Student Guide
Master's Programme in Architecture
Programme main page
Curriculum 2017–2018
Curriculum for Academic Year 2017–2018
Architecture is a field at the intersection of technology and art. Architects should be able to approach problems not only from a technical or artistic perspective but they also should understand the social, cultural, environmental and economic implications of their work. This is the reason for the broad-based nature of the education in architecture. Because of this, the Master' Programme aims at developing the student's technical, scientific and artistic thinking with respect to the construction of a socially responsible and sustainable future. After completing the degree program, students will have:
- the ability to create architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and technical requirements.
- knowledge of the history and theories of architecture and related fields of art, technology and human sciences.
- knowledge of urban design and planning and the skills involved in the planning process.
- understanding of the relationships between people and the built environment as well as between the built environment and the natural one.
- understanding of the structural, constructional and engineering problems associated with the design of buildings and the ability to provide internal conditions of comfort and protection against various climatic conditions.
The learning outcomes of the program are in line with the regulations of the EU directive that applies to pursuing the professional activities of an architect (Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications). Hence, the program also enables students to:
- understand the methods of investigation and preparation of a brief for a design project.
- meet with their designs the building users' requirements within the constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations.
- understand the various regulations and procedures of the industries and organisations involved in translating design concepts into buildings and urban planning.
The program facilitates students to pursue a career in architecture within Finland but also abroad regardless of whether the goal is to work as an employee in the private or public sector or as an entrepreneur. It also strengthen the student's competence in co-ordination tasks related to design, thus enabling graduates to work as a head designer of demanding construction projects.
The key focus in master's program education is on developing and deepening of skills and knowledge obtained during the bachelor's phase. The topics include the history and theory of architecture, building design and Finnish building art as well as urban planning and design. Course and design studio teaching is enhanced by means of multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced teaching methods. A number of courses are based on a learning-by-doing approach and the working on 'real' design assignments often in collaboration with the local community. In addition, experimental and design research-oriented courses are offered that allow the in depth exploration of specialized topics and the development of an individual expression and voice as a designer.
The program provides opportunities for internationalisation through, for example, exchange studies and international student competitions and study trips. The internships as part of the program can be completed abroad and students can also do field work outside Finland.
Major studies 90 cr, comprising advanced studies in the major (60 cr) and the master's thesis (30 cr).
The scope of a master's thesis is 30 credits. The thesis seminar which may be a part of the degree requirements for a master's degree is not part of the thesis, but is a separate study attainment that is included in advanced studies in the major.
Elective studies 30 credits comprising alternative studies and/or elective studies (minor, specialisation studies, individual courses, training).
Degree structure of the Master's Degree Programme in Architecture (120 credits)
| Modules | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Degree in Architecture | 120 |
| Major (Architecture) | 60 |
| Elective studies | 30 |
|
|
| Master’s Thesis(ARK.thes) | 30 |
|
The thesis is completed on one of the following topics:
|
Advanced studies
Code: ARTS21.M
Credits: 60 ECTS cr.
Responsible Professor: Toni Kotnik
Courses
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits: min. 38 |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory courses | ||
| ARK-E3500 | Building Site Monitoring | 3 |
| ARK-E5000 | Methodology (or other methodological studies approved by the programme) | 5 |
| ARTSt.matr | Maturity test (done simultanously with the Thesis) | 0 |
| The student also selects at least three of the following architecture studio courses in at least two different topics. This must include at least two studios from the student's thesis topic, at least one of which must have a design focus. | ||
| Topic 1: Building Design | ||
| ARK-E2002 | Building Design Studio 1 | 10 |
| ARK-E2003 | Building Design Studio 2 | 10 |
| ARK-E2007 | Interplay of Culture, Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E4500 | Housing in Urban Context, Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E4501 | Diversifying Forms of Living, Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E4004 | Wood Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E5502 | Wooden Town | 10 - 20 |
| ARK-E3503 | Advanced Materials and Techniques in Architecture | 10 |
| ARK-E3504 | Reuse of Buildings | 10 |
