Accreditation

The Citadel is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Bachelor's, Master's, and Specialist degrees. The institution was initially accredited in 1924, was last reaffirmed in 1994, and is scheduled to receive its next reaffirmation of accreditation in 2004.

Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering Programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410)347-7700.  ABET began in 1932 as the Engineers’ Council for Professional Development (ECPD) to promote the status of the engineering profession and enhance the quality of engineering education. In 1980, the ECPD became the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology focusing its efforts on the accreditation of educational programs. ABET now accredits some 2,300 engineering, engineering technology, and engineering-related educational programs at over 500 colleges and universities in the United States. ABET is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation for its responsibility in these areas. In 1997, ABET expanded its mission to include the accreditation of applied science programs. ABET is a federation of 28 professional engineering and technical societies. Representatives from these societies, who are practicing professionals from industry and academe, form the body of ABET through its Board of Directors and three working Commissions: Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC), and Related Accreditation Commission (RAC). The ABET Board of Directors sets policy and approves accreditation criteria while the Commissions implement accreditation procedures and decisions. The active participation of practicing professionals allows accreditation to reflect standards set by the profession itself.

ABET provides world leadership to assure quality and stimulate innovation in engineering, technology, and applied science education. ABET serves the public through the promotion and advancement of engineering, technology, and applied science education.

The Citadel has been continuously accredited by ABET in Civil Engineering since 1936 and in Electrical Engineering since 1976.

Programs for the preparation of secondary teachers at the bachelor's level, for the preparation of secondary and special education teachers at the master's level, for the preparation of guidance counselors at the master's and specialist degree levels, and for the preparation of school superintendents at the specialist degree level are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). NCATE is a non-governmental, non-profit coalition of 30 national organizations representing educators and the public, all committed to quality teaching and teacher preparation.

Established in 1954, NCATE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation as the professional accrediting agency for teacher preparation and other personnel preparing for a career in public education. In recent years NCATE has put in place demanding standards for schools, colleges, and departments of education that prepare teachers and school specialists.

The Citadel has been continuously accredited by NCATE since 1975.

The Citadel’s programs in Business Administration, both graduate and undergraduate, are accredited by AACSB – The International Association for Management Education, a not-for profit corporation of over 670 U.S. educational institutions; over 140 international educational institutions; and approximately 60 business, government and nonprofit organizations devoted to the promotion and improvement of higher education in business administration and management. The AACSB accredited schools annually award over 55 percent of all the degrees awarded in business and management education.

Organized in 1916, AACSB is the premier accrediting agency for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in business administration and accounting. As of April 1999, there are 370 accredited programs--355 in the U.S., seven in Canada, two in Europe, two in Mexico, two in Asia, one in Central America, and one in the United Kingdom.

AACSB also is the professional organization for management education. In addition to its accreditation function, the organization conducts an extensive array of development programs for faculty and administrators; engages in research and survey projects on topics specific to the field of management education; maintains relationships with disciplinary associations and other groups; interacts with the corporate community on a variety of projects and initiatives; and produces a wide variety of publications and special reports on trends and issues within management education.

The Citadel’s bachelor’s and master’s programs in business administration were accredited by AACSB in April 1996 and reaccredited in March 2000.

The B.S. Chemistry Program is accredited by the American Chemical Society and reaccreditation was received in 1997.