Undergraduate Admissions

As one of the most comprehensive schools of art and design in the United States, DAAP is a dynamic and exciting environment in which to study. Students work closely with engaged faculty members and collaborate with professionals and other students involved in a variety of disciplines. The cooperative education (co-op) program, required in many of our disciplines, offers students paid, professional-level, real-world experience that supplements a rigorous educational curriculum.

Download this helpful infographic on our undergraduate programs that includes the types of classes taken, what to expect in terms of a career, and an overview of co-ops. 

Explore the DAAP website to learn more about our bachelors, certificate, and minor undergraduate programs.

• Communication Design
• Fashion Design
• Industrial Design*
• Architecture
• Interior Design
• Art History
• Fine Arts
• Games and Animation
• Horticulture
• Urban Planning
• Urban Studies

* The curriculum in these disciplines are designated STEM programs

Download our DAAP Overview Brochure that highlights college facts, distinct benefits to attending DAAP, plus how to apply.

Visit us! Our “College Close-Up” visits are designed to answer your questions about DAAP. Close-Ups are held in conjunction with the university’s Preview UC and available dates can be found on the Admissions website. The College Close-Up includes an information session and tour of our facilities. Register at admissions.uc.edu/visit.

Admission guidelines for DAAP vary by program, but all applicants are considered holistically based on the relative strength of their application materials, including GPA, test scores, class rank, course work, involvement in extracurricular activities, essay, personal statement, letter(s) of recommendation, and/or portfolio.

It is not possible to predict or guarantee what credentials a student will need to be admitted, because the credentials and size of the applicant pool seeking admission vary each year. Our studio-based, co-op programs have a limited number of spaces available, so admission is competitive. Please visit the Admissions website for more information on how to apply, checklists, and timelines.

Architecture and Interior Design require four years of math (including pre-calculus or calculus) and one year of physics. Students lacking these requirements may be offered conditional admission.

Students who include Architecture, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Industrial Design, or Interior Design among their program options on their admission application and apply by the December 1 priority deadline will be invited to submit a portfolio for admission consideration. This is an optional portfolio, but students are encouraged to submit one if they think it will strengthen their application.

Please note: Within 24-48 hours of submitting the Common App, students who applied to one of the above majors will receive an automated, follow-up email from DAAP. This email will include instructions on how to submit the optional portfolio through the University of Cincinnati Admissions Portal, not the Common App. The optional portfolio is due by December 3 at 11:59PM ET. If you do not receive the email within 24-48 hours, please email us at daap-admissions@uc.edu.

• Include 12-20 pieces of work from the last two years.
• Include examples of architectural work, design (e.g. clothing, interior spaces, logos, posters, websites), drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, 3-D renderings, work in other media, and/or things you have sewn, built, or invented.
• Include some samples of drawing from observation (instead of from imagination or reproduced from photographs).
• Emphasize your artistic and design strengths.
• May also represent your extracurricular involvement and interests.
• Include the title, medium, date completed, and a brief description that addresses each work’s concept and/or inspiration.
• Consolidate your work into one file if possible. For example, submit multiple pages in one PDF file rather than 12-20 individual PDF files.

• High school students - December 1 for the following academic year
• Transfer students - March 1 for the following academic year

Late applications will be reviewed on a space available basis.