Students seeking admission to the school must complete an online application by the stated deadlines. The school and UH Manoa do not grant deferred admission. Applicants wishing to defer admission must reapply.
Undergraduate Application Procedures
All applicants for admission to the pre-professional undergraduate Bachelor of Environmental Design (BEnvD) program must complete a UH System Application at www.manoa.hawaii.edu/apply/.
Undergraduate Application Deadlines
Fall priority deadline is January 5 and final deadline is March 1. Spring priority deadline is September 1 and final deadline is October 15.
The Office of Admissions will complete an undergraduate transfer credit evaluation for prior completed post-secondary level course work or approved Advanced Placement (AP) high school course work. The School of Architecture will complete a transfer credit evaluation for prior completed post-secondary level course work taken in architecture design or related subjects after an applicant is accepted by UH Manoa. BEnvD course requirements will be waived only for transfer credits that are deemed equivalent to courses offered by the school.
Students entering the pre-professional undergraduate program directly from high school may potentially complete the program in four years of full-time study. The time to complete the program by transfer students is based on a case-by-case evaluation of transfer credits.
Graduate Application Procedures
DArch Application Procedures
All applicants for admissions to the professional Doctor of Architecture (DArch) program must hold a baccalaureate degree or higher and must apply online with Graduate Division at www.manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/prospective-students/. Applicants must also submit a School of Architecture Supplemental Information for Admission form, which can be found at arch.hawaii.edu/doctor-of-architecture/, and required documents by the stated deadline. Supplemental documents submitted by applicants become the property of the School of Architecture.
DArch Graduate Application Deadline
Fall deadline is January 1. Spring deadline is September 1.
Students entering the program who hold a four-year pre-professional baccalaureate degree (e.g., BS architecture studies, BA architecture studies, BA environmental design) enter the 3-year, 90-credit professional DArch program. Fall semester start date is recommended.
Students entering the program who hold a baccalaureate degree in a field unrelated to architecture or environmental design (non-pre-professional degree) enter the 108-credit professional DArch program. Spring semester start date is recommended.
No graduate credit is transferable to the DArch degree if it has been counted for another graduate degree.
MLA Application Procedures
Admissions procedures for the Master of Landscape Architecture program (MLA) follow general Graduate Division policy (manoa.hawaii.edu/graduate/content/prospective-students). Applicants for admission to the MLA must hold or expect to hold prior to matriculation a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent degree from a recognized non-U.S. institution of higher education. To be eligible, a first-professional MLA I track applicant must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree with a major in any field of study. A first-professional MLA I AP track applicant must hold a professional degree in architecture (BArch, MArch, DArch) or a four-year pre-professional bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, architecture, or environmental design. Additionally, a strong design portfolio is required for an MLA I AP applicant to be granted advanced standing of up to two semesters. A post-professional MLA II track applicant must hold an accredited professional degree in landscape architecture (BLA, BSLA). All applicants to the MLA program need to demonstrate a GPA of 3.0 or above for undergraduate course work and for any post-baccalaureate or graduate course work. Minimum TOEFL score for international MLA applicants: 61 (internet) or 500 (paper); or minimum IELTS score for international MLA applicants: 6.00 for the overall band test results.
Prospective MLA students seeking admission to the program will be required to submit a general Graduate Division application by the stated deadline. In addition, MLA applicants need to submit the following supplemental materials required by the School of Architecture: statement of interest, resume, portfolio, three letters of recommendation, MLA supplemental information form.
MLA Application Deadline
Admissions to the MLA program (all degree tracks) will be Fall only with a January 1 application deadline.
Advising
Informal academic advising may be requested by prospective students by contacting the school’s Student Services Office. Students who have been accepted to the school should contact the Student Services Office for information regarding orientation and required advising before registration.
Program Requirements
Students enrolled in the pre-professional Bachelor of Environmental Design (BEnvD) must meet UH Manoa General Education Core Requirements and maintain UH Manoa academic standards. Enrolled students wishing to enter the 90-credit professional DArch or the MLA programs must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA at the graduate level.
Students in the 108-credit professional DArch program must attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the graduate level and make reasonable academic progress. All graduate students (DArch and MLA) whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 are placed on academic probation. Upon completion of the probationary semester if the cumulative GPA is not raised to 3.0, or if special conditions established by the dean are not met, the student may be dismissed or suspended from the program.