Institutional Accreditation vs. Programmatic Accreditation
Educational accreditation ensures that schools and programs meet certain quality standards. However, with a variety of different types of accreditation out there, it is easy to become bogged down in confusing definitions. This article is designed to help you understand what kind of accreditation will be best for you.
Institutional Accreditation - Programmatic Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation refers to the entire academic institution. The goal of institutional accreditation is to make sure that institutions of higher education meet standard levels of excellence. However, institutional accreditation does not necessarily indicate that all of the institution's parts are achieving equal levels of quality.
Accreditation of a college or university does not automatically mean that credit earned at that school will be accepted elsewhere. Student acceptance and transfer credits are at the discretion of the individual institution. Though accreditation is voluntary, federal financial aid is typically only available to students attending accredited institutions. In addition, student visas may not be approved for students attending non-accredited institutions.
For an institution to be accredited, it must be evaluated by representatives from specific accrediting bodies. The most widely recognized U.S. agencies are:
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- North Central Association (NCA)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
These agencies are responsible for establishing quality standards for educational or professional institutions or programs, determining the extent to which these standards are achieved, and publicly sharing their findings.
The U.S. Department of Education maintains its own Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. The database is searchable by institution or accrediting agency.
Programmatic Accreditation
As opposed to institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation is typically handled by specialty accrediting bodies that are professionally oriented. This type of accreditation is based on the idea that those working in a specific field are most qualified to judge programs in that field.
Major program accrediting bodies include:
- American Bar Association
- American Psychological Association
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- American Library Association
Many other professions, including dentistry and nursing, also have their own accrediting bodies. However, not all professions are evaluated for accreditation.
Program accreditation is often contingent on institutional accreditation. Therefore, it is important to make sure your entire school is also accredited. Program accreditation can be vital for employment in the field, since many employers want to ensure that their workers have graduated from a program that meets standardized standards of quality.
Article Resources:
