Graduate Admissions

February 1

Final deadline for the Master of Architecture programs

Priority deadline for all other master’s programs:

• MS in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship
• MS in Creative Practice Leadership
• MFA/MS in Experience Design
• MS in Game Science and Design
• MFA/MS in Information Design and Visualization
• MA in Journalism
• MS in Media Advocacy
• MDes for Sustainable Urban Environments

Applicants who submit completed applications by February 1 will receive priority consideration for scholarships and other funding.

May 1

Final deadline for international applicants

August 1

Final deadline for master’s programs (domestic applicants)

August 15

Final deadline for certificate programs and Special Student applicants (domestic applicants)

Spring admission is available for the following programs:

• Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration
• Graduate Certificate in Cultural Entrepreneurship
• Graduate Certificate in Experience Design
• Graduate Certificate in Game Analytics
• Graduate Certificate in Information Design and Visualization
• MS in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship
• MA in Journalism

Please contact the program coordinator  for details regarding the modified course sequence for students enrolling in the spring.

October 1

Final deadline for international applicants

November 1

Final deadline for master’s programs (domestic applicants)

November 15

Final deadline for certificate programs and Special Student applicants (domestic applicants)

Submit your application form and non-refundable $75 application fee through the online portal.

Submit a current resume detailing your academic credentials, professional/volunteer experience, skills, and achievements.

Submit a personal essay detailing your interest in the CAMD graduate program. Please use your statement as an opportunity to explain your goals and how the program will help you achieve them. Personal statements are generally 500–1000 words.

Submit transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools you have attended.

To be eligible for graduate study, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited international institution. Students applying during completion of their bachelor’s degree program must submit transcripts of all undergraduate work to date. Transcripts can be uploaded to the online portal and must include both the name of the applicant and the name of the institution. Matriculating students must submit official transcripts and degree confirmations by September 9.

Please review the International Applicants section below for information about international degree equivalency and required documents.

Please submit three letters of recommendation. Letters can be academic or professional and should be written by people who know you well and can speak to your potential for graduate study in your chosen field. Letters can be submitted directly by your references through the online portal. Your references will receive instructions for uploading their letters to the portal once you enter their contact information in the system. You will need to list an email address for each reference.

Some CAMD graduate programs require the submission of additional application materials, such as a portfolio of relevant work. International graduate applicants must submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS exam scores). Please see the sections below for additional application requirements.

The admission committee may also wish to conduct an interview as part of the review process. If so, applicants will be contacted by the program coordinator.

We do not accept recommendations and other documents from Interfolio.

Current Northeastern BS in Architecture Seniors:
Submit your completed Internal Application by February 1*.
*Only students transitioning directly from the BS program into the M.Arch program may apply in this manner.

Northeastern BS in Architecture Alumni:
Students who have taken time off after graduating from the BS program must submit all of the application materials listed above. Please note that your personal statement should not exceed one page and that two of your three reference letters should be academic.

Additionally, students who graduated prior to 2015 are required to provide work samples that demonstrate proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD and SketchUp. PDFs of one student project and one professional project should be sent to [email protected].

External Candidates:
Portfolio required  for all applicants (optional for applicants to the MArch 3-YR program)

Applicants to the MArch 3YR program must have taken one semester of college-level physics and one semester of college-level calculus.  Students who enter into the program without physics and calculus have one year from the date of matriculation to complete and pass these courses, which can be taken outside Northeastern. (failure to do so may impede progress in the program)

Portfolio Requirements

The portfolio should be one PDF file and must include the following (average page limit 25-35 pp):

• A cover page with your name, most recent degree (and any architectural degrees if they pre-date your terminal degree), and the college/university where the degree(s) was received.
• A one-page resume summary that includes a list of relevant software skills (for example: SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe CS, etc.) and a list of your past architecture design studio courses that includes year, level, credit hours and subject focus (for example: introductory design or urban housing).
• Academic projects in reverse chronological order. Include course name and a brief synopsis of the design problem.
• Optional: Any visual work/models from tectonics, structures, environmental systems, etc.
• Optional: Professional projects. They should be in a separate section of the portfolio and list project name, firm, a synopsis of your role, and a synopsis of the project brief.
• Optional: Any non-architectural creative work (not required), such as painting, drawing, photography, etc. should be included in the last section of the portfolio. Labels for the work should follow the same format as architectural design work.

