IUP holds itself to incredibly high standards, and the university takes great pride in offering the highest quality education possible.
But you don’t have to take our word for it.
IUP is very proud to hold university-wide regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the “gold standard” of external evaluation.
In addition, scores of individual programs have undergone self-study and external review by experts in those disciplines to ensure that the programs meet professional standards and prepare students for careers in those fields. Even the IUP Allegheny Arboretum has accreditation from ArbNet and the Morton Arboretum!
Specialized Accreditations
The following programs have earned special accreditation or national recognition:
Art
Art, BSEd: National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Art History, BA: National Association of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Art Education, BSEd: National Association of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation/Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Fashion Studies, BS: National Association of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Interior Design, BS: National Association of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Studio Art, BFA (Graphic Design and Illustration): National Association of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Studio Art, BA: National Association of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Business
Culinary Arts AAS: American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF)
Baking and Pastry AAS: American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF)
Accounting, BS: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Finance, BS: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Event Management, BS: Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA)
Human Resource Management, BS: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Management, BS: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Master of Business Administration, MBA: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Marketing, BS: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Computer Science
Computer Science Languages and Systems: Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (CAC)
Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)
Education
Primary accreditation through Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
(CAEP replaced NCATE in September 2014)
Curriculum and Instruction, DEd: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Early Childhood Education, BSEd: Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Early Childhood Education with Special Education – Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Literacy MEd: International Literacy Association
English Education, BSEd: Specialized Professional Association (SPA)/National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
English Education, MEd: Specialized Professional Association (SPA)/National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Family and Consumer Science Education, BSEd: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Health and Physical Education, BSEd: Society of Health and Physical Educators/Health Education Teacher Education (SHAPE/HETE)
Health and Physical Education, MEd: Society of Health and Physical Educators/Health Education Teacher Education (SHAPE/HETE)
Instructional Design and Learning Technologies: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Master’s in Education, MEd: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Mathematics Education (Middle level), BSEd: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
Middle Level Education, BSEd: Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)
Principal Certification: National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP, formerly ELCC)
Safety and Driver’s Education: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Secondary Science Education, BSEd: National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
School Counseling, MEd: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP)
School Psychology, PhD, EdS (Educational Specialist degree): National Association of School Psychologists
Social Studies Education, BSEd: National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Spanish Education, BSEd: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
Teacher Education (Certification, MEd, MA, MA/Teaching English, DEd): National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
Vocational Education certificate program: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Vocational Leadership certificate program: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Vocational Cooperative Education certificate program - Pennsylvania Department of Education
Food and Nutrition
Food and Nutrition, MS and DNP, MS: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Nutrition, BS: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Literacy
Literacy MEd: International Reading Association (IRA)
Mathematics, BSEd: International Reading Association (IRA)
Music
Music, BA: National Association of Schools of Music
Music, BFA: National Association of Schools of Music
Music Education, BSEd: National Association of Schools of Music
Music Education, MA: National Association of Schools of Music
Music Performance, MA: National Association of Schools of Music
Music, MA: National Association of Schools of Music
Nursing
Nursing, BS: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Nursing, MS: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Physical Education and Sport
Physical Education and Sport/Exercise Science, BS: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Psychology
Clinical Psychology, PsyD: American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation
Respiratory Care
Respiratory Care, BS: Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
Safety Sciences
Safety Sciences, BS: Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC) of ABET
Speech Language-Pathology
Speech-Language Pathology BS: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-Language Pathology, MS: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Theater
Theater (Design/Tech, General, Performance, Theory/History: National Association of Schools of Theatre Commission on Accreditation