The South Dakota State University’s Department of Architecture’s (DoArch) Master of Architecture program has been granted its initial three-year term accreditation. The new program is now one of only two architecture programs in the Dakotas.

Located in Brookings, South Dakota, DoArch currently offers a non-professional Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and a professional Master of Architecture degree. South Dakota is not particularly known for architecture as there are only around 100 architects in the whole state. Yet the school sees a chance to set itself apart from other schools with a progressive program. The program works closely with the other departments in the College of Arts & Sciences and reaches out to surrounding communities. Drawing on the small practice model of many of the local firms, the school focuses on “an interactive, haptic, and performance-based curriculum rooted in fundamental issues of professional architecture and design practice.”

With the initial three-year accreditation, the National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB) will make its next visit to the school in 2019. At that time, the school will be eligible for either a 6-year, 3-year, or 2-year term of accreditation.