Portfolios must be submitted via SlideRoom, an online portfolio submission service. The submission fee is $6.00 (USD).  Technical guidelines are available at SlideRoom.

Course Syllabi (Optional)

• Syllabi for technology courses (such as Environmental Systems, Structural Systems, Architectonics or equivalent). Students may be required submit evidence of course equivalencies prior to matriculation for course placement.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the graduate programs in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship are required to submit all application documents detailed above. Two letters of recommendation are required for the MS program and only one letter of recommendation is required for the certificate programs.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the MS in Creative Practice Leadership program are required to submit the general application documents detailed above.

The MS in Creative Practice Leadership program welcomes applications from motivated individuals whose previous education and other accomplishments show potential for leadership and creative problem solving. Candidates come from diverse fields, including music, theatre, education, communication studies, business, media studies, and other liberal arts programs.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

In addition to the general requirements, applicants to the MFA and MS in Experience Design programs must submit a portfolio via SlideRoom, an online portfolio submission service. The submission fee is $12.00 (USD).

The application portfolio should consist of recent original work that demonstrates design or other relevant project-based experience. Documents can be a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file. Your portfolio should, if possible, include work that is focused primarily in the area in which you will focus your graduate study; however, related work is acceptable. Portfolios can include, but are not limited to:

• Graphic, product or spatial design projects
• Ethnographic research projects
• Data visualizations, infographics, maps
• Concept sketches and images
• Strategy blueprints and systems diagrams
• Interactive design projects, storytelling projects and/or analytical projects

MFA and MS applicants: minimum of 10 documents required

Provide authorship information, year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project.

In addition to the general requirements, applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Experience Design are strongly encouraged to submit 1 – 3 samples of previous work relevant in the context of experience design as detailed above.  Work samples can be submitted via SlideRoom.

Please note that applicants to the graduate certificate program must only provide one letter of recommendation, not three.

Additionally, the GRE is NOT required for admission to the graduate programs in Experience Design.

Applicants to the Game Analytics Certificate program are required to submit all application documents detailed above.

The following item is optional:

• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test scores (our institution code for score reporting purposes is 3682).

Additionally, you are encouraged to include a description of any experience you have in the games field in your personal statement.

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants to the MS in Game Science and Design program are encouraged to submit a portfolio of their work via SlideRoom, an online portfolio submission service. The submission fee is $6.00 (USD).

The application portfolio should consist of 1-5 pieces of recent original work that demonstrate design or other relevant project-based experience. Documents can include video, a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file. Your portfolio should ideally include work that is focused on games; however, related work is acceptable. Portfolios can include, but are not limited to:

• Gameplay videos with a short description
• Graphic, product or spatial design projects
• Concept sketches and images
• Strategy blueprints and systems diagrams
• Interactive design projects, storytelling projects and/or analytical projects
• Coding/web design
• Creative work from other disciplines (photography, drawing, and other art forms)

Provide authorship information, year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project.

The following item is optional:

• Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test scores (our institution code for score reporting purposes is 3682).

Candidates for the MS in Game Science and Design program come from various fields including, but not limited to, Computer Science, Information Science, Informatics, Engineering, Human Computer Interaction, Psychology, Social Science, Interaction Design, and Game Design.

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants to the MFA and MS in Information Design and Data Visualization program must submit  portfolio materials/work samples via SlideRoom, an online portfolio submission service. The submission fee is $12.00 (USD). Technical guidelines are available at SlideRoom.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA):  Minimum of 10 documents required

The application portfolio should consist of recent original work that demonstrates design or other relevant project-based experience.

Master of Science (MS):  Minimum of 3 documents required

Applicants are required to submit a minimum of three work samples to document their previous experience . These work samples should match the background and expertise the applicant brings to the program.

Graduate Certificate:  1 – 3 documents, optional

Portfolios/work samples typically include:

• Visualization work (infographics, maps, diagrams or charts)
• Screenshots from websites or interactive applications
• Data analyses
• Coding or software development documentation
• Design projects (idea sketches, prototypes or results)
• Professional projects
• Creative work from other disciplines (Art, Graphic Design, Architecture, Journalism, Photography or Film)
• Research projects (analytical: quantitative or qualitative; ethnographic)
• State of the art or position papers

Provide authorship information, year, title and other relevant information (such as course name and instructor) for each project. Documents can be a single-page image/pdf file or a multi-page pdf file.

