Bachelor of Science / Master of Architecture
Accreditation

The NAAB, which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

The curriculum of an NAAB-accredited degree program includes professional studies, general studies, and electives. To gain and retain accreditation of its degree program, each institution must both develop a program specific to its mission and also educate students to be knowledgeable and capable of producing work that can be measured by, and satisfy, specific performance criteria.

Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, comprise an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The crtieria for accreditation is organized into fundamental skills and knowledge, technical skills and knowledge, and practice and societal roles. For each criterion within these categories, students are required to demonstrate awareness, understanding or ability as specified in the accreditation guidelines.

Formal assessment of learning outcomes typically occurs during the visit of the accreditation team composed of outside educators, professionals from the field and a student, all appointed by the accreditation agency in consultation with the program.

Licensing of Architects
In general, all states require licenses or certificates for the practice of architecture. Laws governing such licensing vary from state to state. In Ohio an architect may practice professionally upon satisfactorily completing a professional examination administered by the Ohio State Board of Examiners of Architects.

Since most US state registration boards require any applicant for licensure to have graduated from a NAAB-accredited program, obtaining such a degree is an essential aspect of preparing for the professional practice of architecture. While graduation from a NAAB-accredited program does not assure registration, the accrediting process is intended to verify that each accredited program substantially meets those standards that, as a whole, comprise an appropriate education for an architect.