Accreditation
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design is accredited through the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
NAAB
The Hines College is a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
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 University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design offers the following NAAB-Accredited degree programs:
Bachelor of Architecture
160 semester undergraduate credit hours
Master of Architecture
Undergraduate degree with architecture major + 60 graduate semester credit hours
Undergraduate degree with non-architecture major + 99 graduate semester credit hours
Next visit for all three accredited programs: 2030
The program’s accreditation term is effective January 1, 2022. Its next scheduled visit for Continuing Accreditation occurs in 2030. This visit will be conducted under the provisions of the NAAB Accreditation Conditions and Procedures in effect at the time of the visit.
NAAB Conditions and Procedures
- Conditions for Accreditation, 2020 Edition
- Conditions for Accreditation in effect at the time of the last visit (2009)
- Procedures for Accreditation, 2020 Edition
- Procedures for Accreditation in effect at the time of the last visit (2012)
Career Development Information
- The NCARB Handbook for Interns and Architects
- Toward an Evolution of Studio Culture
- The Emerging Professional’s Companion
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- American Institute of Architects
- American Institute of Architecture Students
- Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
Reports and Letters
- Interim Progress Reports (IPR) and narratives of Program Annual Reports (PAR) submitted since the last team visit
- Interim Progress Reports (IPR) and narratives of Program Annual Reports (PAR) submitted prior to last visit
- NAAB responses to any Plan to Correct and NAAB responses to the Program Annual Reports since the last team visit
- Most recent decision letter from NAAB
- Architecture Program Reports (APR) submitted for past visits
- Final edition of the most recent Visiting Team Report (VTR), including attachments and addenda
- Program’s optional response to the Visiting Team Report (VTR)
- Plan to Correct (if applicable)
- NCARB ARE pass rates
Student Financial Information
Architecture, by its very nature, is vastly different from other studies at the University of Houston. Students engage in a collaborative studio environment with a hands-on, project-centric curriculum. The Hines College’s NAAB-accredited programs require students to attain specialized materials and computer software in addition to tuition fees, books, and general supplies.
Learn more about general undergraduate and graduate costs and financial aid.
View typical expenses incurred by architecture students in our programs.
Admissions
Graduate Domestic Admissions / International Admissions
In alignment with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accreditation requirements for the Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture programs, the Hines College's student body reflects the diverse make-up of Houston’s communities and the people we are committed to serving.
All applicants are reviewed with the understanding that they offer unique experiences and viewpoints reflecting their various backgrounds. The Hines College excels in many areas, and the excellence of our students can be expressed in different forms, including academic accomplishments, artistic skills, and extracurricular engagement, among many others.
All applicants are required to submit a statement of interest along with a portfolio of creative works. Together, these admissions materials provide insights into the applicant’s interests, personal histories, and stories, as well as their potential to excel in a design program.
NASAD
As of November 2023, the Hines College's interior architecture and industrial design programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The Commission granted the University fully accredited membership with no deferrals. Among the 32 schools applying for first-time accreditation, only the University of Houston and one other institution were granted accreditation.
NASAD Initial Acceptance Letter - October 12, 2023
NASAD Commission Action Report - November 10, 2023