embARC Summer Design Academy at Berkeley College of Environmental Design

The embARC program at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design brings together high school students from diverse backgrounds to explore architecture, urban design and sustainable city planning through integrated components: an architecture + urban design studio, a sustainable city planning workshop, a digital design workshop, an environmental design conversation series and a materials exploration workshop. No prior experience in environmental design is necessary.

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Students will be able to develop their portfolio for their college applications in any area of environmental design - architecture, city planning, and landscape architecture. Classes include ample studio time, one-on-one critiques and “live” gallery showcases. Students will also go on field trips, and design and build a project for a local non-profit organization. Students who fulfill the course requirements receive credit on an official UC Berkeley transcript upon course completion.

• Applicants must be rising high school juniors or seniors.

• Priority Deadline: March 20
• For Financial Aid: April 20
• Final Deadline: May 1
• On-campus housing: May 15

• Two Short Essays

Please answer one of the three questions, do not exceed 500 words:

• "First we shape cities, then cities shape us." What do you think could be done to make the place where you grew up more sustainable, more livable, more beautiful?
• Describe a particular place or experience that has influenced your interest in architecture or planning and explain its impact on you.
• If you were advising policymakers and government officials on issues of sustainability, what key points would you focus on and what recommendations would you make?

Respond to the question below in 500 words or less: 

• If you are accepted, what do you expect to gain from enrolling in the embARC program?

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• Transcript
• English Language Proficiency for students from countries in which the official language is not English.
• One Recommendation

Applications are reviewed for admission beginning in mid-February and decisions are released on a rolling basis, about two weeks after they are reviewed. Admission decisions are sent via email. Please check your spam folder!

CED Summer Programs have a small number of need-based scholarships and stipends available to accepted students. These need-based scholarships are available for US citizens or permanent residents only. CED Summer Program financial assistance is not federally subsidized.

• The funds are need-based awards, which means that funding is based on the financial situation of the student (and their parents, if applicable).
• The program application AND the financial assistance application must be submitted before the deadline in order to be considered for financial aid.
• Requests for financial assistance will not be considered without a complete program application. Late financial assistance applications will only be considered if financial assistance funds have not been depleted or if additional funds become available.
• Award amounts vary. Applicants who are offered financial support are expected to inform us immediately if they plan on accepting it.
• Applicants who receive a partial scholarship (stipend) will be required to pay the full balance of the program fees prior to the start of the program.

• Applications open in mid-December.
• Cancellation deadline for full tuition refund is June 10.