Accreditation & Support

Accreditation

Statement on NAAB-Accredited Degrees

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 Rochester Institute of Technology Golisano Institute for Sustainability offers the following NAAB-accredited degree program:

  • Master of Architecture (non-accredited undergraduate degree + 105 graduate credits)
  • Master of Architecture (non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture + 78 graduate credits)


Initial Candidacy granted: 2011

Initial Accreditation granted: 2017

Continuing Accreditation granted: 2021

Next Accreditation Visit: 2029


NAAB Conditions and Procedures


Career Development Information

The following websites will allow access to career development and placement services that help develop, evaluate, and implement career, education, and employment plans. You may find the NCARB Handbook for Interns and Architects and Toward an Evolution of Studio Culture helpful to learn more about the benefits of attending an accredited program.


Statements on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Learning/Teaching Culture


Architecture Reports and NAAB Correspondence

Architecture Program Advisory Council (APAC)

In pursuit of academic excellence, discovery of new knowledge, advancement of the future of the profession, and overall support of the program mission - the Architecture Program Advisory Council (APAC) serves in an oversight capacity to guide, advise, review, inform and renew the make-up and construct of the Master of Architecture professional degree program.

Current Council Members

Jonathan Bahe, AIA
Former Design Futures Council member and AIAS National President. Currently, Jonathan is an emerging professional at NBBJ Architects in Seattle.

James B. Durfee, AIA
Principal, Bergmann Associates - Architects and Engineers, Rochester, NY. Jim is the recipient of the 2013 AIA Rochester Medal of Distinction for lifelong service to and advancement of the profession.

Jessyca Henderson, AIA
Managing Director, Policy and Community Relations, AIA National Headquarters. Jessyca oversees Code Advocacy, State Relations and Community Resilience. She works closely with the AIA Strategic Initiatives in Sustainability.

Richard J. Jackson, MD, MPH, Honorary AIA
Joan H. Tisch Distinguished Fellow in Public Health, 2013. Richard is a professor and chair of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, UCLA. He is also the host of a PBS Series: Designing Healthy Communities.

Donors

These incredible donors have made this program what it is today, and continue to support us and our students.

  • Bergmann Associates
  • Christa Construction
  • SWBR Architects & Engineers
  • The Pike Company
  • Welliver McGuire, Inc
  • HBT Architects
  • IBC Engineering
  • Chantreuil Jensen Stark Architects
  • Wesley L. Hicks, Jr
  • Peter Drago Fund
  • FXFowle Architects
  • Hunt Engineers Architects and Land Surveyors
  • Rochester Area Community Foundation
  • Charles G. Woodcock
  • American Institute of Architects - Rochester
  • Frank S. Grosso
  • Edge Architecture
  • Budgeon-Bakeer
  • EBS Architecture
  • LaBella Associates
  • Wallace J. Wagner Family

Supply List for the Master of Architecture Program

Getting started in our program will require some initial supplies, and various additional materials throughout your time in the program. This initial “getting started” list is not inclusive but serves as a minimum guide as you begin your studies at RIT in the Master of Architecture Program, for both on-campus and online students. Costs vary greatly depending on the actual material ordered and vendor.

Supplies can be ordered ahead of time online, through a variety of outlets, such as Amazon, Staples, and W.B. Mason, sometimes with a discount. Note the projected delivery time when placing your order to ensure that your supplies will arrive by the first day of classes . For students on campus, there are art stores near campus as well; supply availability is not guaranteed due to the influx of new students at the beginning of the semester; call ahead. Finally, please note that this list includes items required for both on-campus and online students, unless otherwise noted.

Texts

  • Ching, Francis D.K. Architectural Graphics, Wiley, New York
  • Richards, James. Freehand Drawing & Discovery, John Wiley & Sons,Inc., Hoboken, NJ
  • Ramsey, Charles George and Harold Reeve Sleeper, Architectural Graphics Standards, Wiley, New York (A copy exists in the architectural resource room in studio for your use)
  • Other reference materials to be made available throughout each semester.

