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 (156 credits)
• MArch (pre-professional degree + 69 credits)
• MArch (non-accredited undergraduate degree + 111 credits)

The next accreditation visit for both programs will take place in 2023.

NAAB conditions and procedures

• 2020 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation
• 2009 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation (In effect at the time of the last visit)
• 2020 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation
• 2012 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation (Amended) (In effect at the time of the last visit)

Reports and Letters

• 2019 Interim Progress Report + Approval Letter
• 2016 Interim Progress Report
• 2014 Architecture Program Report
• 2014 Visiting Team Report + Approval Letter

Career development information

• RISD Careers
• RISD Careers architecture internship/job boards and directories/organizations
• RISD Careers internship and job tips
• ArtWorks (fine art and design opportunity board for RISD students and alumni)
• Architecture Department SEI Action Plan
• The Emerging Professional's Companion
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)
• American Institute of Architects (AIA-RI)
• American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
• AIAS, Toward an Evolution of Studio Culture
• Architect Registration Exam Pass Rates by School
• Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)

Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) Pass Rates

• Architect Registration Exam Pass Rates by School
• NCARB — Pass the ARE

Statements and/or policies on learning and teaching culture

• Studio community and culture agreement

Statements and/or policies on diversity, equity and inclusion

• 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