Architecture (M.Arch.)

Graduates from Samford University’s bachelor of science in architecture (B.S.A.) degree are expected to progress directly into a fifth-year, 38-hour master of architecture (M.Arch.) degree. Based in the School of the Arts and housed alongside Samford’s CIDA-accredited interior architecture program, this major offers unique and unlimited opportunities for collaboration, inspiration, and understanding of the built environment necessary to progress into professional practice. Students are versed in architectural theory and synthesize artistic, social, cultural, technological, and environmental context in the development of design solutions. In addition, and in support of Samford University’s mission, this program allows students to engage in Christian service opportunities through the built environment. This program will be seeking professional accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).*
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*NAAB Candidacy: 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, 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 standard.

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.

In order to meet the education requirement, set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), an applicant for an NCARB Certificate must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the NAAB and the degree must have been awarded not more than two years prior to initial accreditation. However, meeting the education requirement for the NCARB Certificate may not be equivalent to meeting the education requirement for registration in a specific jurisdiction. Please contact NCARB for more information.

Samford University, Department of Architecture and Interior Design, was granted candidacy status for the following professional degree program(s) in architecture: Master of Architecture (130 undergraduate credit hours + 38 graduate credit hours). Year candidacy awarded: February 2022. Next visit: Initial Candidacy Fall 2022. Projected year to achieve initial accreditation: Spring 2027. Earliest graduation date projected to meet NCARB education requirement: Fall 2026.