Drafting, Drawing, and Modeling Supplies

Supplies You'll Need Right Away

  • Ruled notecards (for hand lettering)
  • Sketchbook; unlined, spiral bound to open flat
  • Sketching pencil set
  • Pencil sharpener
  • Drafting table 24"x36" minimum: purchased or constructed tabletop unit with vinyl top surface*
  • Parallel bar for your drafting table; Mayline is a reputable brand*, **
  • Vyco desktop covering (clear, grey, or green, for your drafting table
  • Mechanical drafting pencils; .3 mm, .5 mm, and .7 mm
  • Extra leads for your drafting pencils including lead types 4H, H, and HB
  • Technical drawing pens (Black ink): .2 mm, .35 mm, .5 mm, .7 mm
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Erasing shield
  • Architect's scale; triangular full 12" length
  • Engineering scale; triangular full 12" length
  • Drafting triangle: 45/45/90
  • Drafting triangle: 30/60/90, 12" minimum
  • Drafting triangle, adjustable
  • Drafting tape (preferred) or draft dots
  • White tracing paper; 12" x 50 yard roll + 11" x 17" or 14" x 17" pad

*For on-campus students: Drafting table and parallel bar need to be available in the Architecture studio space for in-class work sessions. If you plan to work outside of studio you will need an easily portable drafting table. ** For online students: Drafting table and parallel bar need to be available for asynchronous and live class sessions.

Supplies You May Need Soon (Consult with your individual course instructors)

  • Vellum templates; architectural, interior
  • Prismacolor type markers: warm gray 30%, 50%, and 70%
  • Prismacolor type markers in the following hues at minimum: Light Sand, Blush, Pale Cherry, Cerulean, Willow Green, Moss Green, Grass Green. Note a full set is not recommended as many bolder colors are not utilized in architectural rendering.
  • Additional drawing/rendering instruments TBD in class
  • Metal straightedge, cork-backed, 18" minimum
  • Xacto knife and bulk box of blades, size #11
  • Cutting mat 12" minimum
  • Glue: Sobo or Elmer's tacky glue (not Elmer’s all-purpose glue which is too watery)

Digital Hardware and Design Software

The following software is downloadable for free by each individual student. Students should download and install software prior to the start of class. Some additional software licenses are also available for installation and/or discounted purchase via the RIT Digital Den store at www.rit.edu/fa/digitalden. Finally, individual courses may require additional software — please check with each individual instructor at the start of each course and term.

Hardware:

  • Laptop computer (PC or Mac) with the Windows 10 (or higher) Operating System installed. Students who use a Mac should run Windows on Bootcamp, not Parallels. Minimum requirements: 16GB RAM, 1TB storage, 3Ghz or faster processor with multiple cores.
  • Media storage recommended—a thumb drive or a portable hard drive for backup digital storage

Software

  • AutoCAD 2020 Student Version — available for free for students from the Autodesk website with @rit.edu email address.
  • Revit 2020 Student Version — available for free for students from the Autodesk website with @rit.edu email address.
  • SketchUp — the web version is free, 30-day trials are also available for download. Visit www.sketchup.com
  • Rhino 3D — student one-time purchase available at www.rhino3d.com
  • Adobe Creative Cloud — student license. Available with monthly subscription for students at adobe.com
  • Urban Footprint — available at urbanfootprint.com
  • Microsoft Office 365 — this software suite is available to all RIT students as part of their tuition. Please refer to the following link for accessing Office 365. www.rit.edu/its/services/personal-computers/software/office-365#_blank
  • Google Apps — this software suite is available to all RIT students as part of their tuition. Please refer to the following link for accessing Google Apps. www.rit.edu/its/email-calendaring
  • Cloud storage — students are provided with Google Drive storage as part of their tuition; refer to RIT ITS website

Additional required supplies for Master of Architecture Online students only

  • Internet connection — reliable internet connection (hard wired preferred, or 3G or faster WiFi connection) with speeds no less than 5 MB/S for download and 2 MB/S for upload
  • Headset — headset or headphones with speakers and microphone OR wired headset with landline phone OR mobile device with earbuds
  • Webcam — internal or external webcam
  • Document camera — recommended IPEVO VZ-X (OPTIONAL) laptop or peripheral device (pen tablet or similar) with touch screen capability. For digital sketching and annotating.