Accreditation: Penn State Architecture Programs
NAAB Statements
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, 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 Penn State Department of Architecture offers the following two NAAB-accredited degree programs:
B.Arch. (162 undergraduate credits)
Next accreditation visit for B.Arch. program: 2022
M.Arch. (preprofessional degree + 97 graduate credits)
Next accreditation visit for M.Arch. program: 2027
Resources + Links
Organizations & Information
- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) website
- The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) website
- Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) website
- ARE Pass Rates
- AIAS: “Studio Culture: Stories and Interpretations”
- AIA: Center for Emerging Professional
- The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) website
Accreditation Documentation
- NAAB Conditions for Accreditation
- NAAB Conditions for Accreditation in effect at the time of the last visit
- NAAB Procedures for Accreditation
- NAAB Procedures for Accreditation in effect at the time of the last visit
- M.Arch – Visiting Team Report (April 2019)
- M.Arch – Accreditation Letter from NAAB (2019)
- M.Arch – Architecture Program Report (2016)
- B.Arch – Accreditation Letter from NAAB (2014)
- B.Arch – Visiting Team Report (2014)
- B.Arch – Architecture Program Report (2013)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2020-21)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2019-20)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2018-19)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2017-18)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2015-16)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2014-15)
- Annual Report, Statistical (2013-24)
- Stuckeman School Governance (Adopted Feb. 2017; Revised Dec. 2019)
ARE Pass Rates Above National Average
100%
Penn State ARE 5.0 pass rates are above national average in all test divisions.
AXP
Architectural Experience Program
The Architectural Experience Program (AXP) is a profession-wide program that guides the training and development of intern architects. Every intern architect must complete 3,740 hours in a specified range of professional activities in addition to passing the Architectural Registration Examination prior to becoming an architect.
Completion of the AXP typically takes three to five years. Students can establish an AXP file with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). All students can start earning credit upon enrollment in an accredited professional degree architectural program. In some cases, students establishing eligibility with the NCARB may be able to earn AXP credit prior to enrollment in a professional degree program. So get started as soon as you can!
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
Follow the links below to get an overview of the NCARB AXP program and process, including establishing your Record File and get started with AXP:
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni Spotlight
Marilia Rodrigues
B.Arch. in Architecture 2002Marilia Rodrigues is a principal at KieranTimberlake, an internationally recognized architecture firm noted for its commitment to research, innovation, and invention. She brings multiple technologies, voices, and talents together to achieve award-winning designs.