Please note that applicants to the graduate certificate program must only provide one letter of recommendation, not three.

Additionally, the GRE is NOT required for admission to the graduate programs in Information Design and Visualization.

Applicants to the MA in Journalism program are required to submit the general application documents detailed above. On the application form, please indicate whether you are applying for the Media Innovation or Professional Journalism track.

Applications to Northeastern’s School of Journalism are judged on a number of factors. Although an applicant’s academic history is important, the School is also looking for evidence of commitment to journalism. Previous professional experience will be taken into consideration, as well as interesting life experiences and perspectives. In short, we want our students to be curious, engaged and eager to enter our profession with a sense of purpose.

An informative, smartly written, well-rounded, and interesting personal statement is critical to your application. It is your first writing sample. It should speak to who you are, what you plan to study and why you want to attend our program. It should be one to two pages in length, single-spaced.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

Applicants to the MS in Media Advocacy program are required to submit the general application documents detailed above.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

In addition to the general requirements, applicants to the MDes for Sustainable Urban Environments one year track must also submit a portfolio (a portfolio is not required for applicants to the two year track).

Portfolios must be submitted via SlideRoom, an online portfolio submission service. The fee for this service is $6.00 (USD) and technical guidelines are available at Slideroom.

Portfolios should be 8 – 12 pages in length and include examples of previous studio projects and professional design or planning work, if available.  Additionally, one or two examples of other types of creative work can be included such as photography, drawing, graphic and web design, horticultural design and other art forms. Include labels for each project indicating project title, date, and if applicable, the medium or software used to create it.

Please note that the GRE is NOT required for admission.

To be considered for admission to a CAMD graduate program, international applicants must show proof of English proficiency. This requirement can be met by submitting satisfactory results on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

Please note that TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years. Scores must be valid at the time your application is received. Official score reports must be sent to Northeastern University directly from the testing agency.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

We expect a minimum score of 100 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (IBT), 250 on the Computer-Based TOEFL (CBT), or 600 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT). You should plan to take the exam well in advance of our application deadline as it may take up to six weeks for your official score report to be sent to CAMD (depending on your test center location and test format).

Our institution code for score reporting purposes is 3682.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

We expect a minimum overall band score of 7.0 on the IELTS.

TOEFL/IELTS Exemption

International applicants can waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement if they submit documentation that they have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a college or university in which English is the only language of instruction.

Applicants who have received or will be receiving a degree from an institution outside the United States are required to submit all transcripts, as well as certified English translations, with their application. Accepted students who plan to enroll at CAMD are further required to submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation. Please see details below:

Online Application

Please upload copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts and diplomas (if available), as well as certified English translations of all documents, to the online portal.

Matriculating Students

If you are accepted and plan to enroll in a CAMD graduate program, you must submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation indicating conferral of an undergraduate degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. This evaluation is more than an English translation; it is a document provided by an accredited evaluation agency that shows all grades, course titles, credit hours, United States degree equivalency, grade point average (GPA), and date of degree conferral.

A copy of your final transcript/mark sheets must accompany your evaluation. If your evaluation agency does not include a copy of your transcript with their report, please send a copy to our office at:

CAMD Graduate Studies
Attn: Cathy Bright, Graduate Enrollment Manager
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Ave.
100 Meserve Hall
Boston MA 02115

A detailed transcript evaluation must be submitted by September 9. 

Please request an official course-by-course transcript evaluation for all international institutions where a degree was conferred from one of the following agencies:

Accepted international applicants planning to enroll at CAMD must submit a completed I-20 Request Form at least 16 weeks prior to the start of classes. Students cannot receive visa application forms, required to register for courses, unless they file the e-form certifying that they have enough financial support to cover all educational and living expenses.

International applicants already in the United States must also submit a copy of their current SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 form, current visa, I-94 card (front and back), identity page of a valid foreign passport, and an Office of Global Services Transfer-In Form. If you do not require an I-20 or DS-2019, please complete the Data Form.