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School of Architecture & Community Design

USF College of Design, Art & Performance

Portfolio Policy

M. Arch. Program Portfolio Policy
(Adopted Fall 2002; Revised 11/10/23; Revised 05/01/2025[1])

PURPOSE
 
The SACD utilizes portfolio reviews as comprehensive assessments of overall learning of students enrolled in the M. Arch. program. Portfolios are submitted by SACD students at two pivotal points in their academic path and are used to assess whether each student is adequately prepared for the next stage in the architectural program. A student鈥檚 grades are not considered during portfolio reviews, but a student must have at least 3.0 overall and design studio GPAs to submit. The assessments focus on the portfolio鈥檚 contents and consider how the portfolio itself is designed and crafted. There is a separate admissions portfolio requirement for students applying to enter the graduate program.  
 
Portfolio reviews help the faculty assess individual student progress and program effectiveness. Only students earning a passing or better evaluation will qualify to register for Advanced Design Studios (based on first portfolio review) and be admitted into the Master's Project Planning course (based on second portfolio review). Student portfolios may also be considered for the granting of scholarships and awards. Finally, these portfolios aid students in obtaining part-time and long-term employment.   
 
The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) establishes criteria for student learning outcomes. These outcomes are developed and assessed by the program on a recurring basis.    
 
POLICY
 
The School of Architecture & Community Design's portfolio policy is as indicated below.
 
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Every student must maintain a bound portfolio documenting their design work undertaken in the school for every academic term. This portfolio must include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Design projects from each studio course, identified by course number and name, by instructor, and by the year and semester completed.
  • A project title and a written narrative description must be provided for each design project.
  • The written narrative description for each design project should include 200 to 500 words.
  • For group projects, team members must be acknowledged, and your individual contributions must be clearly articulated.

  • Focus on the work. Do not include random travel images, for example.

OPTIONAL:

  • Visual and written documentation from studio-like elective courses may be included.

Other evidence of creative or scholarly accomplishments within or beyond formal academic requirements may be included.
 

TIMING OF REVIEWS
  • The first portfolio review is conducted after successful completion of Core Design I-III studios and determines student readiness to proceed to the Advanced Design studios.
  • The second portfolio review is conducted after successful completion of three (3) Advanced Studios. The second portfolio review is regarded as a "pre-master's project comprehensive exam" and will determine each student's readiness to proceed to Master鈥檚 Project Planning.

1Revised to allow the submission of the second portfolio following completion of three Advanced Studios. Whie students must complete a total of four (4) Advanced Studios in order to graduate, this change may allow some students to proceed with Master鈥檚 Project Planning as offered during fall semesters while completing their final Advanced Studio in that same semester. Also, as part of this revision, the text has been edited and reformatted for clearer organization.

 
PORTFOLIO FORMATS

  • A physical (printed & bound) portfolio and a digital (PDF) portfolio must be submitted.
  • The hard-copy (physical) portfolio must measure a minimum of 8鈥� in each width and height and define an area between 80 and 100 square inches (e.g., 8x10, 8x12, 9x9, 10x10, 8.5 x 11).
  • The digital file format is to be a single PDF (Portable Document Format) file with a file size not to exceed 50MB. Note: when reviewers select the two-page view of digital portfolio on their computers the view should correspond with the same two-page view when opening the hard-copy portfolio.
     

PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION

  • Portfolios are reviewed prior to fall and spring semesters.
  • The deadline for submitting physical and digital portfolios is no later than Noon on the Tuesday prior to the first week of classes each fall and spring semester.
  • Physical portfolios must be delivered and signed in at HMS 301 during normal business hours (M-F, 8AM-5PM). Please note that submitted portfolios are maintained by the SACD for accreditation purposes.
  • Digital portfolios must be submitted via an online BOX link to be provided to students via the SACD-Talk Team chat prior to the submission deadline.
     
    GENERAL DESIGN PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA
    All design projects will be assessed for:
  • Completion 鈥� Do all components of the project appear finished? (e.g., including plans sections, elevations, renderings, etc.)
  • Craft 鈥� Are all models and drawings neat and well-crafted?
  • Clarity 鈥� Does the work have a clear parti/organization?
  • Complexity 鈥� Does the work go beyond the most basic solution and add a level of complexity, richness, or detail.
  • Concept 鈥� Does the work reflect depth of thinking, purpose, and conceptual rigor?
     
