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 two-year term of continuing accreditation, 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.

Montana State University School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

Master of Architecture (pre-professional degree [126 credits] + 42 graduate credits)

The next scheduled NAAB-accreditation visit for Montana State University’s Master of Architecture degree program will take place in 2023.

NAAB Conditions for Accreditation

During MSU's last NAAB site visit in 2014, the 2009 Conditions for Accreditation outlined the requirements for continued accreditation at that point in time. During the 2014 site visit, the 2012 Procedures for Accreditation provided the process used for that site visit and review.

For MSU's upcoming NAAB site visit in 2023, the 2020 Conditions for Accreditation outline the requirements for continued NAAB accreditation of our professional proram. In addition, NAAB provides the 2020 Procedures for Accreditation to explain the review process by which schools receive and maintain their professional accreditation and the review process to be used during the site visit.

2013 Architecture Program Report

Read the 2013 Architecture Program Report 

2014 Visiting Team Report

Read the 2014 NAAB Visiting Team Report 

 

 

 

*Delete Later -- Accreditation Checklist

6.4 Public Access to Accreditation Reports and Related Documents

To promote transparency in the process of accreditation in architecture education, the program must make the following documents available to all students, faculty, and the public, via the program's website: 

a) All Interim Progress Reports and narratives of Program Annual Reports submitted since the last team visit

b) All NAAB responses to any Plan to Correct and any NAAB responses to the Program Annual Reports since the last team visit

c) The most recent decision letter from NAAB

d) The Architecture Program Report submitted for the last visit

e) The final edition of the most recent Visiting Team Report, including attachments and addenda

f) The program's optional response to the Visiting Team Report

g) Plan to Correct (if applicable)

h) NCARB ARE pass rates

i) Statements and/or policies on learning and teaching culture

j) Statements and/or policies on diversity, equity and inclusion

6.5 Admissions and Advising

The program must publicly document all policies and procedures that govern the evaluation of applicants for admission to the accredited program. These procedures must include first-time, first-year students as well as transfers from within and outside the institution. This documentation must include the following: 

a) Application form and instructions

b) Admissions requirements; admissions-decisions procedures, including policies and processes for evaluation of transcripts and portfolios (when required); and decisions regarding remediation and advanced standing

c) Forms and a description of the process for evaluating the content of a non-accredited degrees

d) Requirements and forms for applying for financial aid and scholarships

e) Explanation of how student diversity goals affect admission procedures

6.6 Student Financial Information 

6.6.1 The program must demonstrate that students have access to current resources and advice for making decisions about financial aid

6.6.2 The program must demonstrate that students have access to an initial estimate for all tuition, fees, books, general supplies, and specialized materials that may be required during the full course of study for completing the NAAB-accredited degree program.