cmu college visit

Prospective Student Visits

The School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University welcomes undergraduate and graduate program prospective students to engage with us during the academic year while semester coursework is in session. In-person tours, remote information sessions, and online one-on-one appointments via Zoom are available on select weekdays during the fall and spring academic semesters. The prospective student experience is limited in the winter months and in the summer when the undergraduate and graduate programs are not in session.

We respectfully request that visitors do not enter the School of Architecture design studios or facilities outside of an official tour (register below). Please review CMU’s Visitor Protocol guidance prior to scheduling an on-campus visit. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the health and safety of our community.

We continue to encourage prospective students and families to connect with our community through our online visit opportunities that let you explore Carnegie Mellon’s campus and residence halls, chat with an admission counselor, sit in on an information session, and hear from current students. To complement these remote offerings, the university offers registration for campus visits including an On-Campus Information Session , an In-person Campus Tour , and an Outdoor Campus Walking Route .

During the tour you will be able to observe student and faculty collaboration as you visit the architecture design studios, Shop, and Digital Fabrication (dFAB) lab.

In-person visitation for Spring 2024 has begun. Tours are available on select weekdays in April and May.

Schedule a tour

Spring '24 Undergraduate Open House

The Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture invites undergraduate prospective students to attend an April Undergraduate Open House event. Events are hosted every Monday on April 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2024.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the undergraduate program, speak with faculty and undergraduate students, and tour the design studios and facilities.

Undergraduate applicants offered admission to the School of Architecture and high school prospective students interested in studying architecture are welcome to attend these events.

Undergraduate Info Sessions

On select weekdays this spring, the School of Architecture will offer architecture undergraduate admission information sessions for prospective students in a live, remote format (via Zoom) with Q&A to engage with our students and faculty. Register for one of the one-hour sessions listed below:

Wednesday, April 10 | 8:00-9:00pm ET: Register

Wednesday, April 24 | 8:00-9:00pm ET: Register

Wednesday, May 8 | 8:00-9:00pm ET: Register

Sessions for admitted students only:

Wednesday, April 17 | 8:00-9:00pm ET: Register

Wednesday, May 1 8:00-9:00pm ET: Register

See more: April Undergraduate Admission Events

Admission Appointments

Prospective undergraduate and graduate students can schedule a weekday appointment to meet with Alexis McCune Secosky, Director of Recruitment & Enrollment, to discuss academic programs and application questions. All appointments are hosted remotely on Zoom.

Schedule Admission Appointment

Life in Pittsburgh

There’s a reason Pittsburgh keeps topping the “Most Livable Cities” lists . More accurately, a host of reasons: 90+ unique neighborhoods, glittering nightlife, world-class cultural institutions, gorgeous public parks—the list goes on. The Steel City may have shed its industrial grit, but it’s still tough at heart. Study architecture in a city on the move—one that will welcome you with open arms.

From optimizing the speed of a human-powered vehicle to transforming healthcare through big data, CMU students’ native intelligence floods everything they do. The Carnegie Mellon campus and state-of-the-art facilities are perfect for study and collaboration. For a break, we’re just steps away from miles of wooded hiking trails, and in the heart of one of the country’s most dynamic cities.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Due to Carnegie Mellon’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts, we’re continuing to encourage students and families to connect with us online. Schedule a virtual informational chat and/or a 30-minute portfolio advice session with Art Senior Admissions Officer, Sheika Lugtu. Click here to schedule a time .

The university also offers several online visit opportunities that let you explore Carnegie Mellon’s campus and residence halls, chat with an admission counselor, sit in on an information session and hear from current students. To complement these offerings, we’re now also offering limited registrations for a self-guided Outdoor Campus Walking Route and on-campus Information Session . You can find the university’s full visitor protocol here .

• About the School
• Support the School
• Undergraduate
• Head of School
• Notable Alumni
• Current Students

Carnegie Mellon University

Spotlight Story

Cmu alumni earn 4 tony awards.

See the winners

Goldwater Scholars are tops in undergrad research. CMU has had 51.

CMU In-depth

Carnegie mellon serves as a hub for action and innovation in sustainability.

CMU’s EarthTime tells the planet’s story through data and technology .

13 turing awards.

