Accreditations and Memberships

Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, specialist in education, and doctoral degrees. Tennessee State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Tennessee State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the recognized regional accrediting body in the eleven U.S. Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia) and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees. To maintain accreditation with the Commission on Colleges, an institution must comply with the standards and requirements in The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and with the policies and procedures of the Commission on Colleges. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges conducts a comprehensive review of its institutions every ten years. The U.S. Department of Education requires accrediting agencies that it recognizes to monitor its institutions to ensure that institutions having access to federal funds continue to meet accreditation standards.

To that end, SACSCOC reaffirmed the accreditation of Tennessee State University on December 2, 2021. The University’s next reaffirmation is 2030.

Program Accreditations

College of Agriculture

Human Sciences (B.S.: American Association of Family and) Consumer Sciences, American Dietetics Association

College of Business

• Business (M.B.A.: The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business)

College of Education

• Education (M.S., M.A.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D.: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• Music (M. Ed.: National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
• Psychology (Ph.D. with concentration in Counseling: American Psychological Association (APA)

• Applied & Industrial Technology (B.S.: The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering)
• Architectural Engineering (B.S.: Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, www.abet.org)
• Mechanical Engineering (B.S.: Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, www.abet.org)
• Civil Engineering (B.S.: Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, www.abet.org)
• Electrical Engineering (B.S.: Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, www.abet.org)
• Computer Science (B.S.: Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, www.abet.org)

• Nursing (M.S.N.: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing)
• Occupational Therapy (MOT: The Master in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association)
• Physical Therapy (DPT: The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education)
• Public Health (M.P.H.: Council on Education for Public Health)
• Speech Pathology and Audiology (M.S.: Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology)

College of Public Service and Urban Affairs

• Public Administration (M.P.A.: The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration)
• Social Work (M.S.W.: The Council on Social Work Education)