Architecture Admissions

Students may be eligible for admission by presenting acceptable secondary school records which should include: 3 units of English; 3.5 units of mathematics with 1.5 to 2 units in algebra; 1 unit in plane geometry and trigonometry; 1 unit in a foreign language, and 5 units in any academic courses counted toward graduation, preferably in solid geometry, physics, and chemistry.

All applicants must take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and receive a minimum score of 500 in the verbal section and 550 in the mathematics section or 22 on the American College Test (ACT) equivalent. Preference will be given to applicants who rank in the upper one-third of their graduating class and have achieved a grade of C or better in the recommended high school courses.

A portfolio of creative work is required and should include a minimum of one and a maximum of three examples of creative expression in graphic, written or audiovisual form. All submissions should be submitted to CEA_Architecture@Howard.edu.

• Graphic submissions of drawings, painting, renderings, photographs, models, sculpture, etc., should be no larger than 11" x 17". The work should be sent as a high-resolution PDF. Please do not send original work.
• Written submissions may be in the form of a 400-word essay describing a creative activity in which you have been involved. Alternatively, you may submit examples of creative writing in any form. Written work should be sent as a PDF.
• Audiovisual submissions may be appropriate to convey the range of capabilities of the applicant. Such submissions must not exceed five minutes even though the entire work may be longer. The work may document a creative activity that is either complete or in progress as well as the actual creative entity. Submissions may be in any digital format (mp4, wav, etc.).

Transfer Credit Evaluation & Placement Framework

This framework outlines the policies and procedures used by the Department of Architecture to evaluate transfer applicants. The process balances flexibility for incoming students with strict adherence to National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accreditation standards and departmental curricular rigor.

1. Institutional Tiering & Placement Framework

Incoming transcripts and portfolios are categorized into two distinct pathways to determine advanced standing and placement:

• Tier 1: Professional / Pre-Professional Programs (e.g., CUA, UMD, Virginia Tech)
• Focus: Detailed alignment of equivalent NAAB Program Criteria (PC) and Student Performance Criteria (SC).
• Placement Potential: Eligible for advanced placement up to Design II (ARCH 200), pending a successful entry-level portfolio review and completion of a one-semester residency requirement before studio credits are finalized.
• Tier 2: Regional Community Colleges (e.g., NOVA, Montgomery College)
• Focus: General Education articulation and foundational graphic skills mapping.
• Placement Potential: Typically placed into Foundations in Design I or II (ARCH 160/161) or Design I (ARCH 261). Technical/graphic courses (e.g., CAD/BIM) must undergo separate digital portfolio and syllabus reviews to achieve equivalency with Digital Tools (ARCH 270).

2. Step-by-Step Transfer Evaluation Checklist

The departmental review pipeline follows a 5-step process:

1. Initial Registrar Clearing (Administrative Gateway): Verification of at least 2 full semesters of college work, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and a grade of "C" or better in college-level English and Math. Total transferable credits cannot exceed the maximum allowance of 60 credits.
2. Foundational Course Articulation: Mapping of non-architecture liberal arts electives, introductory math (MATH 006/007), and Physics (PHYS 008) to ensure credit hours and rigor align with general education categories.
3. Creative Component & Portfolio Intake: Digital screening to confirm receipt of the electronic creative portfolio containing at least 3 distinct examples of creative expression.
4. Faculty Portfolio Review & Placement Committee: Diagnostic evaluation of the portfolio using established rubrics to determine advanced standing or foundational placement.
5. Syllabus & NAAB Criteria Mapping (Advanced Standing Audit): Review of detailed syllabi, project prompts, and digital evidence from Tier 1 students to verify specific NAAB criteria alignment before approving a Transfer Course Petition.

3. Creative Portfolio Submission Guidelines

Portfolios must be submitted electronically via the link provided on the Undergraduate Admissions website.

• Quantity: Limited to exactly 12 images.
• Content: Freehand drawing and painting are highly prioritized, alongside photography, sculpture, ceramics, woodworking, model building, and manual/computer drafting. A broader variety of media and subjects (landscapes, buildings, portraits, and color work) strengthens the application.
• Required Captions: Each submitted piece must include a brief caption stating:
• Title of work
• Medium used
• Original size
• Date or year of school
• Conditions of drawing (e.g., "drawn from life", "drawn from imagination")

4. Evaluation Rubrics & Course Placement Matrix

Rubric A: Creative Portfolio Review (Max 20 Points)

Assesses spatial aptitude, visual communication, and critical design thinking across four core criteria:

Studio Placement Matrix (Based on Rubric A Score)

• Score 16–20: Eligible for Advanced Placement (Review for ARCH 261 Design I or ARCH 200 Design II).
• Score 10–15: Placement into ARCH 161 (Foundations II) or ARCH 261 based on subsequent syllabus audit.
• Score 9 and below: Placement into ARCH 160 (Foundations I).

Rubric B: Technical & Historical Syllabus Audit

Used by the Department Chair and advising faculty to evaluate building technology, structures, materials, or history transfer credits against Howard’s 171-credit professional track:

• Equivalent (Approve Credit): Course carries equal/greater credit hours, covers matching scope, includes rigorous assessments (exams, calculations, research papers), and aligns cleanly with target NAAB Student Performance Criteria.
• Conditional/Supplemental Review: Credit hours match but have a narrower topical focus, assessments lack rigorous writing/projects (rely only on attendance/quizzes), or criteria only partially align (requires a supplemental independent study module to close the gap).
• Non-Equivalent (Deny Credit): Insufficient credit hours, purely vocational, lacks academic university-level assessments, or fails to address core professional NAAB criteria.

Admission requirements for international students are the same as for domestic students with the exception that all international applicants including those from U.S. institutions must submit evidence of having passed the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a cumulative score of 550 or higher.

Please visit the International Admission webpage for specific information on applying to Howard University.

Pursuing a professional degree in architecture involves distinct, variable costs beyond standard university tuition and fees. Students should budget an additional $1,000 to $1,500 annually to account for specialized architectural supplies, including:

• Personal hardware requirements (high-performance laptop capable of rendering software).
• Software subscriptions (SketchUp, Rhino, Adobe Creative Cloud, etc.).
• Manual modeling supplies (chipboard, basswood, casting polymers, acrylics, and cutting implements).
• Large-format plotting, 3D printing filaments, and presentation materials for end-of-semester studio juries.

Howard University is deeply committed to keeping high-quality architectural education accessible. The university actively redistributes a significant portion of gross tuition revenue to the student body through need-based institutional aid, merit scholarships, and endowment grants.

To explore financial aid configurations, work-study opportunities, and scholarship applications, please visit the formal Howard University Student Financial Services Portal.

Please visit the Howard University Office of Admissions for more details on the application process and deadlines, tuition rates, and financial aid. The Division of Student Affairs is the portal for student housing. 

We encourage prospective students to visit our beautiful campus and meet with our distinguished faculty and students. Feel free to contact us with further questions or to schedule a visit.