NAAB 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.

Tulane University's School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

Bachelor's of Architecture: Prerequisite is high school diploma. 117 architectural credits + 46 non-architectural credits required to graduate.

Master's of Architecture (3.5 Year): Prerequisite is a bachelor's degree in any area of study. 111 credits required to graduate.

Master's of Architecture (2 Year, Advanced Standing): Prerequisite is substantial architectural education, including those with a pre-professional degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Architecture or a Bachelor of Environmental Design, or international students with a terminal architecture degree in their respective country who wish to work towards licensure in the US and Canada. 64-65 credits required to graduate. (curriculum may vary depending on level of standing granted by the program director.)

The NAAB grants candidacy status to new programs that have developed viable plans for achieving initial accreditation. Candidacy status indicates that a program expects to achieve initial accreditation within six years of achieving candidacy, if its plan is properly implemented. 

In order to meet the education requirement, set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 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.” 

Tulane University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment was granted candidacy status for the following professional degree programs in architecture: 

Bachelor's of Architecture: Prerequisite is high school diploma. 117 architectural credits + 46 non-architectural credits required to graduate.

Year Candidacy Awarded: 1947

Latest Accreditation Visit: 2023

Next Visit: Continuation of Candidacy, 2031

Master's of Architecture (3.5 Year): Prerequisite is a bachelor's degree in any area of study. 111 credits required to graduate.

Year Candidacy Awarded: 1994

Latest Accreditation Visit: 2023

Next Visit: Continuation of Candidacy, 2031

Master's of Architecture (2 Year, Advanced Standing): Prerequisite is substantial architectural education, including those with a pre-professional degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Architecture or a Bachelor of Environmental Design, or international students with a terminal architecture degree in their respective country who wish to work towards licensure in the US and Canada. 64-65 credits required to graduate. (curriculum may vary depending on level of standing granted by the program director.)

Year Candidacy Awarded: 1994

Latest Accreditation Visit: 2023

Next Visit: Continuation of Candidacy, 2031

Below are documents relating to Tulane School of Architecture's NAAB Accreditation.

NAAB Decision Letters, 2024 & 2025

2024 Plan to Correct

NAAB Visiting Team Report 2023

2023 Architecture Program Report

2014 NAAB Accreditation Report

Opportunity and Representation

"Opportunity" reflects our commitment to a community that is open, accessible and where everyone is supported and can thrive. Representation is central to all fields at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, and here the term also refers to our commitment to make space for and give voice to every member of our community. Therefore, our Opportunity and Representation initiatives similarly focus on developing frameworks and pathways to support the future of our school as accessible for all. To learn more about Opportunity and Representation at Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) asks that accredited programs make the following information available to the public.

2020 Conditions and Procedures

On January 31, 2020, the NAAB Board of Directors approved the 2020 Conditions for Accreditation and Procedures for Accreditation, for publication on February 10, 2020. (www.naab.org/accreditation/accreditation-criteria). Programs hosting visits in 2021 have the option of selecting the 2014 Conditions and 2015 Procedures or the 2020 Conditions and Procedures. Programs hosting a site visit in 2022 and beyond will be required to use the 2020 Conditions and Procedures. As part of the transition, beginning January 1, 2022, programs are required to utilize the NAAB 2020 Conditions and Procedures for Accreditation for all accreditation purposes, except in the case of Interim Progress Reports (IPR). Programs whose previous term of accreditation requires IPR(s) will continue to submit IPRs to address identified deficiencies.

NAAB Conditions and Procedures for Accreditation

Decision Letters

Annual Reports

Architectural Registration Examination Pass Rates

Tulane School of Architecture is above the national average for ARE pass rates in every area for the past five years.

Tulane is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Legally protected demographic classifications such as race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, etc. are not relied upon as an eligibility or participation criteria for employment or educational programs or activities.