Master of Architecture: Accreditation Information

In the United States, most state 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 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.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

NAAB grants candidacy status to new programs that have developed viable plans for achieving initial accreditation. Candidacy status indicates that a program should be accredited within six years of achieving candidacy, if its plan is properly implemented.

SAIC's AIADO department was formally granted a three-year term of initial accreditation for its professional Master of Architecture program. The accreditation term is effective January 1, 2011.

The four tracks of the accredited MArch program are:

The MArch program is scheduled for its next accreditation visit in 2014.

National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Certificate

In order to meet the education requirement set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), an applicant for an NCARB Certificate must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by NAAB, and the degree must have been awarded not more than two years prior to initial accreditation.

However, meeting the education requirement for the NCARB Certificate may not be equivalent to meeting the education requirement for registration in a specific jurisdiction. Please contact NCARB for more information.

Architecture registration exam pass rates

The Master of Architecture and Master of Architecture with an Emphasis in Interior Architecture programs at the SAIC began in the 2006/2007 academic year. Since then three classes have graduated—2009, 2010, and 2011. Typically students exiting MArch programs require two to three years to accrue the requisite Intern Development Program credits to sit for the Architecture Registration Exam. Consequently no SAIC MArch graduates have taken the A.R.E, and no pass rate data is available. The AIADO department enthusiastically supports professional licensure in architecture and will publish pass rates in the spring of 2012 as MArch graduates begin taking the exam.

Planning a career in Architecture or Interior Architecture

In order to develop an understanding of the larger context for architecture education and the career pathways available to graduates of accredited degree programs, please consider the following resources:

Current accreditation information:

In order to develop an understanding of the body of knowledge and skills that constitute a professional education in architecture, please consider the following resources:

In order to promote transparency in the process of accreditation for the Master of Architecture Program at the SAIC, please review the following documents: