Academic Accelerator Program (AAP) is a balanced first-year program for international students with good English-language skills. It supplements immersive classes taught in English with just the right amount of support.

As a student in the Academic Accelerator, you’ll receive:

• The right amount of support for your academic and English-speaking needs
• A full year’s worth of college credits
• Access to courses exclusively for international students
• English-language help with words you need to know for your classes
• A mix of classes with international and U.S. students

The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies is an upper-level undergraduate major that uses architecture and related design practices as a lens through which to understand the history of ideas and cultural invention. Moreover, it exposes students to the synthetic environment of the design studio, providing an introductory experience that some students may wish to pursue later in graduate education. In addition to the understanding of contemporary architecture culture provided by the program’s theory and history courses, students will gain design experience in two introductory studio courses, and thus have greater appreciation for the work and synthetic problem-solving methods that comprises design.

The Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies program is designed to provide graduating students with everything they would need to prepare an application that would be favorably received by three year Master of Architecture (MArch) programs such as that offered by UIC. Graduates who do not choose to continue into a professional degree program may work in related architectural careers or apply for advanced degrees in landscape architecture, graphic or industrial design, urban design and planning, law, public policy, history/theory of architecture, or business.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum Level of Education Required: Grade 12 / High School
• Min GPA: 63.0% Convert grades
• English Proficiency Requirements:
  For direct admission, applicant must be from an English speaking country or meet either of the following English test scores:

  • Min TOEFL iBT: 68 (Min Listening: 14.0, Min Reading: 14.0, Min Speaking: 14.0, Min Writing: 14.0)

  • Min IELTS overall: 5.5 (Min Listening: 5.0, Min Reading: 5.0, Min Speaking: 5.0, Min Writing: 5.0)

  • Min Duolingo English Test Score: 90

  • Min PTE overall: 46 (Min Listening: 42, Min Reading: 42, Min Speaking: 42, Min Writing: 42)

  This program does NOT offer conditional admission

Other fees:

• Health Insurance Fee: $1,140 per year
• Student Fees: $2,038 per year
• Academic Facilities Maintenance Fund Assessment Fee: $452 per year
• Library and Information Technology Assessment Fee: $294 per year