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Southern California Institute of Architecture

Apply for first-year
Southern California Institute of Architecture campus
SCI-Arc is a world-renowned center of innovation and one of the nation's few independent architecture schools. We are dedicated to educating architects and designers who will imagine and shape the future. Located in the heart of the Arts District of Los Angeles, SCI-Arc is distinguished by its vibrant studios that provide students with a uniquely inspiring environment to study architecture.
Accepts first-year applicationsWestPrivateUrbanSmall (2,000 and under)Co-Ed
Virtual Tour

Academic programs

  • Design
  • Art & Design
  • Visual Arts
  • Architecture

Student experience

  • Co-op/Internship Opportunities
  • Intramural/Club Sports
  • LGBTQIA Services
  • Study Abroad

Application information

First-year

A first-year applicant is a student who has not graduated from high school at the time of application.

Transfer

A transfer applicant is a student that has earned a high school diploma and has earned college credit after graduating high school.

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Additional information

SCI-Arc was founded in 1972 by a group of faculty and students who wanted to approach the subject of architecture from a more experimental perspective than was currently offered by traditional institutions. Based on the concept of a “college without walls,” SCI-Arc remains one of the few independent architecture schools in the world.

Visit us

Housed in the historic Santa Fe Freight Depot, SCI-Arc is a laboratory of architectural and design experimentation. During tours of the quarter-mile-long campus, visitors walk through vibrant studios and see students and faculty engaging in collaborative discussions, critiques, pin-ups, and reviews. We invite you to join us for a guided tour led by our Office of Admissions. To ensure a personalized experience, we keep our tour groups small, so please make a reservation in advance. If you prefer, you’re always welcome to explore our campus on your own with a self-guided tour.

Being part of the SCI-Arc community exposes you to so many different people, all coming from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. It also gives you the opportunity to meet a lot of individuals who are currently practicing in the field, allowing you to make important connections and build relationships in the professional world.