Office of the Provost
Location
AD 311
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Accreditation & Approval
Institutional Accreditation and Approval
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to award undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees. In addition, certificates are awarded at the undergraduate upper-division, post-baccalaureate, and post-master's levels. MSCHE reaffirmed Towson University's accreditation on March 10, 2022, following an extensive self-study process. MSCHE has accredited Towson University since 1949.
Accreditation is the educational community's means of self-regulation through quality assurance and improvement. The accrediting process is intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education, making it worthy of public confidence. MSCHE is the regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
1007 North Orange Street
4th Floor, MB #166
Wilmington, DE 19801
Maryland Higher Education Commission
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) coordinates the growth and development of post-secondary education in Maryland. In keeping with the goals outlined in the Maryland State Plan for Higher Education, MHEC establishes statewide policies for public and private colleges and universities, and for private career schools. MHEC reviews and approves the start-up and continuation of new colleges and universities in Maryland, as well as requests for new academic programs at established schools. Towson University was chartered in the State Constitution as the Maryland State Normal School in 1865; consequently, Towson University is an "established school." Towson University has sought and received approval for all programmatic offerings.
Program Accreditation
Expand the program, college, or department below to view information.
Athletic Training Program
The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accredits the Master of Science in Athletic Training. TU's Athletic Training program received initial accreditation in 1999 and was last accredited in 2018.
Audiology Program
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology accredits professional programs. The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) program has been accredited since 2001 and was reaccredited in 2020.
College of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) is the premier accrediting agency for business. Accreditation from AACSB is the longest standing and most recognized form of specialized accreditation business programs can receive. Towson University is accredited by AACSB for both business administration and accounting, a distinction held by less than 2% of business schools worldwide. Towson University’s programs were initially accredited in 1992 and were most recently reaccredited in 2023.
College of Education
The College of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs at Towson University. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relicensure or other purposes. Towson University’s programs have been accredited since 1954 and were last reaccredited in 2024.
The Maryland State Department of Education has approved TU's programs leading to teacher licensure.
Computer Science Program
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science is accredited by ABET (Computing Accreditation Commission) under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria. The B.S. in Computer Science with a track in Cyber Operations is accredited by ABET under the General Criteria and the Cybersecurity Program Criteria. ABET most recently reaccredited the B.S. in Computer Science in 2024.
Department of Dance
The National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on Accreditation (NASD) accredits institutions offering post secondary degrees/programs in dance. Towson University has been accredited by NASD since 1982. Its last accreditation review was in 2013.
Department of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation (NASM) accredits academic units. The Department of Music has been accredited since 1974 and was last reaccredited in 2015.
Department of Theatre Arts
The National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation (NAST) accredits academic units. The Department of Theatre Arts has been accredited since 2003 and was last reaccredited in 2019.
Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Science Programs
The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Science are accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accrediting Commission (FEPAC). TU's programs have been accredited since 2011 and were last reaccredited in 2022.
Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics Program
The Bachelor of Science program in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). TU’s program has been accredited since 2017 and was last accredited in 2024.
Nursing Programs
The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs in nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. TU's nursing programs were most recently accredited in 2018.
The Maryland Board of Nursing has approved the registered nursing program.
Occupational Therapy Programs
TU's master and entry-level doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Graduates of these programs will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.
TU's entry-level occupational therapy doctorate first received full accreditation in 2021. TU's master's program has been accredited since 1978 and was last reacrredited in 2022.
Physician Assistant Studies Program
At its September 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) extended Accreditation-Probation status for the Towson University Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Towson University until its next review in September 2025.
Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation - Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.
Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Accreditation-History-Towson-Univ.pdf
Psychology Program, Counseling Concentration
The Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accredits master's degree programs. The Master of Arts in Psychology with a Counseling Concentration is accredited by MPCAC for the period of February 2016 through February, 2026.
Speech-Language Pathology Program
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology accredits professional programs. The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program has been accredited since 1991 and was reaccredited in 2020.
Governance
Towson University is a member of the University System of Maryland, which includes 12 public institutions, three regional higher education centers, and a system office. The system is governed by a 21-member Board of Regents, appointed by the Governor of Maryland, President of the Maryland Senate, and the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.
State Authorization
Towson University participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. This voluntary regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education provides Towson University approval to offer its distance education programs in other NC-SARA states. Contact the Assistant Provost for Assessment, Accreditation and Compliance for questions related to NC-SARA.
NC-SARA States
Membership in NC-SARA now includes 49 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. California is the only state that has not joined NC-SARA.
The current status of state authorizations by non NC-SARA states follows:
| STATE | APPROVAL TO OFFER ONLINE COURSES/PROGRAMS | APPROVAL TO OFFER ONSITE COURSEWORK (PRACTICUM, INTERNSHIPS, INDEPENDENT STUDIES, ETC.) |
|---|---|---|
| California | Yes | Yes1 |
Academic policies and procedures that apply to all Towson University undergraduate
students are found in the undergraduate catalog. Similarly, the academic policies and procedures pertaining to Towson University
graduate students are found in the graduate catalog. Guidelines to address student complaints exist in the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs and in the Office of Institutional Equity.
Students who reside in an NC- SARA state while taking TU online courses and programs
have recourse to file complaints with the Maryland Higher Education Commission. MHEC
requires students to first exhaust all internal TU complaint procedures.
If a student believes the complaint has not been resolved appropriately by TU, then a complaint to the Maryland Higher Education Commission should be filed within two years of the incident by following MHEC's Student Complaint Process.
Students who reside in non-SARA states while taking TU online courses and programs may obtain contact information for the state in which they reside through the State Higher Education Executive Officers.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education process for complaints about an institution of higher education can be found on its Complaints webpage.