See all awards

Here to Stay: Celebrating 40 Years at the Architecture Archives — Until June 1, 2025

• Mar 14 - Jun 28 Looking Back: An International Retrospective, Part 2
• Jun 27 Generative AI and Software Engineering Education
• Jul 30 Data Analytics Day

More events

Initiatives

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Regional Impact

Sustainability

Strategic Plan 2025

Carnegie Mellon University challenges the curious and passionate to deliver work that matters.

Calendar Careers COVID-19 Updates Directory / Contact Feedback Global Locations

Health & Safety News Site Map Title IX

Alumni BUSINESS & RESEARCH PARTNERS Faculty & Staff Students

Turn Tartan Days

We're rolling out the red carpet just for you! Carnegie Mellon's Turn Tartan Days are your chance to find out why you should "Turn Tartan", and join the CMU family.

Each student's visit will start with registration, coffee/tea and mingling with our deans and directors of Admission. A warm welcome from the Office of Admission will then kick off your time on campus! You'll be able to choose how you spend your day: getting to know your home college and departments with academic and artistic information sessions and office hours, meeting current students, touring campus, learning about financial aid and more. THESE EVENTS ARE FOR ADMITTED STUDENTS ONLY Select a date to get started:

• Admissions and Aid
• Student Life

Sure, we could tell you about life at CMU, but it's better to see it for yourself with a campus visit. Hear from admissions about applications, scholarships, and programs and take a student-led campus tour. Just pick your visit, grab your comfy shoes and bring your support crew.

Trustees announce search for Central Michigan University's 16th president

Find your program.

Search our programs

Scholarships and awards

Freshmen scholarships

Earn up to $8,250 per year with merit scholarships, then use our Scholarship Universe tool to see what else you qualify for.

Transfer scholarships

Earn up to $13,500 over three years with our transfer merit scholarships. Then use our Scholarship Universe tool to see what else you qualify for.

Graduate scholarships

From 25 specialized scholarships, tuition awards and graduate assistantships, we make earning your advanced degree achievable.

International scholarships

We offer merit scholarships that award you U.S. resident-rate tuition, as well as competitive and departmental scholarships.

Student life

Student organizations

Gain experience in your field, support a cause, find a new hobby, or just have fun. Check out our 400 student organizations and get involved.

Leadership development

Find your voice and use it for yourself, for others, for what's right. Develop your skills, contribute to your community, and improve the world.

Residence Life

Live and learn with others who share your passions and interests. Our Living Learning Communities offer academic- and interest-focused options.

Latest news

CMU, Faculty Association reach tentative 5-year agreement

The week in photos: June 24-30

Great Lakes invaded: Invasive species jump canal

Explore our locations

Undergraduate Admission

Visit opportunities in your area.

Can’t make it to Pittsburgh? Let’s meet in your town.

We’d love to have you on campus, but we’re happy to meet with you where you live. Our admission staff travels to cities around the globe to meet with prospective students like you.

These information sessions give you a sense of Carnegie Mellon through student and faculty stories and one-on-one conversations about our colleges, programs, campus life, financial aid and more.

Find Visit Opportunities in Your Area

Visit Request Form

Contact information & resume upload, program of interest, visit information & options.

• Your background, interests, career goals
• Degree program(s) overview and typical career outcomes
• Admissions and financial aid
• Connections for additional information or meetings
• Program Office (30 minutes)
• Admissions & Financial Aid (30 minutes)
• Career Services (30 minutes)

Preferred Visit Dates/Times

Additional information.

• Pre-College Programs

Architecture

An intensive program that engages inquisitive high school students in the creative energy and speculative culture of the study of architecture..

Program Overview

In these changing times, Pre-College Architecture responds to challenges regarding practice, communication, and our relationship with the built environment by utilizing a diverse set of tools and techniques, guided by the leadership of the School of Architecture Faculty.   Pre-College Architecture introduces design practice, creative problem solving, and critical thinking to young designers through a matrix of programming, celebrating curiosity and providing a strong foundation for architectural education. Pre-College students will navigate complex design problems, encouraging growth through the development of skills, preparing them for future undergraduate studies.  

Pre-College Architecture is an intensive summer experience for students with a keen interest in architecture.   Over the course of five weeks, Pre-College students will experience the interdisciplinary field of architecture through the lens of Carnegie Mellon’s  School of Architecture  (SOA) as well as contemporary practices. Students will experience the dynamic of architectural education within the studio, supported by integrated coursework in analog drawing, digital media, seminars, and workshops. This approach will allow for broader exploration of design issues related to the environment, technology as well as the future of our cities.

