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, creative technologies and software, model-making). Proficient use of elements such as line, light, and shade are encouraged.
- Technical proficiency and craft: Concern for the manner and skill with which tools and materials have been used to create art; work is not rushed or sloppy.