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Accreditation

NAAB Accreditation

Architecture Accreditation

The University of Memphis offers the professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree based on the national "4+2" model which consists of the pre-professional Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture degree and the professional M.Arch degree.  The M.Arch degree is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).  The BFA in Architecture is a pre-professional degree and is therefore not accredited by the NAAB.  Please see below for important information on 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 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.

The University of Memphis, Department of Architecture, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:  M.Arch. (pre-professional degree + 60 graduate credits).  Initial Candidacy: 2008;  Continuation of Candidacy: 2010;  Initial Accreditation: 2012;  Continuing Accreditation: 2015;  Next accreditation visit: 2024.

In order to meet the education requirement set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), an applicant for an NCARB Certificate must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the NAAB; the degree must have been awarded not more than two years prior to initial accreditation. However, meeting the education requirement for the NCARB Certificate may not be equivalent to meeting the education requirement for registration in a specific jurisdiction. Please contact NCARB for more information.

Interior Architecture Accreditation

The University of Memphis offers the four-year professional Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Interior Architecture (formerly Interior Design).  The program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Interior Architecture is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503.

The CIDA-accredited degree 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 Fine Arts degree with a major in Interior Architecture granted by the University of Memphis 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.  The UofM Interior Architecture degree was initially accredited in 2002 and granted continuing accreditation in 2008 and 2015.  The next visit will be in 2023.

The practice of interior design varies greatly from state to state.  In Tennessee, interior design is regulated by a title act, not a practice act.  This means that the use of the title Interior Designer is not regulated but rather the title Registered Interior Designer may only be used by individuals with the appropriate qualifications set by the Tennessee Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners (A+E Board).  For more information, contact the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).  NOTE:  The BFA in Interior Architecture degree does not meet the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) educational standards for registration as an architect nor does it meet the educational standards of the A+E Board for registration as an architect in Tennessee.  The term "Interior Architect" is not recognized by the A+E Board and may not be used in Tennessee.