| ARK-E3003 | Design of Structures Autumn Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E3004 | Design of Structures Spring Studio | 10 |
| Other Building Design studio courses | min. 10 | |
| Topic 2: Urban Planning and Design | ||
| ARK-E5001 | Possible Cities | 10 |
| USP-304 | Urban challenge studio 1 | 10 |
| ARK-E5501 | Urban Renewal, Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E5502 | Wooden Town, Studio | 10 |
| ARK-E5505 | Sustainable Urban Design | 10 |
| ARK-E5500 | Urban Planning and Design, Studio with Varying Themes | 10 |
| Other Urban Planning and Design studio courses | min. 10 | |
| Topic 3: History and Theory of Architecture | ||
| ARK-E1502 | Architectural Studio 1 | 10 |
| ARK-E1503 | Architectural Studio 2 | 10 |
| ARK-E1002 | History of Architecture, Research Topics | 10 |
| Building Conservation (study module) | 10 | |
| Building Conservation 5 cr + one of the following: Renovation of Traditional Structures 5 cr (design focus), Building Conservation Project 5 cr (design focus), Building History Survey 5 cr (theory focus) | ||
| ARK-E1003 | Building Conservation | 5 |
| ARK-E1004 | Renovation of Traditional Structures | 5 |
| ARK-E1005 | Building Conservation Project | 5 |
| ARK-E1006 | Building History Survey | 5 |
| Other History and Theory of Architecture studio courses | min. 10 |
* ) Not offered in 2017-2018.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative courses | Max. 22 | |
| All of the above-mentioned master's courses that are not included in compulsory minimum requirements are acceptable as alternative studies in the major. On a case-specific basis, foreign studies and individual architecture courses as well as specialisation and minor studies can be accepted, for example, as follows: | ||
| ARK-E3501 | Architect as Project Leader | 2 |
| ARK-E3502 | Working Drawings and Building Specifications (Note: compulsory if the master's thesis is in Building Design) | 5 - 10 (min. 5) |
| ARK-C2003 | Contemporary Finnish Architecture | 2 |
| ARK-E2000 | Art in Built Environment | 2 |
| ARK-E2001 | Basics of User Oriented Space Design | 2 |
| ARK-E2006 | Building Design Studio Lectures | 3 |
| ARK-E2008 | Interplay of Cultures, Research and Theory | 5 |
| ARK-E2009 | Living+ Forum | 2 |
| ARK-E2509 | Design of Structures Theory | 5 |
| ARK-E2510 | Design of Structures Digital Fabrication | 3-5 |
| ARK-E3005 | Design of Structures Tectonics Seminar | 3 - 5 |
| ARK-E2507 | Design of Structures Parametric Design | 3 - 5 |
| ARK-E2508 | Design of Structures Algorithmic Design | 3 |
| ARK-E3505 | Sustainable Building Design | 10 |
| ARK-E4009 | Sustainability Tools for Building Designers | 2-4 |
| ARK-E4503 | Housing Design - Research and Practices | 2-6 |
| ARK-E4507 | Housing Design since the 1860's to the Present Day | 2 |
| ARK-E5507 | Urban Renewal, Lectures on the Topic of the Design Studio | 2 |
| ARK-E5508 | Urban Renewal, Excursion and Workshop | 2-3 |
| ARK-E5509 | Pre-Thesis Seminar | 3 |
| ARK-E0100 | Architectural Competition | 1-10 |
| ARK-E1008 | History of Architecture, Special Project | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E1009 | History of Architecture, Course with Varying Content | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E2004 | Building Design, Special Project | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E2005 | Building Design, Course with Varying Content | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E3506 | Building Technology, Special Project | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E3507 | Building Technology, Course with Varying Content | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E4003 | Wood Construction, Special Project | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E4006 | Wood Program, Course with Varying Content | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E4504 | Housing Design, Special Project | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E4505 | Housing Design, Course with Varying Content | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E5004 | Urban Planning and Design, Special Project | 1 - 10 |
| ARK-E5003 | Urban Planning and Design, Course with Varying Content | 1 - 10 |
* ) Not offered in 2017-2018.
Code: ARK.thes
Credits: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis in Architecture
The scope of a master's thesis is 30 credits. The thesis seminar which may be a part of the degree requirements for a master's degree is not part of the thesis, but is a separate study attainment that is included in advanced studies in the major.
The thesis is completed on one of the following topics:
- Building Design (Professorships: Housing Design, Building Design, Building Technology, Wood Constructions, Design of Structures);
- Urban Planning and Design (Professorships: Urban Planning, Urban Design);
- History and Theory of Architecture (Professorships: Basics and Theory of Architecture, History of Architecture)
Thesis seminars
Thesis Submission Deadlines
Students educated in Finnish or Swedish
For students educated in Finnish or Swedish, i.e. whose official mother tongue is Finnish or Swedish, language studies are designed to be completed as part of the Bachelor of Science (Technology) or another Bachelor’s degree. Students who have not completed the required language studies before starting to pursue the master’s degrees specified above must complete them either as elective studies or in addition to the studies required for the degree. In such cases, the language requirements are as follows:
Master of Science (Architecture)/(Landscape Architecture)
- 9 credits: 3 cr in written and oral communication, 3 cr in the second national language of Finland and 3 cr in one foreign language.
