Extract of Academic Research paper discussing the difference between NAAB and RIBA validation (2014). Presented at RIBA-USA New York. Questions the cost of UK architectural education and the validation/ accreditation process in both countries vs what is actually being taught in architecture schools.

1. RIBA-USA New York
3rd August 2016
RIBA USA
Deborah Bentley RIBA
RIBA-USA New England
Similarities and Differences in the
University Education for Architects.
USA vs UK
www.riba-usa.org
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Extract from 2014 research paper: https://www.academia.edu/7038297/RIBA_Validation_or_NAAB_Accreditation-
_A_comparison_of_architecture_education

2. There are 4 PILLARS of
ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION regardless of where you
study in the world.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
HUMANITIES
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
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3. B. Arch 5 year course is 150 to 160credit hours
45of these credit hours must be taken in GENERAL
EDUCATION outside the field of architecture.
Total B. Arch Hours studying architecture =II5credit hours
PART 1 : 3 years ( B Arch) = 95 credit hours
PART 2 : 2 years (M Arch) = 65 credit hours
160 credit hours
50% of all assessed work must be design studio
projects.
UK
USA
The study compared the 5 year architecture courses in the UK and the US.
A UK credit hour was converted to be equivalent to a US credit hour
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4. EDUCATION CRITERIA :CORE REQUIREMENTS
Each governing body has education requirements listing what courses should teach.
The RIBA has 33 educational requirements, and at the time of this study NAAB had
32. NCARB was changed in 2014/15 but the recipe remains the same.
37%
15%
18%
30%
RIBA
Design Technology
Humanities Professional
22%
25%
16%
37%
NAAB
The educational requirements were ‘blind
categorized’ by practicing architects into the four
pillars of an architecture courses. Transition I Space

5. CREDIT HOURS ACTUALLY BEING TAUGHT
ON VALIDATED/ACCREDITED COURSES
51%
13%
16%
9%
6%
2% 3%
RIBA
Design
Technology
Humanities
Professional
Research
Interdisciplinary
Electives
44%
13%
19%
10%
2% 12%
NAAB EXCLUDING
GENERAL EDUCATION
12 ½% of architecture courses in each country credit hours taught were analyzed.
Architecture students are being taught very similar courses in both countries Transition I Space

6. WHAT IS REQUIRED VS WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
RIBA EGC NAAB SPC
EducationCriteriaRequirement
Design Technology History Professional
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
UK School US School
CreditHoursThe research exposed that what is being asked for by the validating / accrediting body
and is what is actually being taught is remarkably different.
In the US, NAAB system professional studies was the most important requirement
and in the RIBA, UK system it was the second most important subject matter,
yet in both countries professional studies were the least studied subject by a long way.
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7. 83
20.8
27
14
9.2
3.8 5
51
15
22
12
2 0
14
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
RIBA
NAAB
RIBA/ NAAB CREDIT HOURS BY SUBJECT.
RIBA courses spend more than 30 credit hours in the design studio.
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8. IS THE EXTRA YEAR SPENT DESIGNING IN
BRITISH UNIVERSITIES WORTH IT?
Is the £9000+ spent on the extra year at
university studying design, the best way to
prepare a student for the requirements of
the profession in the 21st Century?
Are RIBA architects better designers than their
American Educated Counterparts?
IF THE ANSWER IS NO then
Would the profession be stronger if students spent
more time studying business and research?
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9. PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
NCARB
3 years of professional practice and sitting the multiple choice ARE.
ARE 4 does not contain a paper on professional practice. It
focuses on Health, Safety and Welfare, most of which is covered in
various building codes.
ARE 5 ( starts 11/16) demands more understanding of
professional practices, but still is heavily weighted to issues that are
covered and examined at university and by building codes.
RIBA
2years of professional practice and sitting
RIBA Part III Course and Exam which is a written
and oral professional practice based exam based on
how architects practice in the real world.
The argument can
be made that
professional
practice is taught in
the office
and in the
Professional
registration exam,
however this does
not explain
why there is a lack
of professional
studies in university
courses when it is
demanded by the
validation boards.
? Transition I Space

10. WHAT THE PROFESSION
WANTS FROM GRADUATES
•More education in professional subjects
•The education of architects has to change to
reflect how we practice today.
•More practical Research in university will
lead to research in practice.
Graduates want fulfilling
well paid employment.http://www.buildingfutures.org.u
k/assets/downloads/The_Future_f
or_Architects_Summary.pdf
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Architects don’t get struck off the register for designing
buildings badly.
They are struck off for bad professional practice.

11. HONESTY IN ACCREDITATION
***
IT IS TIME THAT
PROFESSIONALS CHANGE
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
FOR OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS
THANKS TO
THE
SPONSORS