Architecture Program 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 US 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, a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational 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.

RISD’s Architecture department offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs

• BArch (150 credits; entering the department 2025 and after)
• BArch (156 credits; entering the department 2024 and before)
• MArch (pre-professional degree + 69 credits)
• MArch (non-accredited undergraduate degree + 111 credits)

The next accreditation visit for both programs will take place in 2031.

NAAB conditions and procedures

• 2020 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation
• 2020 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation

Accreditation reports and related documents

• NAAB BArch decision letter (2024)
• NAAB MArch decision letter (2024)
• Visiting Team Report
• Response to Visiting Team Report
• Architecture Program Report
• NAAB BArch Annual Report (2023)
• NAAB MArch Annual Report (2023)

Career development information

• RISD Careers
• ArtWorks (fine art and design opportunity board for RISD students and alumni)
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)
• Architect Registration Exam Pass Rates by School
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
• NCARB — Pass the ARE

Admissions and advising

• Admission forms and instructions
• BArch application requirements
• MArch application requirements
• Evaluation of non-accredited degrees
• Undergraduate aid and scholarships
• Graduate aid and scholarships
• Student diversity goals and admissions
• Undergraduate cost of attendance
• Graduate cost of attendance

School policies and statements

• Studio community and culture agreement
• Architecture Department Social Equity and Inclusion (SEI) Action Plan

RISD’s Architecture department accreditation process documents are also available to the public by request. Please email archdept@risd.edu or send a written request to:     

Rhode Island School of Design   
Architecture department   
20 Washington Place   
Providence, RI 02903   
USA