Master of Architecture

Duration: 2 years

JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROGRAMME

Review the programme arose out of the need to make the training of Architects at a higher level more in tune with the specialised requirements at the work place. It was observed that students at masters level needed more skills in professional management as part of their work in the field. In addition, it was noted that there is an increased demand for quality services and use of new technology within the architectural profession which have led to increased requirements in training.  Such requirements can only be well addressed through advanced level training at a Master of Architecture degree level.

 

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

 

• To equip architects with advanced skills to address practical problems in the field.
• To strengthen capacity at various levels of the professional institutions in government, local authorities and the private sector.
• To impart advanced skills necessary to meet the challenges of competition at the regional and international level.

The programme offers qualified graduates the opportunity to gain further education and experience in design and research in the selected areas of specialisation in Architecture.

Specialisation is offered in the following areas: Architectural Design and Low-cost Housing Design.

KEY CHANGES TO THE PROGRAMME

The following options that were in the initial Master of Architecture programme have been deferred: Earth Architecture, Landscape Design, and Building Technology. A new course, Project Management has been introduced in Semester I of the first year, while Research Methods course has been enhanced. The programme has also introduced options to the Masters of Architecture: Plan A and Plan B.

4.1 Changes to the courses

Changes to the course
	Old course	New course
Enhanced course	ARC 7103 Research Methodology	ARC 7107 Research Methodology and and Scientific Writing
Introduced course	–	ARC 7106 Project Management and Professional Practice
Deferred block of specialisation courses
Earth Architecture
Landscape Design
Building Technology

Plan A

Students under Plan A are required to take two semesters of course work and two semesters of dissertation. To qualify for plan A, a student shall have completed all their course work and has a research proposal by the second week of semester three (Year 2 Semester 1).

 

Plan B

Students under Plan B are required to take three semesters of coursework and one semester of a design project. To qualify for plan B a student shall have completed all their coursework and also have a project proposal by the second week of the forth semester (Year 2 Semester 2).

TARGET GROUP

 

The target group of the programme are the many architects in the field who wish to improve on their professional qualifications in a field which has become highly competitive and demanding.

You may download a detailed copy of the course outline below

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The Programme Structure shall be as follows:

 

Plan A

 

SEMESTER I
Course Code	Course Name	LH       PH       CH      CU
Five Core Courses
ARC 7101	Advanced Applied Design studio	0          150      75        5
ARC 7102	Theory of Design	30        0          30        2
ARC 7107	Research Methodology and Scientific Writing	45        0          45        3
ARC 7104	Human Settlements	30        0          30        2
ARC 7105	Applications CAD	30        0          30        2
ARC 7106	Project Management	45        0          45        3
Total Credit Units = 17
SEMESTER II
Elective Specialisation Course   (Select 1 block of the three Design specialisations given below
Specialisation 1: Architectural Design
ARC 7201	Advanced Studio in Architectural design	0          150        75         5
ARC 7202	Building Types	30          0           30         2
ARC 7203	Community Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 7204	Design for Conservation	30          0           30         2
ARC 7205	History of Architecture & Regional Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 7206	Real Estate Studies	30          0           30         2
Specialisation 2: Housing Design
ARC 7207	Advanced Studio in Low-cost Housing Design	0          150      75        5
ARC 7208	Building Types and Needs	30          0           30         2
ARC 7209	Development projects	30          0           30         2
ARC 7210	Appropriate technology and Materials	30          0           30         2
ARC 7211	Construction Costs and Affordability	30          0           30         2
ARC 7212	History and Theory of Human Settlements	30          0           30         2
Specialisation 3: Urban Design
ARC 7224	Advanced Studio in Urban Design	0           150          0         5
ARC 7225	Urban Planning	30          0           30         2
ARC 7226	Theory of Urban Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 7227	History of Urban Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 7228	Urban Sociology and Community Development	30          0           30         2
ARC 7229	Urban Economics	30          0           30         2
Total Credit Units = 15
SEMESTER III & IV
One Core
ARC 8100	Research by Dissertation	–           300      150      10
ARC 8101	Research Seminar	30          –           30        2
Total Credit Units = 12

 

PLAN B

SEMESTER I
Course Code	Course Name	LH       PH       CH      CU
Five Core Courses
ARC 7101	Advanced Applied Design studio	0          150      75        5
ARC 7102	Theory of Design	30        0          30        2
ARC 7103	Research Methodology and Scientific Writing	30        0          30        2
ARC 7104	Human Settlements	30        0          30        2
ARC 7105	Applications CAD	30        0          30        2
ARC 7106	Project Management & Professional Practice	30        0          30        2
Total Credit Units = 15
SEMESTER II
Core Courses
ARC 7201	Advanced Studio in Architectural design	0          150         75         5
ARC 7202	Building Types	30          0           30         2
ARC 7203	Community Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 7204	Design for Conservation	30          0           30         2
ARC 7205	History of Architecture & Regional Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 7206	Real Estate Studies	30          0           30         2
SEMESTER III
Elective Specialisation Course   (Select 1 block of the two Design specialisations given below)
Specialisation 1: Housing Design
ARC 8102	Advanced Studio in Low-cost Housing Design	0          150         75         5
ARC 8103	Building Types and Needs	30          0           30         2
ARC 8104	Development Projects	30          0           30         2
ARC 8105	Appropriate Technology and Materials	30          0           30         2
ARC 8106	Construction Costs and Affordability	30          0           30         2
ARC 8107	History and Theory of Human Settlements	30          0           30         2
Specialisation 2: Urban Design
ARC 8108	Advanced Studio in Urban Design	0           150          0         5
ARC 8109	Urban Planning	30          0           30         2
ARC 8110	Theory of Urban Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 8111	History of Urban Design	30          0           30         2
ARC 8112	Urban Sociology and Community Development	30          0           30         2
ARC 8113	Urban Economics	30          0           30         2
Total Credit Units = 15
SEMESTER  IV
One Core
ARC 8203	Research by Design Project	0          150          75        5
ARC 8202	Seminar	30          0           30         2
Total Credit Units = 7