Courses fulfilling language requirements for Master of Arts (Art and Design), Master of Science (Architecture) and Master of Science (Landscape Architecture)
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written and Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Course LCA-7000 Write and Speak Competently for students educated in Finnish, Course LCA-5705 Konsten att tala och skriva professionellt for students educated in Swedish | ||
| LCA-7000 | Write and Speak Competently | 3 |
| LCA-5705 | Konsten att tala och skriva professionellt | 3 |
| Second national language of Finland | 3 | |
| LCA-5703 | Writing and Talking about Art in Swedish | 3 |
| LCA-5704 | Foundations of Writing and Talking about Art (Swedish) | 4 |
| LCA-5701 | National Language Requirement (Swedish) Writing Test) | 2 |
| LCA-5702 | National Language Requirement (Swedish) Oral Test | 1 |
| LCA-7003 | National Language Requirement (Finnish) Writing Test | 2 |
| LCA-7004 | National Language Requirement (Finnish), Oral Test | 1 |
| Foreign language: English | 3 | |
|
To fulfil the foreign language requirement (3 cr for the field of technology), students must demonstrate both oral and written skills (marked o+w) in a single language of their choice Students of architecture or landscape architecture may choose from courses intended for the students of technology (coded ‘LC’) or courses intended for the students of arts (coded ‘LCA’). As the LCA courses are designed to fulfil the more extensive language requirements of the field of arts, students of technology must ensure that the courses chosen fulfil both the oral and written language requirements of their degree. In addition to English, the required foreign language studies may be completed in any of the following languages: Spanish, Italian, Chinese, French, German or Russian. |
||
| LCA-1008 | Writing in Art, Design and Architecture (w) | 3 |
| LCA-1009 | Talking Art, Design and Architecture (o) | 3 |
| LCA-1014 | Directed Studies (o/w) | 1-4 |
| LCA-1020 | Academic Communication for Master's students (o,w) | 3 |
| LCA-1022 | Academic Writing (w) | 3 |
| LCA-1015 | Autonomous Language Learning Path (o + w) | 3 |
| LCA-1016 | Autonomous Language Learning Path II (o + w) | 3 |
| LCA-1112 | Online Presentation Skills for ARTS (o) | 3 |
| LCA-1012 | Integrated Written Skills (w) | 3 |
| LCA-1013 | Integrated Oral Skills (o) | 3 |
| LCA-1018 | Recognition of prior English learning (AHOT in Finnish; o + w) | 6 |
| LC-1114 | Communicating Technology (o+w) * | 3 |
| LC-1115 | Persuasive Communication (o+w) * | 3 |
| LC-1119 | Recognition of prior English learning (AHOT in Finnish) (o+w) * | 3 |
| LC-1310 | Academic Communication for MSc Students (o+w) * | 3 |
| LC-1320 | Thesis Writing for Engineers (MSc) (w) * | 3 |
*) field of technology only
Students educated in other languages than Finnish or Swedish
For students who have been educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish (i.e. whose official mother tongue is neither Finnish nor Swedish) or who have been educated abroad, the language requirements are:
- Master of Science (Architecture)/(Landscape Architecture) 3 cr
Students in this category may fulfil the language requirement for their Master of Science (Architecture) or Master of Science (Landscape Architecture) degree by completing courses that support their studies or their stay in Finland. Students who have been educated abroad are recommended to take Finnish courses as well as English courses that focus on the field-specific language of arts or technology and fulfil the language requirement of the degree. Students may also choose to fulfil the language requirement by completing courses in another foreign language of their choice; all courses counted towards the requirement must be taken in the same language. Language studies may either be counted towards the electives of the degree or completed in addition to the studies required for the degree.
For details on the language courses offered, see the Language Centre Into page.
Code: ARTSt.E
Credits: 30 ECTS cr
Students choose 30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete alternative studies and/or elective studies (minor, specialisation studies, individual courses, training). Kindly note that at least 15 ECTS should be from the field of Architecture ( training is not consired as architectural study).
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