Architecture Program 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), is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture that are offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation. NAAB 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, 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 pre-professional degree in architecture for admission. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

North Dakota State University’s Architecture program offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

  • M.Arch. (pre-professional degree + 32 graduate credits)

Next accreditation visit: 2026

NAAB Conditions and Procedures

 

Career Development Information

 

Public Information

NDSU Architecture Program Report (APR) 2017
Visiting Team Report (VTR) 2018

 

ARE Pass Rates

The Architectural Registration Examination (ARE) "assesses a candidate's knowledge, skills and abilities to provide the various services required in the practice of architecture.”  It has been adopted for use by all U.S. Registration boards and the Canadian provincial architectural associations as the registration examination for all candidates seeking architectural licensing.  Annually, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards publishes pass rates for each section of the ARE by institution, and may be found at ARE Pass Rates.

 

Career Opportunities

Career guidance for students begins with first-year students who are introduced to the professions of Landscape Architecture and Architecture in their introductory lecture classes.  Upon admission to the department, student knowledge of the professions, career opportunities, and how to prepare for the professional world are expanded in a number of ways, including:

  • Interaction with our departmental Advisory Board of distinguished alumni, representing architecture firms from around the nation
  • Exposure to nationally and internationally known practitioners through our lecture series
  • Portfolio reviews by alumni and faculty
  • Regular posting of job opportunities through the student e-mail listserv
  • Support from the NDSU Career Center with resume and portfolio preparation
  • Career Center job listings and organization of annual Design Expo job fair.

Additional information on the professions of Architecture may be found at the following links:

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