Accreditation
Learn more about Academy of Art University’s accreditations in CIDA, CTC, NAAB, WSCUC, and read our Non-Discrimination Statement.
■WSCUC Accreditation
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Academy of Art University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), one of the seven associations that accredit public and private colleges and schools in the United States. WSCUC is located at:
1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500
Alameda, CA, 94501
510-748-9001
WSCUC Accreditation
At its meeting on June 25, 2021, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) reaffirmed Academy of Art University’s accreditation for a period of eight years. The Academy’s next reaffirmation review will be conducted in fall 2028 and spring 2029. The Commission scheduled a special visit in spring 2024 to address graduation rates and implementation of the new strategic plan, the new LMS and evaluation systems for faculty, staff and executive leaders. The special visit was held on March 20-21, 2024.
At its meeting on July 18, 2024, the WSCUC Commission commended the Academy for:
- 1) Establishing an inclusive process to develop and inform the strategic plan.
- 2) Implementing changes that improve timely response to student grievances.
In addition, WSCUC issued a Formal Notice of Concern and scheduled a follow up Special Visit in fall 2025. The Commission requires the Academy to respond to the following areas for development:
- 1) Collect and analyze student success data disaggregated by appropriate categories including demographics, degree levels, financial aid, and Pell status. (CFR 2.10)
- 2) Develop and implement a plan to improve retention and graduation rates that is informed by student success data and aligned with the strategic plan. (CFRs 2.10, 4.3, and 4.6)
- 3) Demonstrate that student outcomes data are regularly and systematically disseminated, analyzed, interpreted, and applied to improve student success. (CFRs 2.10, 4.3, 4.6)
The March 2024 Special Visit team report can be found here. The July 18, 2024 Commission Action Letter can be found here.
If you have any questions about WSCUC, please contact Cathy Corcoran (ccorcoran@academyart.edu), Academy of Art University’s WSCUC Accreditation Liaison Officer.
WSCUC Accreditation for Online Programs
Both onsite and online degree programs at Academy of Art University are accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The following degree programs are not currently offered online: AA, BFA, MA and MFA in Acting; AA in Automotive Restoration; BFA and MFA in Textile Design; and MA in Writing & Directing for Film.
■Non-Discrimination Statement
Academy of Art University admits students of any race, color, age, religion, and national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, physical handicap, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
■CIDA Accreditation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The BFA Interior Architecture & Design and the MFA Interior Architecture & Design programs are both accredited by the CIDA. CIDA is located at:
206 Grandville Ave., Suite 350
Grand Rapids, MI
49503-4014
Tel. 1-616-458-0400
■NAAB Accreditation
The National Architectural Accrediting Board [NAAB.org]
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 two-year term of continuing accreditation, 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. The Academy of Art University, School of Architecture, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
Next accreditation visit: 2026
Links to NAAB APRs and VTRs:
- 2018 ArtU B.Arch Visiting Team Report
- 2017 ArtU B.Arch Architecture Program Report
- 2015 ArtU B.Arch Visiting Team Report
- 2015 ArtU B.Arch Architecture Program Report
- 2014 ArtU B.Arch Visiting Team Report
- 2014 ArtU B.Arch Architecture Program Report
- 2012 ArtU B.Arch Visiting Team Report
- M. Arch. (pre-professional degree + 63 graduate credits)
- M. Arch. (non-pre-professional degree + 87 graduate credits)
Next accreditation visit: 2021 (postponed to 2022 because of the pandemic)
Access to NAAB Conditions and Procedures
a) Conditions for Accreditation, latest/current edition
b) Conditions for Accreditation in effect at the time of the last visit (2009 and 2014)
c) Procedures for Accreditation, latest/current edition
d) Procedures for Accreditation in effect at the time of the last visit (2012 and 2015, depending on the date of the last visit)
Student Access to Career Development Information
Student and Career Services: https://www.academyart.edu/campus-athletics/student-resources/career-services/
Architecture students can get professional, internship, and licensing advice from NCARB Licensing Advisor, AIAS Liaison, and Chair Emeritus Alberto Bertoli and IPAL and Community Outreach Coordinator Sameena Sitabkhan please feel free to schedule appointments with them to discuss your career development by emailing Architecture@academyart.edu.
Public Access to Accreditation Reports and Related Documents
a) All Interim Progress Reports and narratives of Program Annual Reports submitted since the last team visit
The Interim Program Report Covers the narrative previously included in the Annual Reports.
b) All NAAB responses to any Plan to Correct and any NAAB responses to the Program Annual Reports since the last team visit
c) The most recent decision letter from the NAAB
d) The Architecture Program Report submitted for the last visit
e) The final edition of the most recent Visiting Team Report, including attachments and addenda
f) The program’s optional response to the Visiting Team Report
g) Plan to Correct
Not applicable at the time of last NAAB Team Visit. The information can be found in the IPR 2015 (see above under “a”)
h) NCARB ARE pass rates
i) Statements and/or policies on learning and teaching culture
j) Statements and/or policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion
■CTC Accreditation
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Accreditation
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) is an agency in the Executive Branch of California State Government. The major purpose of the agency is to serve as a state standards board for educator preparation for the public schools of California, the licensing and credentialing of professional educators in the State, the enforcement of professional practices of educators, and the discipline of credential holders in the State of California. CTC accredits the Academy of Art University’s Single Subject Art Teaching Credential Program. They are located at:
1900 Capitol Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95811
Tel: 916-322-6253
NOTE: The online Art Teaching Credential and the Masters in Art Teaching requires fieldwork assignments in observing and teaching art to pupils in local Bay Area public schools.
