At UMass Amherst's pre-college programs, high school students can get a taste of the college experience, explore their interests, and experience campus life.
This immersive three-week foundational studio course will explore the vital effects of architecture and their representation. Through carefully sequenced two and three dimensional projects, students will develop a conceptual approach to architecture that incorporates graphic storytelling, mapping, and translation across a wide range of media and scales.
Students will enhance skills in drawing and drafting techniques, digital and physical model making, and digital graphic design while exploring the process of conceptualization, design development, iteration, analysis, and critique. The final project will conclude with the design of a habitable space.
Anchored in the challenging and fun design curricula used in many top design and architecture schools across the U.S., the Summer Design Academy provides an opportunity for high school students interested in architecture, landscape architecture, urban or interior design to explore and gauge their interest in the kinds of activities that take place in a typical university design program.
Location(s)
- UMass Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
- UMass Mount Ida, Newton, Massachusetts
- Remote
Schedule
- UMass Amherst: Three weeks in July
- UMass Mt. Ida campus: Three weeks from late June to early July
- Online: Three weeks in July
Cost/Compensation
- Residential Tuition: $4,822
- Commuter Tuition: $2,675
Eligibility Requirements
- This program is available for rising sophomore through seniors.
Deadline
- June 1
Application or Entry Requirements
- A written statement of interest (1 page)
- An unofficial high school transcript (PDF), including fall grades from the current school year. Rising sophomores should include a middle school transcript as well.
- A letter of recommendation written by a teacher or guidance counselor who can speak to your skills, abilities, maturity level and academic accomplishments that make you a suitable candidate for the program you are applying to. Letters of recommendation should be obtained by the applicant and uploaded into the online application system. If your reference prefers to submit their letter of recommendation directly, please upload a brief statement, in PDF format, indicating that your letter of recommendation is being sent directly, and instruct your reference to email the letter to: summerprograms@umass.edu.
- A non-refundable $35 application fee
Notifications of Decisions
- Rolling
Financial Aid Details
Students accepted to any 2-week or 3-week program may apply for a partial, need-based scholarship. The UMass Department of Architecture is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in higher education, and in the profession of architecture. Students of color who cannot meet the financial obligations of the Summer Design Academy (SDA) are encouraged to apply for a partial scholarship. Please submit a scholarship essay as outlined above to apply. Eligibility is based on personal and academic information submitted on the Summer Pre-College application.
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Scholarship Application deadline: April 15
Have other questions?
The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public research university located in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College and is now the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. UMass Amherst offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in various fields. A Carnegie-designated research university with over $200 million in research funding annually, the university has several research centers and institutes, including the Institute for Applied Life Sciences and the Center for Data Science.
