Purpose

The Architecture Department will use the portfolio for the purpose of program review, i.e., to assess student learning in general. The portfolio will not be used for individual assessment, i.e., you will not be
graded on your work. The portfolio will also not be used for the purpose of assigning you to a Fifth Year studio; that will require a separate application.

Format & Size

The format should be 8.5 x 11 inches or its metric equivalent.

Design work should be limited to twelve double-sided pages; there is no page limitation for written work. Pages should be bound and composed so that your work is clear and legible.

The portfolio should submitted in both paper and PDF forms. The PDF should be a single file of no more than 5 MB.

Content

The portfolio should include the following in this order:

  1. An index of work submitted with your name as the title.
  2. A one-page resume.
  3. A one-page reflective essay (300-400 words if double-spaced).
  4. One complete architectural project from a Fourth Year studio (Arch 451/452/453 or their off-campus equivalents).
  5. Other relevant design work as space allows.
  6. All written assignments from Arch 320 or Arch 420 or their off-campus equivalents. If you have not yet taken such a class, please submit written assignments from another senior-level course.

Due Date

The portfolio (hardcopy and disk) will be due in the Architecture Department by the end of Spring Quarter. The postmark deadline is June 13; the mailing address is:

Architecture Department
Cal Poly
One Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo CA 93407-0282

Content Details

Work Identification

Identify each piece by program (Cal Poly or off-campus), term, instructor, course name/number, and title (if appropriate).

Resume Content

The resume should include your current contact information, educational history, and work experience. It may also provide other information; please see the Resumes & Tools pages at the Career Services
website.

Reflective Essay

The reflective essay should consider your accomplishments over the past year. Given the skills you need to acquire as an architecture student:

Your narrative should consider the reasons for your greater or lesser degree of success in each case. Some of these may be internal (focus, motivation, aptitude); some may be external (family or financial problems, the effectiveness of a course or instructor). Your narrative should also suggest a path for future improvements, i.e., what you can do to improve your performance in Fifth Year.

What is a Complete Project?

A complete project should represent the design in as complete a form as possible; it should include a program statement, precedent studies, process drawings (diagrams and sketches), 2D representations of the site and building (plans, sections, and elevations), axonometric and/or perspective drawings, analog and/or digital models, as well as any other relevant material.

Example Portfolio

Katsunori Shigemi Portfolio (.pdf 1MB)

Need Help

Any member of the faculty should be able to help you. In addition, Professor Gary Dwyer will be leading a portfolio workshop at Cal Poly during Spring Quarter.