NAAB Accreditation

Contact Information

Program

Name: Barbara Klinkhammer, RA (DEU), Dipl.-Ing.
Position: Dean, College of Architecture & the Built Environment

4201 Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144

Contact Number(s):

Admissions

Contact Number(s):

Architecture

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.

Jefferson's College of Architecture and the Built Environment Architecture Program offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:  

Bachelor of Architecture

(165 total number of credits required)

Founded in 1991, the Architecture Program leads to a Bachelor of Architecture degree, has an enrollment of 312 students, and has been accredited by NAAB since 1997.

In July 2018, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), following their April visit to campus, granted an eight-year term of accreditation to the B.Arch program, effective January 1, 2018.  The Visiting Team Report remarked that the “the culture of the program (and CABE) is a dynamic, collaborative, hands-on, and often interdisciplinary activity.”

The next accreditation visit for the Bachelor of Architecture program: 2026


Jefferson's College of Architecture and the Built Environment Architecture Program also offers the following NAAB-candidacy degree program:

Master of Architecture

(preprofessional degree + 49 minimum required credits; non-preprofessional degree + 100 required credits)

In April 2019, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), following their October 2018 visit to campus, granted an three-year term of accreditation to the M.Arch program, effective January 1, 2018.  The Visiting Team Report remarked that “The curricula and pedagogy of the architecture program are informed by their unique collegiate model - the combined institution of Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University. This merger succeeded in bridging Philadelphia’s arts and sciences, business administration, and architecture and design with Jefferson’s strong medical legacy. Today, Jefferson students are being prepared as future professionals and researchers ready for a globalized and challenging future. The program explores architecture through the multiple cultures and home countries of its international students.”

The next accreditation visit for the Master of Architecture is 2021.

Architecture Program Reports, Annual Reports, & Visiting Team Reports

For Architect Registration Exam (ARE) pass rates by school:

Visit the NCARB web site to learn about the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) and to access The NCARB Handbook for Interns and Architects, The Emerging Professional’s Companion, and other important sources.

Our students, alumni, and faculty collaborated to create a CABE Community Culture Document. It was endorsed by the CABE community and approved during the 2021-22 academic year.

Jefferson's East Falls Campus Career Services Office provides students with access to career development and placement services for help in developing, evaluating, and implementing career, education, and employment plans. See:

Other useful websites include: