Accreditation

In the United States, accreditation is a non-governmental, peer reviewed process that ensures educational quality. Educational institutions or programs volunteer to periodically undergo this review to determine if minimum criteria are being met. Accreditation verifies that an institution or program meets the criteria, ensuring a quality educational experience.

There are two types of accreditation: institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditation evaluates overall institutional quality. Regional accreditation of institutions is one form of this. Specialized accreditation, however, examines specific programs of study to determine if graduates are prepared to enter the profession. This type of accreditation is granted to specific programs at specific levels. Programs of architecture, nursing, law, medicine and engineering are often evaluated through this type of accreditation.

Photo of a student group on a field trip. Photo of a student in a computer lab.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) provides institutional accreditation for Oregon State University.

 

Accreditation for Civil Engineering

ABET provides specialized accreditation for civil engineering and other programs within the OSU College of Engineering. The Bachelor of Science degree in the civil engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410-347-7700.

 

Accreditation for Construction Engineering Management

The American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) provides specialized accreditation for construction management. The CEM program was first accredited in 1980, and was re-accredited in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008. In 2008 the CEM program accreditation was extended for the maximum six years allowed by the accrediting body.

CEM alumni and their employers have consistently rated the quality of the CEM program highly. Here are the results of the 2007 assessment by graduating seniors, employers, and 2002 and 2005 alumni.