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.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning offers the 2-year Master of Architecture degree for students with a pre-professional undergraduate degree in architecture and the 3-year Master of Architecture degree for students with an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than architecture.

2-year Master of Architecture Degree (preprofessional degree + 60 graduate credits)

3-year Master of Architecture Degree (non-preprofessional degree + 90 graduate credits)

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) has formally granted the Architecture program at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning the full eight-year term of accreditation, following their visit in spring 2017.

The Department of Architecture’s professional program has always carried full accreditation since its inception over 50 years ago.

National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB) Documents

2020 NAAB Conditions for Accreditation

2020 NAAB Procedures for Accreditation