ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission requirements: the introduction of the student in an exercise of disciplinary excellence within a highly competitive academia.

It is a full compromise towards the profession and towards the forging of a superior architect, capable of bettering our citizens’ quality of life, Puerto Rico’s Pontifical Catholic University at Ponce Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture Program, sets up a rigorous process of selection of its academic enrollment. This will respond to the level of difficulty, complexity and obligation, inherent to the practicing of the discipline and to the teaching on a higher education level. An admission Committee, chosen from the administrative personnel, will be appointed to undertake the admission application evaluation and the interviews with the candidates in an impartial and professional manner.

The reason for this admission rigidity is due to the limited space available (120 admissions per year) and in part because applications will be processed only once a year (towards the fall semester). Also, the existing demand to undergo studies in architecture exceeds the actual offer, what reigns the need of undergoing a scrutiny when selecting the candidates to join the program. Here we present the requirements towards the admission to the Architecture program.

New Students

It will be considered as a new student all who has obtained a high school diploma and/or that who has attempted less than twenty-four (24) credits at a higher education accredited institution.

The requirements are as follows:

  • Filling out an admission application using the official document provided by the office of Admissions of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
  • Submit an official high school credit transcript and a transcript form each higher education institution previously attended (if applicable), that should reflect a cumulative academic average not less than 2.50 on a 4.00 scale
  • Evidence of having taken the administrative test offered by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) and having obtained a score of not less than 500 points on each area of the exam. If the scores are not enough the applicant must take the additional courses corresponding to the subject which the minimum score was not achieved)
  • Provide an essay exposing the reasons for its interest in pursuing studies in architecture
  • Provide two letters of recommendations addressed to the School of Architecture. These shall be from previous professors and/or administrators from the institution(s) previously attended.
  • Successfully completing an interview  with the School of Architecture’s Admissions Committee

Transfer Students

All applicants with twenty-four credits or more form an accredited higher education institution will be considered Transfer Students. The requirements are as follow:

  • Filling out an admission application using the official document provided by the office of Admissions of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
  • Presenting the academic progress status form the previous institution. Students suspended from any institution due to academic deficiencies do not qualify as transfer students until the probation period has expired. Students with disciplinary suspension will not be qualified
  • Submit an official credit transcript from the university previously attended (if applicable), that should reflect a cumulative academic average not less than 2.50 on a 4.00 scale
  • Provide an essay exposing the reasons for its interest in pursuing studies in architecture
  • Obtain a recommendation from the Dean of Students from the previous institution using the form provided by the institution for these purposes.
  • Provide two letters of recommendations addressed to the School of Architecture. These shall be from previous professors and/or administrators from the institution(s) previously attended.
  • Successfully completing an interview  with the School of Architecture’s Admissions Committee. 

Graduate Students

All applicants who have obtained a university degree from a higher education duly accredited institution will be considered Graduate students. The requirements are as follow:

    • Filling out an admission application using the official document provided by the office of Admissions of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
    • Submit an official credit transcript from the university previously attended (if applicable), that should reflect a cumulative academic average not less than 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.
    • Provide two letters of recommendations addressed to the School of Architecture. These shall be from previous professors and/or administrators from the institution(s) previously attended.
    • Successfully completing an interview with the School of Architecture’s Admissions Committee

International Students

The School of Architecture welcomes all foreign students interested in becoming part of our innovative academic program. Due to political status and citizenship, the PCUPR and the School of Architecture are required by the U.S. Federal government to meet specific criteria for non-citizens of the United States of America. The School of Architecture and the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is available to facilitate any process and/or documentation required for admission and student visa.

In order to be considered for admission, ALL non-citizen and/or non-resident students must:

  • Submit an application for admission.
  • Submit an official transcript for secondary school if applying as a freshman student.
  • Submit two official transcripts from a university or college attended if applying as a transfer or graduate student.
  • Submit official results of the Scholastic Aptitude Test offered by the C.E.E.B. or SAT.
  • Pay $15.00 dollars nonrefundable fee.

Once admitted, the student must comply with the requisites of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Office:

  • Submit an affidavit of Support (evidence of income and resources).
  • Submit a statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institution.
  • Have a local residence address.
  • Complete the I-20 form of Immigration and Naturalization Service at the Registrar’s Office. This is required to obtain the student visa. The procedure to obtain the student visa from the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Office could last up to six (6) months. It is recommended that this procedure be initiated at least one semester before the period of studies.

Re-Admission

All applicants who have previously attended the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico will be considered Re-admission students. This is applicable to students applying for a change of major and for those who have completed a professional degree and wish to pursue studies with a new degree. The requirements are as follow:

  • Filling out a readmission application using the official document provided by the office of Admissions of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
  • Credit transcript must reveal a cumulative academic average not less than 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.
  • Provide an essay exposing the reasons for its interest in pursuing studies in architecture.
  • Provide two letters of recommendations addressed to the School of Architecture. These shall be from previous professors and/or administrators from the institution(s) previously attended.
  • Successfully completing an interview with the School of Architecture’s Admissions Committee

Transfer Credits

The Dean of the School of Architecture will evaluate all transfer and new admissions applications with approved university credits to determine the courses that can be accredited.

  • All general courses and major related courses approved with a grade of C or greater, which the Dean understands are equivalent or could or that could substitute one or several of the requisites of our institution.
  • Courses will not be eligible for accreditation if more than ten years have passed since they were taken.
  • The Dean will determine the exact number of credits required for the degree. Nonetheless, the last thirty-six (36) credits required for the completion of the degree shall be undertaken at the Pontifical Catholic University. The Dean will determine which of those shall be requisites form the program or the specialty.
  • Some courses taken at other institutions that do not have an equivalent at the Pontifical Catholic University could be accounted for as electives, subject to the Dean’s approval.
  • Any student could, before enrollment, submit a written appeal at the Vice-President of Academic Affairs to reconsider any accreditation of transfer credits.

These classifications and/or requirements correspond to that established in the Institutional Catalogue of the Pontifical Catholic University, except the following:

  • The accumulated academic average for transfer students and graduate students changes from 2.00 to 2.50 in a 4.00 scale.
  • Regarding credit accreditation, it will be required that the last credits required for the degree shall be 36 instead of 30.

To see the Architecture Program Educational Budget for  2023-2024, click here.

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