Plan of Studies 2010/11
List of Courses


The studies at the Academy of Architecture–Università della Svizzera italiana are compatible with the new European University Studies System (Bologna process). The degree awarded at the end of the studies (M.Arch. of Science in Architecture) is recognized in the European Community.
Admission is also possible to the course of studies to obtain the Diploma (M.Arch.), especially for those who already hold a Bachelor from a university with a plan of studies recognized as equivalent.
Access is dependent on the capacity of the facilities (see General Information).


Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees

Studies at the Academy are divided into semesters. The first two offer an introductory training, followed by four semesters to complete the B.Arch. (three-year degree) and another four for the M.Arch. The last semester is devoted to the Diploma project. They are supplemented by two semesters of practical work outside the school.
In the first year of the B.Arch., students will have the opportunity to verify their aptitudes as they establish the theoretical and practical foundations of the architect’s education. It will present introductory lessons in the various subject areas of the Academy’s syllabus and gain practical drafting skills in the architectural design studios.
The course of studies includes a period of work experience in a firm for a minimum total duration of two semesters, to enable students to acquire the essential skills in using drafting instruments. At the conclusion of the period of practical work each student is required to present the results to an assessment committee that will appraise its validity.

In the subsequent semesters of the B.Arch. and then the M.Arch., students will develop their theoretical knowledge and practical skills by attending lectures on historical-humanistic and technical-scientific subjects as well as the design studios (ateliers). In their final semester of the M.Arch., students will work on a research and study project that will constitute the Diploma syllabus.
Courses in historical-humanistic and technical-scientific subjects cover the following subject areas: Theory of Art and Architecture, Culture of the Territory, Philosophy, Construction and Technology, Structures, Ecology, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Architectural design will be of central importance through the whole course of studies and will be closely related to the teaching of the historical-humanistic and technical-scientific subjects. The design work will be organized in design studios.
The project themes are defined by the architects-professors and vary from semester to semester. By the end of the M.Arch. each student will have produced nine projects and completed the Diploma work.
A design studio, guided by a professor or chargé de cours assisted by two architects will have a maximum of 24 students. Attendance at studio sessions is compulsory.
In the first year of the B.Arch. there will be one more design studio in Design and Representation, attended by all students (that’s why it’s called “horizontal”). In terms of course loads and credits earned, the vertical studios amount to half of the course requirements.

Papers
In the years of the M.Arch course students are asked to produce two theoretical papers on topics of their own choice with the approval of the teachers.

Field trips
During academic year, in addition to visits to the sites chosen for the design studios, there will be field trips linked with the lecture courses. Open to students from the second year on, the content of these trips and in some cases the allocation of credits will be decided case by case.


Examinations

The Academy, to secure Europe-wide parity, adopts the European system for assessing university studies, known as the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The credits are calculated as follows:
_ a semestral design studio rates 15 ECTS (10 ECTS for first-year of the B.Arch.)
_ a semestral horizontal design studio rates 5 ECTS
_ a 48-hour lecture course rates 5 ECTS
_ a 24-hour lecture course rates 2.5 ECTS
_ one theoretical paper rates 5 ECTS
_ the semestral Diploma work rates 30 ECTS

Students gain the ECTS credits for each course only by passing the relevant examination.
At the end of each semester the student is required to have gained a pass in a design examination plus theoretical subjects for a total of 30 ECTS.
For more details, students are referred to the Rules of Study at the Academy, which can be obtained from the Faculty office.


Diploma

The work for the Diploma consists in a project which the student develops in the course of the last semester of the M.Arch. course. A pass gains 30 ECTS. Each Diploma design studio will generally contain a maximum of 12 students, supervised by a professor and an architect-assistant.
Each year the Commission nominated for the Diploma chooses a single territory as the common theme of all the Diploma design studios. The single territory facilitates the preparation and comprehension of the context in which the project is to be completed.
The professors are assured of flexibility in the choice of the different projects regarding the territory chosen.
The Diploma semester is to be considered a semester of university studies in every respect and entails attendance at the design studios and participation in the school’s cultural life.

The Diploma syllabus involves:
_ individual architectural design work in studio sessions (on a site and topic presented by the faculty member in charge of the design studio) and the related critiques
_ participation in seminars dealing with the Diploma topic held by the faculty members in charge of the supplementary subjects, assisted by the architect-assistants from the design studios
_ participation in the collective critiques of the Diploma design studios

The discussion of the Diploma project before the jury is public and constitutes the final examination before graduating as an architect. For the details, students are referred to the Academy’s Rules of Study. Students from other universities who intend to enrol in the Diploma course must have successfully attended at least one year of studies of the program at the Academy.

It should be noted that from academic year 2006-07 the Diploma/M.Arch. conferred by the Academy entails the right to enrol in the Italian State Examination without attending supplementary courses for the recognition of the qualification.


Doctoral Studies

At the Academy advanced studies are available leading to the degree of Doctor of Architecture (DrArch), Doctor of Technical Sciences (DrScTech) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The doctoral degree certifies that its holder has completed a personal and innovative research project with a notable scientific value. The degree will be awarded after the successfully defence of a doctoral thesis. The bodies responsible for the doctorate are: the Doctoral Board, the Director of Theses and the Thesis Jury.