Prospective students considering a degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, or real estate development have many opportunities this fall to learn more about various programs. Institutions across the United States are hosting online and in-person information sessions, open houses, and portfolio workshops throughout October and November. These events aim to provide detailed insights into academic curricula, admissions processes, and campus cultures.
Key Takeaways
- Over 15 institutions are hosting information sessions this fall.
- Events cover undergraduate and graduate programs in various design fields.
- Both online and in-person options are available for prospective students.
- Workshops on portfolio development are offered by some schools.
Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) Events
SCI-Arc, located in Los Angeles, California, is offering several virtual events. These sessions are designed to provide a comprehensive look at their graduate and undergraduate programs. They target both domestic and international students.
On October 25, at 9 am PT, an online session will focus on graduate degrees for U.S.-based students. This event will feature Elena Manferdini, the Graduate Programs Chair, current students, and admissions staff. It will cover design innovation, advanced research, and critical discourse within SCI-Arc's curriculum.
Later on October 25, at 8 pm PT, a similar online event will cater specifically to international students. This session will also explore SCI-Arc's graduate programs, emphasizing how the curriculum leads in design innovation and research. Attendees can engage with faculty and admissions representatives.
Quick Fact
SCI-Arc's virtual events are structured to provide direct interaction with program chairs and current students, offering personalized insights into the academic environment.
The annual Online Open House is scheduled for November 8, at 10 am PT. This virtual gathering will introduce attendees to the B.Arch program. It highlights the school's focus on experimentation, innovation, and pushing design boundaries. Faculty, students, and admissions representatives will discuss studio culture and career pathways.
On November 13, at 6 pm PT, a virtual event will focus on SCI-Arc’s post-professional programs. These programs are for architects and designers looking to deepen their practice with emerging technologies. David Ruy, Postgraduate Programs Chair, will discuss advanced research, theory, and innovation in these four distinct degrees.
A crucial workshop on portfolio development will take place on November 15, at 10 am PT. SCI-Arc design faculty, who also serve on the admissions committee, will offer expert guidance. This session aims to help applicants craft compelling portfolios that showcase creativity and design potential.
Pratt Institute School of Architecture Sessions
Pratt Institute School of Architecture in Brooklyn, New York, is hosting both online and in-person opportunities. These events will cover their various graduate programs.
Multiple information sessions are planned. The first online session is on October 20, at 9 pm ET. An in-person Fall Open House will follow on October 21, at 10 am ET. Another online information session is scheduled for November 3, at 12 pm ET. Prospective students can email [email protected] for more details on specific graduate programs.
"Learn more about the graduate programs available at Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture (SoA) by attending a graduate program info session!"
Background
Pratt Institute is a private university known for its programs in architecture, art, and design. Its School of Architecture offers a range of graduate degrees, including Master of Architecture (M.Arch) and Master of Science (M.S.) programs.
Additional campus visits are available on October 16 (2:30–4:30 pm) and October 25 (12–2 pm) at the Brooklyn campus. Virtual sessions are also scheduled for November 4 (10 am–12 pm ET), November 11 (6–8 pm ET), December 2 (6–8 pm ET), and February 10, 2026 (6–8 pm ET). These sessions offer further details on graduate programs.
University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning
The University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning is providing flexible options for prospective graduate students. They emphasize experiential learning and community engagement.
Virtual information sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday in October, November, and December, at 3 pm ET. These sessions offer a direct chat with Kevin Donovan, Director of Graduate Recruitment. They cover graduate programs in architecture and urban planning.
An in-person Fall Open House is set for October 18, from 9 am to 3 pm, at the University at Buffalo, Flint Entrance. Attendees can tour campuses, meet faculty and students, and learn about academic programs. Information on admissions, financial aid, and scholarships will also be available.
A Portfolio Review Workshop for the Master of Architecture program is scheduled for November 19, at 12 pm ET (online), and December 9, at 5 pm ET (online). Department of Architecture Chair Erkin Özay will lead these workshops. The goal is to help students build strong portfolios for the early graduate submission deadline of January 15, 2026.
Campus tours are also available on October 24 (2 pm), November 11 (3:15 pm), and December 5 (2 pm). These student-guided tours of Hayes Hall, Crosby Hall, and the Fabrication Workshop provide a firsthand look at facilities. Information sessions on academic programs, admissions, and financial aid are included.
USC School of Architecture and Tulane University
The USC School of Architecture in Los Angeles, California, is holding a Fall Graduate Open House on campus on October 21, 2025. This event will feature presentations on architecture, landscape architecture, building science, and heritage conservation. Attendees can meet program directors, faculty, and students, tour studios, and see current projects.
USC also offers specific online information sessions for its master's programs:
- Master of Building Science: October 27, 5:30 pm PT
- Master of Architecture: October 28, 5:30 pm PT
- Master of Heritage Conservation: October 29, 5:30 pm PT
- Master of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism: October 30, 5:30 pm PT
Tulane University School of Architecture in New Orleans, Louisiana, is hosting several virtual webinars. These are open to prospective graduate students.
For the Master of Architecture program, sessions are on October 23 (12–1 pm CT) and November 20 (12–1 pm CT). These webinars include a program spotlight, research showcase, and interactive Q&A.
Landscape+Engineering program sessions are on October 22 (1–2 pm CT) and November 17 (11 am–12 pm CT). These events will highlight the program director's insights and showcase faculty and student research.
