Cornell University
Cornell University, established in 1865 and located in Ithaca, New York, is a world-renowned private research university. It also has campuses in New York City and Education City in Qatar. Cornell is one of the fourteen founding members of the Association of American Universities and one of the eight members of the prestigious Ivy League.
Cornell’s Department of Architecture has significant influence in the United States and is widely recognized as the top institution for undergraduate architecture studies. The program focuses heavily on theory-driven design, a characteristic rooted in its historical traditions, with theoretical courses playing a prominent role in the curriculum.
Alumni and Faculty Insights
The Advanced Architectural Design (AAD) program at Cornell allows students to take courses alongside senior undergraduates. Students can freely choose their studios, which cover a wide range of topics such as parametric design and urban-scale projects. The course content varies depending on the instructors, and students enroll through a selection process involving sign-ups and lotteries. Some studios also include annual field trips to different cities for research.
Elective courses are categorized into four tracks: Discourse, Ecology, Urban ISM, and Presentation. Students select their research track upon enrollment but are also allowed to take courses from other departments, such as game design or even doctoral-level classes.
One of Cornell's distinct advantages compared to other schools is the close connections across different academic levels and departments. Undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students share a single open studio space, fostering communication and collaboration. This setup encourages students to independently develop their interests.
The AAD program spans three semesters, with the first semester taking place during the summer. Students spend two months in the Cornell studio on Wall Street in New York City. The program is intensive but comprehensive, featuring four design projects and numerous additional courses.
Cornell's AAD program serves as a platform that allows students to proactively access resources and explore their areas of interest. While it does not specialize exclusively in any single architectural field, it provides a well-rounded foundation. The M.Arch I (three-year program) is similar to the undergraduate architecture program, offering a solid and thorough education.
Related Programs List
- Professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) - Duration: 3.5 years / 7 semesters
- Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (Post-Professional) (MSAAD) - Duration: 3 semesters
- Master of Fine Arts - Duration: 2 years
- Master of Regional Planning - Duration: 2 years
- Master of Science and Master of Arts in Regional Science - Duration: 4 semesters
- Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning Degree - Duration: 2 years
- Master of Landscape Architecture - Duration: 3 years
- Master of Professional Studies in Landscape Architecture - Duration: 1 year
Admission Requirements
1. Admission Requirements for Each Program
M.Arch
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in any field. Some students may have prior backgrounds in a design discipline or hold pre-professional undergraduate degrees in a design field.
Admissions may also be offered to individuals with no previous design experience but who demonstrate talent and promise in a design-related activity or interest. Applicants who have completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a field other than architecture are eligible for admission. Preference is given to individuals with a well-rounded undergraduate education, including studies in arts, sciences, and humanities.
MSAAD
Applicants with a professional Bachelor of Architecture degree (B.Arch) or a professional Master of Architecture degree (M.Arch) may apply for the post-professional Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (M.S. AAD) program.
International students must submit official certification that their degree qualifies as a professional degree that allows them to practice architecture in their home country.
MFA
Applicants must hold a four-year bachelor's degree. The degree does not have to be related to art.
MRP / MSMARS / MAHPP
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized educational institution. A variety of undergraduate backgrounds can provide a solid foundation for studying planning and pursuing a successful career.
MLA / MPSLA
Applicants holding an undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for the Master of Landscape Architecture program.
2. Language Proficiency Requirements
GRE
GRE requirements vary by field. Please check application requirements for your proposed field for details on which tests are required. Please note that some fields do not require the GRE and do allow for the submission of scores from applicants.
IELTS Academic
The Graduate School requires an overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS Academic exam.
TOEFL
For applicants living in regions where the TOEFL iBT is not available, Cornell will accept scores for the paper-delivered test. Although individual graduate fields may require higher scores, The Graduate School’s official minimum sub-scores for each element of the TOEFL iBT are:
Speaking: 22 ; Reading: 20 ; Listening: 15 ; Writing: 20
3. International Degree Equivalencies
Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree earned after four to five-years of additional study
Application Materials
1. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
For detailed information, please refer to the official link:
Cornell Graduate School - Statements of Purpose
2. Transcripts/Degree Certificates/Proof of Graduation
For All Applicants
All applicants must have received—or be on track to receive—a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing. For students with international credentials, an equivalent international degree is required.
The online application requires you to upload an unofficial copy of each official transcript.
Applicants with International Credentials — Additional Requirements
In addition to transcripts, applicants with international credentials must also provide a certified copy of their diploma and/or degree certificate. All academic records must be official documents issued by the college or university and provided in the original language. A certified or notarized English translation must accompany the academic records if the original language is not English.
For more details on transcript preparation, refer to:
Cornell Graduate School - Transcripts
3. Portfolio (M.Arch, MSAAD, MSMDC)
A portfolio of creative work must be submitted online via the CollegeNET application. Portfolios must be no larger than 20 MB, or they will not successfully upload. All applicants are required to submit a portfolio consisting of a maximum of 20 pages representing their best work, including drawings, images of two- or three-dimensional work, and models.
The entire portfolio must be uploaded as one PDF file, using a landscape (horizontal) format for each page to ensure that the width of the screen is maximally used to view each portfolio page (approximately a 4:3 ratio).
If any project, drawing, or model has been produced by several designers, or if the design was created in a professional setting, each drawing must be labeled, clearly stating the number of designers, which drawings were produced by the applicant, and a list of the names of all members of the group project.
If the project was created in an office, as an assistant to an author, or in a professional setting, the office name, supervisor, and all members of the team must be identified.
4. MFA Requirements
Three sealed letters of recommendation
GRE not required
Interview:
Interviews are not required as part of the initial application process; however, shortlisted candidates will be asked to interview either in person or via Skype.
Applicants interested in meeting with a member of the art department faculty should contact the faculty directly. Students who wish to arrange a campus tour should contact the Program Assistant at (607) 255-6730.
For detailed MFA requirements, please visit:
AAP Graduate Admissions - MFA Requirements
For general details on application material requirements, visit:
Cornell Graduate School - Admissions