Accreditation is important for the University to be able to receive and distribute state and federal funds. Also, accreditation is important for the acceptance and transfer of college credits. The Office of Assessment and Accreditation serves as the accreditation liaison for the University and is responsible for assuring that compliance with accreditation requirements is incorporated into planning and evaluation processes of the institution.
Institutional accrediting bodies conduct comprehensive reviews of institutions of higher education. This review ensures that “the institution (1) has a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) has resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, and (3) maintains clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives” (Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement). The accreditation granted encompasses the entire institution, including all degree programs, instructional sites, and online programs.
UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of UNC Charlotte. The following questions, comments, and complaints should be directed to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges:
- to learn about the accreditation status of the institution
- to file a third-party comment at the time of the institution’s dennial review
- to file a complaint against the institution for alleged non-compliance with a standard or requirement
Other inquiries about the institution such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to the institution and not to the Commission’s office.
College of Arts + Architecture
The Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture are accredited professional degree programs as recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
The Bachelor of Arts in Art, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, and Bachelor of Arts in Art History are accredited degree programs as recognized by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
The Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music are accredited degree programs as recognized by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
The Bachelor of Arts in Dance is an accredited degree program as recognized by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
All arts education programs leading to K-12 licensure (art, dance, music and theatre education) are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).
College of Business
The programs in business and accounting are accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting.
College of Education
The University’s professional education programs for BK-12 teachers, counselors, and administrators are approved by the NC State Board of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Counseling programs in Counselor Education are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
College of Engineering
The baccalaureate programs in civil, computer, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
The civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering technology baccalaureate programs are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
The construction management baccalaureate program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission and the Applied and Natural Science Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.
College of Health and Human Services
The baccalaureate degree in nursing/master’s degree in nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice and/or post-graduation APRN certificate at University of North Carolina at Charlotte is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).
The undergraduate nursing programs are approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
The Nursing Anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA).
The Neurodiagnostics and Sleep Science program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Commission on Accreditation for Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoA PSG).
The Exercise Science program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Commission on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES).
The Clinical Exercise Physiology concentration of the Master of Science in Kinesiology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Commission on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (CoAES).
The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy and the Master of Science in Respiratory Care programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
The Master of Health Administration program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
The Public Health programs (BSPH, MPH, Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences, and Ph.D. in Health Services Research) are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Both the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and the Master of Social Work (MSW) are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
The Department of Chemistry is on the approval list of the American Chemical Society.
The Public Relations program within the Department of Communication Studies is certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
The Clinical Psychology program within the Ph.D. in Health Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
Graduate School
The University is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools, the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, and The North Carolina Conference of Graduate Schools.
