The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) currently accredits three professional degree tracts in architectural education:

• B.Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture) – minimum of 150 semester credit hours, or the quarter-hour equivalent, in professional studies and electives.
• M.Arch. (Master of Architecture) – minimum of 168 semester credit hours, or the quarter-hour equivalent, of which 30 semester credit hours, or the quarter-hour equivalent, must be at the graduate level in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.
• D.Arch. (Doctor of Architecture) – minimum of 120 undergraduate semester credit hours, or the undergraduate-level quarter-hour equivalent, and a minimum of 90 graduate-level semester credit hours, or the graduate-level quarter-hour equivalent, in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.

 *As it stands now, there are approximately 59 programs accredited by the NAAB that contain M.Arch. degree programs that require a minimum of 120 undergraduate semester credit hours, or the undergraduate-level quarter-hour equivalent, and a minimum of 90 graduate-level semester credit hours, or the graduate-level quarter-hour equivalent, in academic coursework in professional studies and electives.  

The NAAB allows nomenclature changes under “Substantive Changes” in their Procedures for Accreditation for the following:

• Programs seeking to convert an existing B.Arch. already in excess of 150 credits to a single-institution M.Arch. program by modest adjustments to the curriculum in order to achieve the 168-credit minimum.
• Programs seeking to convert an existing five-year, single institution M.Arch. program into a B.Arch. program through modest adjustments in the curriculum in order to achieve the 150-credit minimum.
• Programs seeking to convert an existing M.Arch. program that requires an undergraduate degree (either in architecture or another discipline) for admission into a D.Arch. program.

However, the NAAB states that if approved, substantive changes may NOT be applied retroactively.

This petition is asking the NAAB to remove this preclusion and allow retroactive nomenclature changes only if prior graduates can demonstrate having fulfilled the requirements of the newly adopted degree.

Given institutional and state requirements are satisfied (and that the schools and the education boards are willing to support the change), this would potentially allow M.Arch. alumni who completed 120 undergraduate semester credits and 90 or more graduate semester credits to be granted D.Arch, thereby effectively aligning the credits completed with the NAAB's nomenclature.

 *Data subject to change