NAAB accreditation opens the door to licensure in all 54 U.S. jurisdictions for O'More College graduates
NASHVILLE, Tenn., (May 19, 2026) — Belmont University’s Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program has earned accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture in the United States. The milestone positions O'More College of Architecture & Design graduates to pursue licensure in all 54 U.S. jurisdictions and enter the profession at the highest level.
NAAB accreditation is a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that evaluates a program's curriculum, faculty, facilities, student achievement, and institutional support. Earning accreditation signals to prospective students, employers, and the profession that Belmont's architecture program meets or exceeds national standards for excellence in architectural education.
“Earning accreditation is a defining milestone for O’More and a powerful affirmation of the kind of education we are building at Belmont,” said Dean Rick Archer. “For our students, this opens doors to licensure and opportunity across the country. For our college, it strengthens our momentum as we continue to grow a collaborative, forward-thinking design community that equips graduates to shape the built environment in meaningful and lasting ways.”
Belmont’s architecture program is grounded in a Christ-centered commitment and a liberal arts foundation, developing students who are not only technically skilled but critically aware and purpose drive. Faculty, who are both invested educators and experienced practitioners, guide students through rigorous, real-world projects, preparing graduates to sit for the Architect Registration Examination and pursue licensure through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
"What ultimately defines our program is not just what we do, but who our students become," said Dr. Fernando Lima, chair of architecture and associate professor. "We are shaping purpose-driven individuals who can integrate technical excellence with empathy, leadership and a deep sense of responsibility to others — designers who see their work as a calling to serve and transform the world."
Of the program's inaugural graduating class (2025) — the first to ever earn a B.Arch. from Belmont — 17 of 18 graduates secured positions at architecture firms, before accreditation was even in place. Belmont graduates enter a thriving market, with 60+ architecture firms calling Nashville home.
About O’More College of Architecture & Design
O'More College of Architecture & Design has called Belmont home since 2018, when Belmont University acquired the Franklin-based O'More College of Design — an institution founded in 1970 by Ward-Belmont alumna Eloise Pitts O'More. The College moved to Belmont's Nashville campus that fall and was elevated to a standalone college in March 2019, expanding its offerings beyond its design roots to include architecture. Today, O'More is home to programs in architecture, interior design, fashion design and fashion business, and remains the only college in Middle Tennessee offering a B.F.A. interior design program fully accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
About Belmont University
Located near the heart of thriving Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University consists of nearly 9,000 students who come from every state and 33 countries. The University is nationally recognized for its innovative approach as well as its commitment to undergraduate teaching (U.S. News & World Report). As a Christ-centered, student-focused community, Belmont’s mission is to develop diverse leaders of purpose, character and wisdom who possess a transformational mindset and are eager and equipped to make the world a better place. With more than 115 areas of undergraduate study, 41 master’s programs and eight doctoral degrees, Belmont University aims to be the leading Christ-centered university in the world, producing leaders who will radically champion the pursuit of life abundant for all people. For more information, visit http://www.belmont.edu.
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