Accreditation

Our programs are fully accredited by the following organizations:

  • The interior architecture program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503. (CIDA). The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture granted by University of Tennessee, Knoxville meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements. Additionally, the School of Interior Architecture is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
  • The degrees in our Landscape Architecture school are accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB).
  • The programs housed in the School of Architecture are fully accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

In 2011, the School of Interior Architecture earned a six-year accreditation from CIDA. Reaccreditation is scheduled for spring 2018. Additionally, the school earned a nine-year accreditation from NASAD. Reaccreditation is scheduled for fall 2020.

In 2012, the School of Landscape Architecture earned a six-year accreditation from LAAB. Reaccreditation is scheduled for spring 2018.

In 2014, the School of Architecture earned eight-year accreditations for both the undergraduate and graduate programs from NAAB. Reaccreditation is scheduled for fall 2022.

 

We're building architects.

Our graduates excel at the ARE, the Architect Registration Examination, a set of tests offered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards that graduates must pass to call themselves “architects.” In fact, our graduates outscore those from any other school in the Southeastern Conference year after year, and since 2010, 88% of tests taken by UT grads have reached scores at or above the national average. Check out our annual report to learn how our graduates excel at the ARE.

 

Annual Report

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)

Statement

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 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, 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 require a preprofessional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, School of Architecture in the College of Architecture and Design offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

  • B.Arch. (168 undergraduate credits)
  • M.Arch. (pre-professional degree + 60 graduate credits)
  • M.Arch. (non-pre-professional degree + 102 credits)

Next accreditation visit for all programs: 2022

 

Conditions

In order to assist students, parents and others as they seek to develop an understanding of the body of knowledge and skills that constitute a professional education in architecture, the following document has been made available to the public:

 

Career Development Information

To develop an understanding of the body of knowledge and skills that constitute a professional education in architecture, the following organizations and documents are shared to provide insights:

 

Public Access Materials

In order to promote transparency in the process of accreditation in architecture education, the following documents are available for public review:

 

Architect Registration Examination Pass Rates

Annually, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards publishes pass rates for each section of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) by institution. This information is considered to be useful to parents and prospective students as part of their planning for higher or post-secondary education. The most current information about graduates of programs from the School of Architecture have been made available at the NCARB website.

 

Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) Public Information Policy

LAAB accredited programs are required to provide reliable information to the public. Programs must report on accreditation status and its performance. This information is to help potential students make informed application decisions. Information shall appear in easily accessible locations on program websites. To review this information click on the following link: UTK PUBLIC INFO POLICY SHEET.

Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

As a requirement of the SACSCOC accreditation, please view our Graduate Handbook here.