METU Department of Architecture

The graduate programmes leading to the degrees of M.Arch., M.S. in Restoration, M.S. in Building Science and M.A. in History of Architecture take a minimum of four semesters. The programs are structured to enable specialization in the options offered by the Department. The candidates for M.Arch. should have an undergraduate degree in architecture. Prior to the submission of the thesis, students are required to complete 24 credit hours (a minimum 7 courses with credit) for M.Arch. in Architecture and M.S. in Building Science; 21 credit hours (minimum 7 courses with credit) for the M.A. in History of Architecture and 40 credit hours (minimum 10 courses with credit) for the M.S. in Restoration degrees. Courses being registered by the student should be approved by the Department.

Post-graduate studies leading to Ph.D. degrees are conducted according to the Academic Regulations of the University which prescribe relevant requirements and provisions for said degrees (See: Academic Regulations).

Research Options in the Programs

Architectural and Environmental Psychology: Research into the behavioral aspects of the design process. Investigates the socio-psychological aspects of man-environment relations. Presents a current cross-section of the developments in the field and prepares a basis for experimentation with issues related to space.
Axiology: Investigates the value systems affecting the preference of the designer or the people. Endeavors for a systematic integration of value systems based on the premises of design methodology. Option encourages interview and sampling on Turkish cases.
Design for Specific Function: The research required for the design of functionally specific, specialized or complicated buildings, e.g., Hospitals, Educational Buildings, Laboratories, Design for Leisure, Dormitories. Prepares the ground for the design project.
Design Methods Research: Research into field of methodology of design. Tries to develop new methods for building complete problem situations and experiments with already developed methods to test their validity.
Meaning in Architecture: Philosophical basis for the analysis and interpretation of the life of the architectural object in the social world.
Evaluation of Architecture and Architecture Culture: Architectural criticism, judgment of values, measurable factors of architecture, terminology of architectural criticism. Intends to constitute and/or utilize methods for building performance research and appraisal.
Landscape Design Research: Design Research on outdoor spaces, courtyards, streets, green areas, plazas, sports fields and national parks.
Design research for large architectural complexes such as university campuses, research stations, industrial estates and leisure areas.
Research in Modular Coordination.
Theory of Design: Research on the theoretical aspects of a given design problem. An investigation of the multitude of alternatives to be tested to achieve a valid design thesis.
Urban Architecture Research: Theoretical and design research for the rapidly growing and changing urban patterns. Developing centers, development and the legal, social and economic aspects of the urban environment.
Theories and Methods of Architectural Education: Architectural education as a research problem and as a practical problem. Developing systematic modes of analyzing education, and designing curriculum. Management of educational time and space.
Computational Design and IT Technologies in Architecture: Impact of computational and information technologies and subsequent changes in architectural design paradigm are investigated.
Economic Aspect of Building: Research into investment and financial credit policies, cost analysis, the construction industry, profitability, and related issues.
Environment and Ecology: A systems integration of ecological complexity which traces the relevant characteristics of architectural activity in the primeval process of adaptation. Tries to disclose the natural dominating context variables, their dynamics, and interdependencies.
Structural Design Research: Collecting the theoretical knowledge and making the required calculations for a specific structure that is to be tested experimentally.
Construction Management: planning, monitoring and control of construction, cost control, resource planning, human resources management, contract management, system analysis.
Efficiency and Sustainability: Design of environmentally conscious and energy efficient buildings (including materials, components, and usage) focusing upon principles to minimize the building’s impact upon the environment by limiting what they take from it and what they give back to it.
Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Technologies: State of art technologies in building design and ‘manufacturing’ are explored and new interfaces for architectural design are investigated.
Research in Acoustics: In this field, special attention is focused on room acoustics including researches on shaping of sound field inside enclosed spaces by active and/or passive means, multi-purpose hall design, concert hall design and simulation of such halls and scale modeling as well as optimization of sound fields.
Case Studies in Historic Context: Contextual study of selected individual buildings, groups of buildings, building types and urban development of historic periods.
Theories of Architectural History: Conceptual investigation of stylistic and theoretical issues, new trends and historiography.
Theory of Conservation/Restoration: International scopes and problems in Turkey.
Conservation, Restoration, Interpretation, Presentation and Management of Archaeological Sites.
Architectural Conservation: Singular or group of cultural properties including traditional residential architecture with emphasis on structural and material problems (physical, mechanical and chemical properties and mechanics of deterioration), documentation techniques, refunctioning and adaptation possibilities for contemporary requirements and restoration problems.
Conservation, Rehabilitation and Management of Historic Sites: Research, survey, analysis, evaluation and decision-making processes in conservation of historic urban/rural sites by considering the natural, historical, architectural, visual, socio-economical, legal, administrative, financial and managerial aspects.
Contemporary Architecture in Historic Environments.
Legal, Administrative and Economic Aspects of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Properties.
Research on Historic Building Materials: Properties and weathering processes of historic materials, diagnostic studies, conservation and repair treatments.
Management of Historic Buildings and Sites
Cultural Heritage Recording and Information Management: Theoretical and technical aspects of documentation, recording and information management for conservation of cultural heritage.