University of Arkansas

The Bachelor of Architecture prepares students for registration and licensure to practice architecture.  Architects are licensed professionals trained in the art and science of the design and construction of buildings and structures that primarily provide shelter. Additionally, architects may be involved with designing the total built environment—from how a building integrates with its surrounding landscape to architectural or construction details that involve the interior of the building to designing and creating furniture to be used in a specific space.  An architect will create the overall aesthetic and look of buildings and structures, but the design of a building involves far more than its appearance.  Buildings also must be functional, safe and economical and must suit the specific needs of the people who use them.  Most importantly, they must be built with the public's health, safety and welfare in mind.

Architecture – National Architectural Accrediting Board

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 pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the pre-professional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.

The University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design's department of architecture offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

• B.Arch. (157 undergraduate credits)

The last accreditation visit for the B.Arch. programs was conducted in February 2014; the date of the next visit will be announced in spring 2022.

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) only accredits professional programs offering the Bachelor of Architecture, which requires a minimum of five years of study, and the Master of Architecture degrees. These professional degrees are structured to educate those who aspire to registration and licensure to practice as architects. The curricular requirements for awarding these degrees must include three components — general studies, professional studies, and electives. Together these three components comprise a liberal education in architecture and ensure that graduates will be technically competent, critical thinkers who are capable of defining multiple career paths within a changing societal context.

No four-year degrees are accredited by NAAB, but the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree is excellent for those who want a foundation in the field of architecture as preparation for either continued education in a professional degree program or for employment in fields related to architecture.