Arts, Architecture & Design Majors
US Arts, Architecture & Design Majors
US arts and design majors and how their admission differs — architecture, design, film, music, theater and fine arts — including portfolios and auditions.
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Tests this hub covers
What this hub covers
- Building an Art and Design Portfolio for US CollegesWhy the portfolio matters · How submission platforms work (SlideRoom) · Curating and sequencing your work
- Applying to US Architecture Programs: B.Arch vs Pre-Professional DegreesTwo main routes to becoming an architect · The 5-year B.Arch · The pre-professional BA/BS + M.Arch route
- Music and Theater Auditions for US College AdmissionWhy auditions matter as much as grades · Prescreens come first · Live, virtual and regional auditions
- Getting Into US Film and Media Arts ProgramsFilm admission is not one process · Creative supplements and portfolios · Writing samples and director's statements
- BFA vs BA in the Arts: Which Degree and Application Path to ChooseTwo degrees, two philosophies · What a BFA usually involves · What a BA in the arts usually involves
Guides for United States
5 of 5 guides in this hub are for the United States.
Building an Art and Design Portfolio for US Colleges
How to curate and submit a visual portfolio for US art, design and architecture programs — SlideRoom, supplemental art, and home tests like the RISD drawing exercise.
Read guideMusic and Theater Auditions for US College Admission
How performing-arts admission works in the US — prescreens, live and regional auditions, monologues, repertoire and platforms like Acceptd used by conservatories and BFA programs.
Read guideGetting Into US Film and Media Arts Programs
How film, animation and media-arts admission differs by school — creative supplements, director's statements, sample reels and writing samples for programs like USC, NYU Tisch and CalArts.
Read guideApplying to US Architecture Programs: B.Arch vs Pre-Professional Degrees
How US architecture admission works — choosing between a 5-year accredited B.Arch and a pre-professional BA/BS plus M.Arch path, NAAB accreditation and portfolios.
Read guideBFA vs BA in the Arts: Which Degree and Application Path to Choose
How to choose between a studio-intensive BFA and a broader BA in the arts in the US, and how that choice changes where and how you apply across colleges and art schools.
Read guideStudying in the United States
Continue exploring the United States
Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for the United States — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
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