Accreditation

Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board

Professional registration boards in the United States require a degree from an accredited landscape architecture program as a prerequisite for licensure. University of Idaho’s Master of Landscape Architecture degree has been accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB).

Our environmental design bachelor's degree is not accredited but provides advanced standing in the MLA, enabling graduates to complete the MLA in an additional 2 years. BSED graduates can further accelerate their path through the MLA by participating in the summer study abroad program in Italy, which provides a full semester of graduate study.

A landscape architecture degree has been offered by the University of Idaho for over 40 years. Graduates of this program practice worldwide and have made exceptional contributions to the profession of landscape architecture and allied design fields.

CIDA and NASAD Accreditation

The mission of the Interior Architecture and Design Program is to serve as Idaho’s only public, accredited professional Interior Architecture and Design Program, which leads to the Bachelor of Interior Architecture and Design degree, accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

See CIDA accreditation disclosure statement.

The CIDA-accredited 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 Interior Architecture and Design granted by the University of Idaho meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (CIDQ Exam). For more information about CIDQ Exam eligibility, visit https://www.cidq.org/for-exam-candidates/about-the-exams/.

NASAD Accreditation

The art and design program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the U.S. accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines.

The virtual technology and design program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD is the U.S. accrediting agency for art and design and related disciplines.

Accreditation by NASAD ensures that our programs are of high academic quality and integrity, and that we meet the recommended guidelines and professional standards in art and design education across the nation. These standards include small class size, high-quality instruction, and rigorous curricular requirements.

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 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.

University of Idaho, College of Art & Architecture, the Architecture Department offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

• M. Arch seamless path (123 credits of B.S. Arch program + 45 graduate credits)
• M. Arch 3+ path (B.S. or B.A. degree + 96 credits)

6.4 Public Access to Accreditation Reports and Related Documents
To promote transparency in the process of accreditation in architecture education, the program must make the following documents available to all students, faculty and the public, via the program’s website:

Next accreditation visit: 2032

• 2016 Decision Letter
• 2016 Visiting Team Report
• 2014 Conditions for Accreditation
• 2015 Procedures for Accreditation
• 2016 APR
• 2018 NAAB Interim Progress Report
• 2020 Conditions for Accreditation
• 2020 Procedures for Accreditation
• 2021 NAAB Interim Progress Report
• 2024 Decision Letter
• 2024 Visiting Team Report
• 2024 University of Idaho Response to VTR
• 2024 Special Report Decision Letter
• 2023 APR
• ARE Pass Rates

• Learning Culture

• ARE 5.0 Pass Rates by School

   

Idaho is Passionate about Design and We Strive for Excellence 

• We are passionate about designing environments that elevate and celebrate the human spirit.
• We recognize and respect student and faculty accomplishments of excellence.
• We constructively challenge one another in pursuit of excellence.
• We believe in regenerative design that results in the improvement of the quality of life for present and future generations.
• We value teaching and learning that prepares us for disciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans- disciplinary lifelong learning.

Idaho Students, Faculty and Staff are Civil and Respectful

• We respect the opinions and beliefs of others and expect that personal interactions will contribute a positive working and learning environment.
• We value challenging, civil dialog in the discussion of ideas, processes and outcomes.
• We respect the need for clear and fair expectations for objectives and performance in studio, classroom and administrative tasks.
• We value a healthy distribution of time needed for studio projects, classroom assignments, administrative tasks and personal lives.
• We understand the importance of acting respectfully when representing ourselves within the department in studio settings and outside the department on field trips, client meetings and other on and off campus activities.

Idaho Engages with Others in Pursuit of Solutions

• We find opportunities to work with others within and across disciplines to solve complex design problems.
• We engage with communities, agencies in a collaborative and open environment, moving beyond professional competence to become better leaders and citizens.
• We engage in learning that is designed to consider aesthetic, regenerative, social and cultural implications for current and future clients, constituents and other users.

Idaho Innovates

• We encourage excellence through continual improvement and the freedom to take risks.
• We encourage alternative teaching and learning modes.
• We recognize that process is often as important as end product.

To learn more about the University of Idaho admissions process, please visit the  Admissions page.

University of Idaho offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship options to students. To learn more about our financial aid programs, visit our financial aid page.

University of Idaho offers many career services and events to help connect students to employers. These services are available to students and alumni for life and assist in bringing highly qualified students together with local, regional and national businesses for internships, jobs and career experiences. Architecture students have the opportunity to do paid internships and earn academic or IDP credit (see IDP and Certification guidelines). Find out more by visiting Career Services. The College of Art and Architecture also hosts a variety of career events specific to Architecture and Design.

When evaluating a professional degree program, it is important to take several criteria into account. In the field of architecture, it is important to follow a degree program that will lead to licensure. Aside from costs, financial aid and other financial considerations, it is important to consider the following criteria as well:  

• Accreditation: While it is possible to attain licensure with a non-accredited degree, professional degree programs, accredited by the NAAB, such as the one offered through U of I are designed to lead to licensure and the best possible career opportunities after graduation.  
• Career Prospects: College is a means to an end. Most students enter into higher learning to further their career and advancement opportunities. It is important to attend a university that offers quality job services and an extensive alumni network that can help you get started on a quality career track.  
• Test Scores: In order to be a licensed architect, it is required to pass the Architect Registration Examination. Evaluating a university's student success in passing this examination can help plan for your higher education in architecture. In 2017, U of I graduates had an examination pass average of 69%, well above the national average of 61%. You can find these pass rates on the National Council of Architectural Registration Board website.

Please review the University of Idaho Estimated Costs. In addition, architecture students are required to have a laptop computer, and can also expect expenses of five to six hundred dollars per semester for such things as books; drawing, modeling and construction supplies; printing; and field trips. The university does offer many financial aid options and scholarships that can assist qualified students with school-related expenses.