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College of Design

Accreditation

The NC State College of Design is a part of North Carolina State University, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Learn more about NC State University’s accreditation.

The School of Architecture

Student design/build project

The School of Architecture at NC State is accredited by the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB). The Master of Architecture program has been accredited since 1972/73 and will be visited again in 2026. The Bachelor of Architecture degree has currently been accredited since 1985 and will be visited again in 2026. The program has also historically been accredited from 1950/51 through 1976/77. Learn more about the NC State School of Architecture’s accreditation.

School of Architecture Studio Culture Statement

NAAB Reports

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.

Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

NC State University, College of Design, School of Architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:

  • Bachelor of Architecture [B.Arch.] (preprofessional degree + 30 credits)
  • Master of Architecture, Track 1 [M.Arch.] (preprofessional degree + 48 graduate credits)
  • Master of Architecture, Track 3 [M.Arch.] (non-preprofessional degree + 96 credits)
  • Architecture Registration Exam (ARE) Pass Rates by School

Additional Resources:

Graphic Design and Industrial Design

industrial design student work

Graphic Design

The Bachelor of Graphic & Experience Design and Master of Graphic & Experience Design programs are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), in affiliation with the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).

NASAD is the only accrediting agency covering the whole field of art and design recognized by the US Department of Education. The organization is composed of schools and individuals representing the highest traditions and aims in the education of artists and designers. These members have proven — by the fact of their membership and activity in the organization — their deep interest in fostering high standards for art and design education. Through its annual meetings, NASAD provides a national forum for discussion of the broadest considerations involving the education of the artist and designer. The AIGA is the professional association representing more than 17,000 graphic design professionals in the United States. As an affiliate member of NASAD, AIGA participates in the definition of standards and publishing of briefing papers on graphic design education.

Learn more about the Graphic & Experience Design program’s accreditation

Industrial Design

The Master of Industrial Design and Bachelor of Industrial Design degrees at NC State are accredited by National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines.

Learn more about the Industrial Design program’s accreditation

Landscape Architecture

The Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) is a specialized agency that accredits educational programs leading to first professional degrees at the bachelor’s or master’s level in landscape architecture in the United States and its territories.

The College of Design at NC State University offers a first professional accredited degree in landscape architecture, the Master of Landscape Architecture. The Master in Landscape Architecture Track II and III programs at NC State are accredited by the LAAB. The department has had an LAAB accredited program since 1972. The previous review was in Spring 2016, and the next accreditation review is scheduled for Spring 2022.

  • The Fall 2015-Spring 2021 Self Evaluation Report can be viewed here.

As part of the LAAB requirements, NCSU’s MLA program maintains basic program metrics and makes them available to the public (see here).