    FIRST PORTFOLIO REVIEW ELIGIBILITY, EVALUATION CRITERIA AND OUTCOMES
  • Submission Eligibility Requirements:  
  • Minimum Design studio GPA of 3.0
  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
  • Completion of prerequisite requirements indicated in the student鈥檚 admission acceptance letter, if applicable.
  • Evaluation Criteria
    To determine your readiness for advancement into the Advanced Design sequence, your portfolio should demonstrate mastery (or potential for mastery) of the following:
  • Mastery of Architectural Scales: From objects of constructs, small scale installations and details, to internal volumes, spaces and rooms, to refined building forms, and finally to the urban scale, addressing the public realm.
  • Mastery of Architectural Conventions: Including Plan, Section, Elevation, Axonometric, and Perspective.
  • Mastery of Architectural Media: From digital to hand-made works including sketches, physical and digital models and drawings, and photography.  

Outcomes

  • Students whose portfolios are not submitted by the deadline or do not pass the portfolio review cannot progress to the Advanced Design studio sequence.  
  • Students whose portfolios fail the review will be required to repeat a Core Design Studio to enhance their design skills. Students will only be permitted to repeat one Core Design Studio before resubmitting a portfolio.
  • Should a student fail a second portfolio review after repeating a Core Design Studio, they will not be permitted to proceed into the Advanced Design sequence and will be advised on what other degree programs are available to them within the University system outside the architecture track. 
  • Portfolios receiving a majority of High Pass scores will be selected for commendation.
     
     
    SECOND PORTFOLIO REVIEW ELIGIBILITY, EVALUATION CRITERIA AND OUTCOMES

Submission Eligibility Requirements

  • Minimum Design Studio GPA of 3.0
  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
  • Completion of prerequisite requirements indicated in the student鈥檚 admission acceptance letter, if applicable.
  • Evaluation Criteria
    To determine your readiness for advancement in the program toward the degree of Master of Architecture into the Master鈥檚 Project Sequence (ARC 6974 Master's Project Planning and ARC 6976 Terminal Master's Project.), the portfolio should provide evidence that the student has:
  • Developed the ability to make design decisions within architectural projects while demonstrating synthesis of user requirements, regulatory requirements, site conditions, and accessible design, and consideration of the measurable environmental impacts of their design decisions. 
  • Developed mastery of the following:
  • Design of multi-purpose buildings of medium-to large-scale and complexity;
  • Understanding issues of urban, community and neighborhood design as they relate to the design of buildings.  

Outcomes

  • Students who do not meet the submission deadline or who do not pass the review cannot proceed into the Master's Project Design sequence (ARC 6974 Master's Project Planning and ARC 6976 Terminal Master's Project.)
  • Students whose portfolios fail the review will be required to take certain Core or Advanced Design studios to enhance their design skills [studio to be recommended by the faculty].
  • Students will only be permitted to repeat one Core Design or one Advanced Design studio before resubmitting a portfolio.
  • Should a student fail a second portfolio of the Second Submission review after repeating a Design Studio, they will not be permitted to proceed into the Advanced Design sequence and will be advised on what other degree program options are available to them within the University system, outside of the architecture track.  
  • Portfolios receiving a majority of High Pass scores will be selected for commendation.
     
    OTHER CONDITIONS
    Students accepted to the SACD M.Arch. program with advanced standing will submit their portfolios as a prerequisite to advance to the Advanced Design studio courses or the Terminal Master鈥檚 Project course, as applicable. 
     
    [1] 05.01.2025 revision to allow the submission of the second portfolio following completion of three (3) Advanced Studios. Whie students must complete a total of four (4) Advanced Studios in order to graduate, this change may allow some students to proceed with Master鈥檚 Project Planning as offered during fall semesters while completing their final Advanced Studio in that same semester. Also, as part of this revision, the text has been edited and reformatted for clearer organization.