The School of Architecture provides professional and continuing education in the design professions of architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, and design. In addition to addressing the theoretical and pragmatic aspects of general design education, the school focuses on important design issues facing Las Vegas, the state of Nevada, and the Southwest.
The School of Architecture is a diverse and dynamic learning environment that capitalizes on its unique regional location to improve the human condition through teaching, research, and service.
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Mission, Values, and Goals
Our Mission
At the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ School of Architecture, our commitment to learning and exploration of new knowledge is inspired by the dynamic cultural epicenter that is Las Vegas. As critical thinkers and designers we create a more resilient world.
Our Values
- Serve with respect and compassion
- Build an inclusive community
- Embrace change
- Think boldly and creatively
- Be rigorous in everything we do
- Practice sustainability
Our Goals
We fulfill our mission through the teaching and learning we accomplish together, the scholarship and creativity we pursue as individuals and as a community, and through the collaborative community we create and sustain. To fully live our mission and values we must:
Promote rigor and professionalism
We immerse our students in the dynamic built and natural environments of Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert to prepare them to become critical and creative thinkers and effective stewards of local and global environments. Our culture enables faculty and staff to engage in impactful scholarly and creative activities which prepare students for life-long professional and personal success.
Foster innovation
We design a more resilient world by developing new knowledge and innovative perspectives that advance our disciplines and professions through creative and scholarly inquiry disseminated within nationally and internationally recognized venues. Our climate within the SoA cultivates intellectual curiosity, creativity and the pursuit of knowledge for students, faculty and staff by nurturing a reciprocal exchange of impactful ideas. Our innovation is supported by a thriving community that values transparency, collaboration, and engagement.
Collaborate extensively
We create a culture of reciprocal engagement and transparency with all stakeholders. Successful collaborations bring such compelling value to our partners that the SoA becomes their first choice when seeking mutually beneficial solutions to issues affecting our communities. We want all of our stakeholders to become deeply invested in working with us by sharing their time, talent, and treasure.
Accreditation
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
Many states in the United States and most provinces in Canada have registration laws regulating the title or the practice of an interior designer. The rationale for licensing addresses the distinct and different expertise of professional qualifications. Licensing in Nevada, as in many other states and provinces, requires graduation from a CIDA-accredited interior design program (the Council for Interior Design Accreditation is recognized as the reliable authority on interior design education by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation), with a minimum of two years of work experience in the field, and passage of the NCIDQ Examination (the National Council for Interior Design Qualification is the recognized examination body in interior design) or an equal examination, such as the Architectural Registration Examination.
CIDA is an international organization that accredits professional interior design education programs in the United States and Canada. Its primary purpose is to ensure a high level of quality in interior design education to meet the needs of students, the interior design profession, and society.
The 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture and Design program was last reviewed and reaccredited by CIDA in 2014.
Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board
Most states, including Nevada, require graduation from an accredited landscape architecture program plus two years of professional experience prior to sitting for state board examinations. Once candidates have passed state board examinations, they are eligible to become licensed landscape architects.
The Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board reviews programs regularly (up to every six years, depending on the LAAB recommendation). The 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program was last reviewed and reaccredited by LAAB in 2016 and is reaccredited until 2021.
National Architectural Accrediting Board
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 Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Architecture, offers the following NAAB-accredited degree programs:
- M. Arch. (preprofessional degree + 48 graduate credits)
- M. Arch. (non-preprofessional degree + 48-96 credits)
Next accreditation visit for all programs: 2025