Historic Preservation program webinars are scheduled for October 21 (1–2 pm CT) and November 20 (4–5 pm CT). They will offer program spotlights and research showcases.
Sustainable Real Estate Development program sessions are on October 21 (12–1 pm CT) and November 18 (1–2 pm CT). These will also feature program spotlights and interactive Q&A sessions.
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design Opportunities
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design in Los Angeles, California, has scheduled various events for prospective students.
A Fall 2025 Open House for Graduate Programs is set for October 28, from 5–5:30 pm PT (online). This virtual session will cover admissions, application processes, and introduce UCLA AUD's graduate programs. Interested individuals can register via Zoom or email [email protected].
Open Studio Day is on November 3, from 1–4 pm, at UCLA AUD Perloff Hall. Vice Chair Kutan Ayata will give a program presentation. Student-led tours of studios and fabrication spaces will follow. Visitors can also observe mid-review sessions. Email [email protected] to reserve a spot.
An online information session for the Master of Architecture (MArch) program is on November 18, from 5–6:30 pm PT. This 90-minute session includes an overview from Vice Chair Kutan Ayata and a discussion with Student Affairs Officers on admissions, financial aid, and student life. Registration is required via Zoom.
A Fall 2025 Portfolio Workshop will be held on November 19, from 6–8 pm PT (online). AUD lecturer Claus Benjamin Freyinger will lead this interactive workshop. It will provide insights into creating a strong design portfolio for the application process. This event aims to complement other open house activities.
Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is offering in-person and online events.
An in-person event on October 19, from 10 am to 2 pm, at Tyler School of Art and Architecture, is free for all attendees. It targets high school and college students, parents, teachers, and counselors interested in architecture, landscape architecture, and built environment design at both undergraduate and master's levels.
Tyler’s Graduate Info Week is scheduled online from November 4–6. This virtual event allows prospective students to explore graduate programs in art, design, architecture, and planning. Registration is open to learn about the distinct offerings.
For the Master of Landscape Architecture program, a Virtual Information Session is on October 15, from 5:30–6:30 pm ET (online). An In-Person Graduate Open House is on November 7, from 12–4:30 pm, at the Temple University Ambler Campus. Both events provide details on curriculum, faculty, and hands-on learning opportunities. The in-person event includes tours of studios and facilities.
Cranbrook Academy of Art and The School of Architecture
Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is hosting an Open House on October 25, from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Prospective graduate students can explore nationally ranked MFA and MArch programs. Visitors will tour studios, meet Artists-in-Residence, and learn about campus life. The academy offers 10 departments, including Architecture, Ceramics, and Graphic Design.
The School of Architecture in Mayer, Arizona, is holding an information session on October 28, from 4–6 pm. This event will take place at their Scottsdale location. Applications are currently open for their Master of Architecture program. This program is NAAB-accredited and STEM-designated, with 2 and 3+ year tracks. The application deadline for a Fall 2026 start is January 15, 2026. The school emphasizes an immersive design education, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s principles, where students build, live, and lead in architecture.
Additional Institutions and Programs
Many other institutions are also holding information sessions:
- Washington University in St. Louis Sam Fox School: Virtual open houses for M.Arch, M.Landscape Architecture, and M.Urban Design on October 27 and November 12, from 11:30 am–12:30 pm CT.
- MIT Center for Real Estate: In-person MSRED Open House on October 27 in Cambridge, MA. A virtual session is on November 18, at 12 pm ET.
- California College of the Arts: Online info sessions on October 22 (7–8:30 am PT), November 5 (5:30–7:00 pm PT), and December 10 (5:30–7:00 pm PT) for M.Arch and MAAD programs. An in-person event is on November 2, from 3–7 pm, at the CCA Campus in San Francisco. A portfolio workshop is on November 12 (7:30–9:00 am PT).
- Harvard Graduate School of Design: Virtual Open Houses on October 28, October 31, November 6, and November 7.
- Weitzman School of Design (University of Pennsylvania): Fall 2025 Open House on November 3 (online).
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture: Prospective Graduate Student Information Sessions online on October 21, November 6, and December 2.
- Syracuse University School of Architecture: Various online and in-person sessions throughout October and November, including portfolio workshops and M.Arch/M.S. info sessions.
- UC Berkeley Department of Architecture: Online info sessions for all degree programs (MArch, MAAD, MS, PhD) on October 29 and November 14.
- Spitzer School of Architecture (City College of New York): Online Q&A sessions on October 15 and October 28. In-person tours on October 28 and November 25. Graduate info sessions on October 29 (all programs), November 10 (M.Landscape Architecture), and November 13 (M.Arch and MS Arch).
- Carnegie Mellon Architecture: Graduate Program Admission Open House on October 24 (in-person & online).
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Department of Architecture: Explore CPP 2025 on November 1 (in-person).
- Yale School of Architecture: Virtual Open House for Prospective Students on October 30.
- The Ohio State University Knowlton School: Master of Architecture Information Session on October 28 (online).
- University of Michigan Taubman College: Graduate Architecture Open House on November 17 (online).
- Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation: Open House for Prospective Students on October 20 (in-person).
- Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: Graduate Admissions Fall 2025 Events on October 16 and October 29 (online).
These diverse offerings provide extensive opportunities for anyone considering a future in architectural or related design fields. Prospective students are encouraged to register early to secure their spots and gain valuable insights into their chosen programs.