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What You Need to Know About Accredited Art Schools & Programs

Jelise Ballon, Contributing Writer for ArtSchools.com

Accreditation is a word you may see a lot as you begin your search for the right art school. So what does it mean? And why is it important to you?

Accreditation is a voluntary process by which an academic institution is reviewed and evaluated by an independent board of peers. The reviewing board or agency assesses how that institution measures against established educational objectives and standards. If an institution is granted accredited status, it signifies that they have met the qualifying standards and goals. To put it simply – it is a seal of approval.

The top accrediting agency for art schools is known as the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD was founded in 1944 and is under the umbrella organization the Council of Arts Accrediting Associations (CAAA) which also governs accrediting organizations for schools of dance, theater and music. NASAD is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the agency responsible for the accreditation of all art and design curricula.

The standards of accreditation used by NASAD were developed by their members, which includes mostly art school faculty and administrators. The purpose of these standards is not to restrict what an art institute can teach or how they structure their program, but simply to provide a framework for analysis. According to their website, “NASAD has developed standards and associated guidelines which are specific enough to ensure a certain level of educational quality, but are not so restrictive as to stifle experimentation, innovation, and individuality of program content.”

So, why should a prospective art student care if they attend an accredited school?

Schools which undergo the accreditation process, and ultimately receive accreditation, are usually looked upon as maintaining a high level of academic strength and integrity. Because accreditation is not required, those institutions who submit to the process publicly acknowledge the importance of peer review and certain educational standards.

“The advantage of attending an accredited art school is that a student can feel a level of comfort that this is an institution that has been looked at by professionals familiar with the art profession,” says Stephen Beal, provost for California College of the Arts. “Students can feel confident that they will receive a well-rounded and balanced education.

“Institutions providing art and design education that aren’t accredited may have a more narrowly focused education and won’t provide as integrative of an approach,” adds Beal.

Accreditation also encourages and facilitates academic and curriculum improvement. Maintaining accreditation is an on-going process, therefore schools with current accreditation must submit to regular review.

“Accrediting bodies make sure an institution is spending resources dedicated to educational effectiveness and is consistent with the mission of the organization,” said Beal.

Other accrediting bodies for art schools include: the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), which accredits interior design colleges and programs; the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), which accredits postsecondary career schools; and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS), which accredits non-degree granting schools and programs for youth and adults.

In addition to the program-focused accreditation we’ve been discussing, there are also six regional collegiate accrediting boards. These include: the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Each of these associations accredits schools and colleges within a specific geographical region. These associations review the school and its academic programs as a whole, they are not degree or program specific, and therefore you will find that many art schools will have accreditation by both NASAD and one of the above listed regional bodies.

Accreditation by one of the regional bodies is important because it often determines a school’s eligibility to participate in federal financial aid programs. Additionally, accreditation by one of the six regional organizations is important for the acceptance and transfer of college credit, and it is a prerequisite for many graduate programs.

Finding out whether an art school has been accredited is usually pretty easy. Almost all schools publicly list which, if any, associations they are accredited by. Most often this information can be found on the school’s website. However, if you are unable to locate this on the web, simply call the school’s admission office for more information.

By Jelise Balon, ArtSchools.com Contributing Writer.