The projects and assignments issued within all courses will increase in complexity as students build upon their newly found technical skills and creativity.  

Pre-College students will begin by working through a series of projects to build a basic comprehension of the fundamental principles of architecture. Students iterate ideas through 2D, 3D, digital, and analog techniques, participating in critique as a central component of the studio experience, with a focus on:

• Building foundational architectural skills, literacy, and confidence
• Analytical thinking
• Conceptual development
• Techniques in representation and spatial articulation

Pre-College students will be expected to both collaborate with their classmates as well as work individually. Seminars, special lectures, and field trips that relate to digital media and fabrication, issues of contemporary practice, and portfolio allow for additional exploration of the architecture profession.

Typical Schedule

Monday - Thursday

• 9:00 am - 12:30 pm: Design, Media, History/Theory Seminars
• 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Architectural Design Studio
• 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Teaching Assistant help sessions and Open Studio
• Field Trips
• Open Studio

Faculty Highlight: Heather Bizon

She previously held the Ann Kalla Professorship in Architecture with the school from 2018-19. In this role, she taught as part of Dana Cupkova’s third year studio team in the fall 2018 semester. ..  Learn more .

Testimonials

I really enjoyed my experience at CMU this summer. I learned a lot about myself and college life that I will now take with me for my future endeavors. Thank you CMU! ~ Jimmy W., Architecture 2022

The overall Pre-College program experience was great and allowed my student to get a taste of college life, while being able to explore one of the areas he was interested in, but didn't know much about. ~ Anonymous Architecture Parent 2023

Hear more from our students and families HERE !

Eligibility and Application Requirements

Eligibility requirements.

• Be at least 16 years old by the program start date.
• Be a current sophomore or junior in high school at the time of application submission.

Application Requirements

• Completed online application
• Unofficial transcript
• Standardized test scores (optional)
• One letter of recommendation
• Responses to essay prompts
• Identify and describe something about yourself that will help the admission committee determine your potential as a Pre-College Architecture student at Carnegie Mellon University. We are interested in getting to know you in the context of your application.
• This short 30-second video needs no staging or post-production .
• Videos are preferred as a link to Youtube or Vimeo.
• If submitting a file, clips must be under 10MB and saved as .m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg, .mpg, or .mkv, and you might need to compress the video file prior to uploading.
• 5 to 10 images of your original work in a single PDF file.
• Links to video or audio artwork may be included in the PDF if applicable.

Application Essay Prompts

• What do you hope to gain from participating in Carnegie Mellon's Pre-College Programs?
• Why are you interested in studying architecture?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pre-College Architecture program challenging?

Pre-College Architecture is an immersive program with the intensive energy and dynamic creative culture of a college-level experience. Design success is largely the result of focused effort and intensity of investigation; students should expect to invest significant time working in the studio with fellow students outside of class (evenings and weekends) to develop and complete project coursework. 

What is unique about the study of architecture?

A progressive interdisciplinary course of study combining design creativity, historical perspective, technical knowledge and innovation, and social responsibility, architecture is a profession that occupies a unique role in the shaping of our built environment. Pre-College Architecture is structured to introduce the discipline of architecture and the study of architecture in a university setting.

What is Design Studio?

Studio is the core of the Pre-College Architecture Program and serves as an introduction to the spatial concepts of architecture. Projects will explore the design and experience of spatial environments through a series of creative investigations consisting of both independent and collaborative work. Studio work focuses on experience and human sensory engagement in physical space; project themes include context, scale, perception, light, materiality, and component systems. Studio work will be supported by individual critique as well as group discussion based upon critical review of student work. The course is focused entirely on project design work while integrating concepts and skills from Drawing and Digital Media as well as workshops and seminar courses.

What skills and techniques will I learn in Digital Media?

Digital Media introduces students to the creative use of digital software and technology in architecture through in-class workshops and lectures. Students will learn the basic skills needed to create, explore and critique digital images, drawings, and three-dimensional environments. As a complement to the design studio, assignments will encourage an active dialogue between design intentions and representational tools. With a focus on Photoshop, Illustrator, and Rhinoceros, skills explored include image editing, color manipulation, line drawings, curves, surfaces and solids, 3D object manipulation, and composite imagery. We provide an intensive introduction to creative software. No previous experience or specific computer skills are required to succeed, although dedication and commitment to the subject is critical for success.

Are there activities specific to Pre-College Architecture outside of class time?

On Fridays, field trips and special projects introduce students to dynamic learning opportunities out in the field. Trips and projects vary from year to year. Past events have included visits to recently completed local architectural projects, building construction sites, museum exhibitions, and workshop experiments in conjunction with the Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture Computational Design and Digital Fabrication Labs. Some evenings and weekends, our teaching assistants hold optional workshops to provide extra help and support for classwork.

Will I earn college credit from this program?

No, Pre-College Architecture students do not earn college credit.

Is there an opportunity for portfolio development?

Work created in Pre-College Architecture may be excellent material to package for your portfolio. 

What supplies will I receive as part of the program?

As part of the program costs, you will be provided materials and tools required for media and design studio. If you need additional supplies, feel free to purchase them from our Art Store once you arrive on campus. 

Student Affairs

• Athletics, Physical Education & Recreation
• Career & Professional Development Center
• Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion
• Civility Initiatives
• Cohon University Center
• Community Health & Well-Being
• Community Standards & Integrity
• Conference & Event Services
• Counseling & Psychological Services
• Dean of Students
• Dining Services
• Family Engagement
• First-Year Orientation
• Fraternity & Sorority Life
• Housing Services
• Residential Education
• Student Leadership, Involvement, & Civic Engagement
• Student Support Resources
• University Health Services
• Wellness & Meaning-Making Programs

IMPACT POWERED BY TECHNOLOGY

The Best Online Master’s Degree for IT

TECHNOLOGY ISN’T BOUND BY GEOGRAPHY. NEITHER ARE YOU.

Master of science in information technology (msit) — online programs.

That means you don’t need to be in Pittsburgh to learn from the best at Carnegie Mellon University. You don’t need to leave your job, or even your home. Our part-time delivery model pairs the flexibility of distance learning with the same access to world-class faculty enjoyed by our on-campus students. Teaching data-driven management strategies, technological expertise, and an interdisciplinary curriculum featuring three high-demand focus areas, we prepare you to lead digital transformation in your organization.

The student mix in MSIT is a combination of high-performing, early career professionals and seasoned executives. It is typical, for example, for a software engineer and a pharmaceutical executive to work together, leading to career acceleration for both. If you are looking for a career boost with the latest skills, the brightest ideas, and the strongest networks available in an online program, then the Heinz College MSIT program is for you.

Heinz College Has Been #1 In Information And Technology Management Since 2001

Highly relevant, highly sought, msit students learn skills they can apply immediately, concentrating in one of three high-demand areas.

THE MSIT IMPACT

Jim Dye talks about the part-time MSIT program, and how the skills he gained helped him become Director of Global IT Infrastructure at Pittsburgh Glass Works.

MSIT WORKS FOR YOU

Reema Troiana was able to stay on the job and immediately apply what she learned in the MSIT program to her management role at PNC Financial Services.

Three Paths to Choose From:

Information technology management.

The #1 Graduate School for IT Management, and the #1 Online Master’s Degree for IT

MSIT: Information Technology Management will upgrade your skills in IT and combine them with strategic and management acumen from the #1 graduate school in IT Management.

Business Intelligence & Data Analytics (BIDA)

Use Leading-Edge Analytic Technologies and Techniques to Transform Business

In MSIT-BIDA, you will learn to leverage the latest technology to aggregate, analyze, and monetize big data to create business value, the ideal program for experienced professionals seeking data analytics skills.

Information Security & Assurance

Learn Cybersecurity from Practitioners at Carnegie Mellon University's Renowned Software Engineering Institute

Heinz College is a NSA/DHS National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. MSIT: Information Security & Assurance equips you with a deep understanding of risk management, cybersecurity, and data privacy.

Accreditation and Licensure

For important information regarding Distance Education programs delivered by Carnegie Mellon University, please view the University’s  Consumer Information  webpage.

Inquiries regarding state authorizations may be directed to:

Director of Enrollment Services, Carnegie Mellon University, Warner Hall A19, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Telephone: 412.268.5399, Email:  [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

Didn't find what you were looking for on this page? Check out our Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information on any of the topics or processes outlined above.