Graduate architecture program earns 8-year accreditation term

The [Master of Architecture] (http://dept.arch.tamu.edu/graduate/master-architecture/) program at Texas A&M University is making strong, unique contributions to architectural education, according to experts from the [National Architectural Accrediting Board] (http://www.naab.org/home) team who conducted a comprehensive review of the program last fall, ultimately extending its accreditation for another eight years.

“There is a deep sense of pride among students in the program and an appreciation of the quality and value of the educational experience they are receiving,” read the NAAB team’s final report.

Earning an architecture degree from an accredited program is one of the prerequisites to becoming a licensed architect in most states.

“The high caliber of student work reviewed by the accreditation team reflects the faculty’s efforts to refine the program’s strengths,” said Ward Wells, head of the [Department of Architecture] (http://dept.arch.tamu.edu/) at Texas A&M University.“

The Master of Architecture accreditation process began fall 2013 with the submission of an [Architectural Program Report] (http://www.naab.org/accreditation/apr_submission) , written by Michael O’Brien, professor of architecture, to the NAAB. While drafting the report, O’Brien received feedback from Wells and Marcel Erminy, associate department head and coordinator of the accreditation activities.

The report described how students’ work in core design, theory and history courses satisfies master of architecture program accreditation requirements.

In February 2014, NAAB team members paid a three-day visit to Texas A&M to review the student work detailed in O’Brien’s report.

To facilitate the visit, Erminy orchestrated the collection and organization of three projects from each core course from the previous two years. The work, including

posters, syllabi, homework, and tests, were assembled in a review space and indexed to facilitate the evaluation.

“We had everything digitally and physically available for the NAAB team,” said Erminy, who lauded the efforts of six graduate architecture students who gathered the material from 30 design faculty members, Victoria Adams, Kendall Clarke, Marquesa Figueroa, Rachel Griffith, Ashton Holliday, Linsday Whitis and Julie Wright.

“Anyone who had the opportunity to visit the team room could only be impressed by the quality of the work and the effort put forward by Erminy and the students,” said Wells.