Architectural Accreditation

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.

Master's degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the four-year pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree. The pre-professional degree is useful for those wishing a foundation in the field of architecture as preparation either for continued education in a professional degree program or for employment options in related areas.

At the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, both Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees are accredited as professional degrees by NAAB and meet the educational requirements of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners for those who aspire to registration/licensure as architects in the state of Texas.





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