Accreditations + Memberships

As one of only a handful of fully accredited architecture programs in the western United States, NewSchool of Architecture and Design administrators, faculty, and staff are diligent in their efforts to expand the institution’s reach and reputation.

Institutional Accreditation

NewSchool of Architecture and Design is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees.

Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
750 First Street, NE, Suite 980
Washington, DC 20002-4241
Phone: 202-336-6780

Programmatic Accreditation

NewSchool of Architecture and Design’s programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) include:

• Bachelor of Architecture (5 years)
• Master of Architecture (4 + 3 years)
• Master of Architecture (4 + 2 years)
• Master of Architecture (Executive Masters Program)

In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. NAAB, which is the sole agency authorized to accredit U.S. professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes three types of degrees: Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, and Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established educational standards.

Master’s degree programs may consist of a pre-professional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree that, when earned sequentially, constitute an accredited professional education. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: 202-783-2007

Approvals

NewSchool of Architecture and Design is:

• Approved by the U.S. Department of Education and California Student Aid Commission to conduct a full financial aid program
• Approved as a degree-granting institution by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, prior to its legislative sun setting.
• Approved to train veterans and eligible persons under Title 38, United States Code
• Approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service to issue the SEVIS Form I-20 for a non-immigrant to the F-1 status
• Approved to administer the Military Tuition Assistance Program
• Recognized by the California Architects Board

Memberships 

NewSchool of Architecture and Design, its faculty, and/or staff hold membership in the following organizations:

ACE Mentor Program
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
AIA San Diego (AIASD)
American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC)
Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)
California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (CASFAA)
Career College Association (CCA)
Certified Continuing Education, CEU provider for AIA
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Downtown San Diego Partnership
East Village Association
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)
International Fire Code Institute
National Association of Architectural Libraries
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
National Association of Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA)
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
National Trust for Historic Preservation
San Diego Architectural Foundation (SDAF)
San Diego Council of Design Professionals
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Society of Building Science Educators (SBSE)
Society for Design Administration
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA)