How to Apply
Are you ready? Apply for admission to Virginia Tech
Navigating the admission process is exciting and sometimes challenging, whether you’re pursuing your first degree or a graduate program. We are here to help.
If you know the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design is the place for you, take the first step and apply for admission to Virginia Tech. If you need more information about dates and deadlines, majors, and application requirements, we can steer you in the right direction.
A WORD ABOUT AUDITIONS AND PORTFOLIOS
Auditions are required for music majors; details and dates are available on the Music Auditions page. A portfolio and interview are required to apply for admission to the creative technologies in music and music composition majors. No other majors require a portfolio, and faculty do not review student work as part of the admission process.
Creative accomplishment and mastery of one’s craft are important parts of our majors. Our programs are also inclusive in that they are designed to develop these qualities in the individual. All students start learning at the foundation level, regardless of the skills or talents they bring to the program.
Info for prospective first-year students
Admission to Virginia Tech is competitive, so make sure you complete the required courses, meet all deadlines, and provide all the materials the Office of Undergraduate Admissions needs to complete their holistic review of your application.
All first-year applicants must apply using the Common Application. Make sure you also review the information about:
- Academic requirements
- What to submit
- Information about auditions and portfolios for music majors
- Dates and deadlines for early action and regular decision
- How to check your status through the Applicant Portal
- How to accept your offer: Accept your offer through the Applicant Portal by May 1; there may be additional steps for international students.
Info for prospective transfer students
If you are currently pursuing an undergraduate degree program at another college or university — but still looking for the academic home that’s right for you — there are a couple key things you need to know.
Most of the programs in the college welcome transfer students. If you are interested in a major in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, your first step is to apply for admission to Virginia Tech. The table below lists AAD majors that accept transfer students and the terms when transfers may apply.
Please note that the university does not accept external transfer applications for the architecture and industrial design majors. Current Virginia Tech students interested in these majors may apply through the internal major change process.
| Major | Term(s) when students may apply |
|---|---|
| Art history | Fall, spring, summer |
| Cinema | Fall, spring, summer |
| Consumer studies | Fall, spring, summer |
| Creative technologies | Fall or summer |
| Fashion merchandising and design | Fall, spring, summer |
| Graphic design | Fall or summer |
| Interior design | Summer (must enroll in the summer lab) |
| Landscape architecture | Summer (must enroll in the summer lab) |
| Music | Fall or summer |
| Property management | Fall, spring, summer |
| Residential environments and design | Fall, spring, summer |
| Studio art | Fall or summer |
| Theatre arts | Fall, spring, summer |
Review these links for more information about transferring to Virginia Tech from another institution:
- Academic requirements
- What to submit
- Dates and deadlines
- How to check your status through the Applicant Portal
- How to accept your offer: Accept your offer through the Applicant Portal by May 15 for summer entry and June 1 for fall entry; there may be additional steps for international students.
Info for prospective graduate students
Applying for graduate school means negotiating an application journey and process that is quite different than the path you traversed as an undergraduate.
Graduate admission is competitive at Virginia Tech; your application will be reviewed by faculty members, so it’s important that you provide the materials needed to demonstrate your ability to successfully pursue the program of study.
Graduate school requires intensive academic study and, typically, the commitment of extensive time and financial resources. Before applying, we recommend contacting a faculty member with expertise in your area of interest to ask about opportunities for collaboration or funding.
Academic prerequisites and what to submit: Because the application process is different for each master’s or doctoral program, make sure you review the admission information for the specific program that interests you. International students should also review the information from the Graduate School.
- Master of Architecture
- Master of Science in architecture
- Master of Landscape Architecture
- Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in creative technologies
- Master of Arts in material culture and public humanities
- Master of Fine Arts in theatre
- Doctor of Philosophy in architecture and design research
- Arts leadership certificate
Dates and deadlines: Application deadlines for graduate programs in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design differ by program and from the general guidelines listed by the Graduate School, so make sure you use the links above for each program.
Check your status: Graduate students can access their admission status in the Applicant Portal. Admitted students may also receive an email or letter from the chair of the program; students being awarded an assistantship will receive a letter.
Accept your offer: Students can accept an offer of admission in the Application Portal. May 15 is the deadline for accepting an offer of admission; international students are encouraged to accept their offers early to allow time to prepare visa documents. Detailed information is also available for new international students from the Graduate School.
Questions? Reach out to the graduate program contact by discipline:
- Architecture – Associate Professor David Dugas
- Creative technologies – Associate Professor Zach Duer
- Landscape architecture – Professor Terry Clements
- Material culture and public humanities – Associate Professor Michelle Moseley
- Theatre and arts leadership
- Applied theatre and public dialogue – Professor Bob Leonard
- Arts leadership – Associate Professor Amanda Nelson
- Costume design – Assistant Professor of Practice Tyler Holland
- Lighting design – Associate Professor John Ambrosone
- Scenic and properties design – Assistant Professor Kerry Chipman
- Stage management – Instructor Stacy Blackburn
- Technical direction – Associate Professor John Ambrosone