Accreditation
Baylor University's Department of Human Sciences and Design within Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences has submitted an eligibility application in pursuit of NAAB accreditation for the Master of Architecture program, as required by the 2020 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation.
In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards.
Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
As the program progresses, students will receive regular updates regarding significant NAAB milestones and any changes to the anticipated accreditation timeline. Particular attention will be given to milestones that could affect whether students’ degrees fall within the applicable timeframe for recognition following initial accreditation. Students will be advised clearly about the potential implications for NCARB certification and jurisdiction-specific licensure requirements.
If the program falls behind its anticipated candidacy or initial-accreditation timeline, the program will evaluate the implications for each affected cohort and develop appropriate academic and advising support. Students will receive individualized guidance regarding available options for continuing their education and pursuing architectural licensure.
If the program fails to receive accreditation despite the aforementioned efforts, the program will reorient student advising towards alternative pathways for architectural licensure, such as the NCARB Education Alternative pathways for those holding a non-accredited degree. The program will also target enrollment and advising efforts towards states that allow candidates to sit for the ARE via documented professional experience or a mix of non-accredited education with extra AXP experience.