The goal of the Bachelor's degree program in Architecture is to cultivate architects who acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to bridge interdisciplinary areas such as history and theoretical foundations, construction sciences, and design knowledge, to be applied in the design of human-made and natural environments. Gaining skills in design requires awareness of social, cultural, and psychological aspects, as well as learning the language of communication in the humanities and applying it in engineering and construction sciences. Developing the architect's insight facilitates a better understanding of the social and cultural context in which architectural works are established.
Continuous review of the undergraduate architecture education program, while taking into account the cultural values of Iranian architecture, provides the opportunity for a better understanding of theoretical ideas and new construction technologies and adapting them to local conditions.
A Bachelor's degree in Architecture is a field in which students, through acquiring essential knowledge and skills, gain the capability to perform professionally and in research in architecture and related fields. The areas of participation for architecture professionals include design, supervision, execution, and project management in construction. Related fields and specializations to Bachelor of Architecture include further theoretical study and design in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, construction sciences, building technology, project management, history and theory of architecture, preservation and restoration of buildings and urban fabric, and other diverse topics related to architecture and urbanism. Graduates of this program will be equipped to apply foundational architectural knowledge in various stages of design, construction, and supervision of building projects.
According to the latest approved syllabus, the total number of credits for the Bachelor's degree in Architecture is 140 academic credits, comprising 22 credits of general courses, 23 credits of foundational courses, 75 credits of required specialized courses, 4 credits of foundational elective courses, 10 credits of specialized elective courses, and 6 credits for the final project. Some courses in the program are practical in nature, some theoretical, and some are structured as practical-theoretical combination courses.
The duration of the program is 9 semesters. The first 8 semesters comprise a combination of practical and theoretical courses, while the ninth semester is dedicated to the final project. In each semester, only one 5-credit design course and a maximum of one 3-credit practical course can be taken alongside theoretical courses. In the first four semesters, students can select 4 credits (2 courses) from the foundational elective courses, while in semesters 5 to 8, they can choose 10 credits (from 1, 2, and 3-credit courses) from the groups of specialized elective courses. Specialized elective courses are selected from the defined groups with the guidance of the relevant instructors and educational group.
Objectives
The Master's program in Architecture, as a graduate course, comes after completing the Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering. The main goal of establishing this Master's program at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, is to prepare graduates of the Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering for entry into the architectural profession and practical activities, as well as to create pathways for research and advanced studies in architecture.
Given the country's need for experienced architects in both practical and research fields, and considering the significant interest from architecture graduates in pursuing Master's and Ph.D. programs, the responsibility of the University of Tehran as the leading university for launching this program is substantial.
It is anticipated that students in this program, while engaging in architectural design exercises in design workshops, will also be introduced to theoretical and practical perspectives on better design through theoretical courses. The curriculum is structured around the interaction of three key areas: design courses, courses familiarizing students with the wisdom and philosophy of architecture, and courses introducing them to the professional environment. This interaction is designed so that in each semester, students will complete their workshop (practical) and theoretical courses with predefined objectives. Throughout this program, after gaining a better understanding of design studies and the foundations of planning and design, and while being introduced to theoretical and philosophical views related to architectural design, students will be able to align this information and theories with practical constraints and needs, becoming skilled and creative designers.
To achieve these objectives, during the first semester of the program, students are expected to gain a preliminary understanding of their design thoughts and methods. In the second semester, they will be introduced to theoretical perspectives of architecture and encouraged to think deeply in these areas. In the third semester, students will be asked to prepare themselves for entering professional activities using practical courses. Thus, in each academic semester, the topics of workshop and theoretical courses are defined according to specific objectives for that semester, allowing students to lay the groundwork for the fourth semester, during which they will focus on developing their thesis and final project.
According to the approved regulations of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, the total number of credits for the Master's program in Architectural Engineering is 32 credits, which includes 24 credits of core courses, 2 credits of elective courses, and 6 credits for the thesis. Additionally, the duration of the program is a minimum of 4 semesters and a maximum of 6 semesters.
Objectives
The Master's program in Interior Architecture is designed based on a curriculum that extends from Bachelor’s degree programs, focusing on the technical and artistic aspects of the field. This program aims to address the extensive and broad subject of interior architecture, intending to train specialists who possess artistic, creative, critical, analytical, and strategic thinking.
While the introduction of a research-oriented scientific perspective through topics such as managing conditions and amenities, the role of human factors in design, analyzing interior spaces, and the history and fundamentals of interior architecture are evident throughout the program and among the theoretical courses, this program cannot be considered solely academic and research-focused. Graduates of this program will acquire the necessary capabilities to engage in various professional fields.
Interior architecture is a discipline with ample practical opportunities in society. Designing and creating interiors for exhibitions (both large and small), staging spaces for seminars and festivals, planning and organizing the interiors of retail stores, hotels, offices, banks, shopping centers, residential houses, railway and metro stations, terminal halls, airports, and more, as well as the restoration and revitalization of historical buildings, are all areas that require interior architectural designers.
Currently, due to a lack of specialists in the field of interior architecture in the country, graduates from other fields such as architects, industrial designers, set designers, and even graphic designers, as well as artisans and decorators at the experiential and professional levels, are engaging in this work. Thus, creating a foundation for training specialists in interior architecture who can rely on knowledge, experience, creativity, interest, art, and expertise in this field is essential.
According to the approved regulations of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, the total number of credits for the Master's program in Interior Architecture is 28 credits, and the duration of the program is a minimum of 4 semesters and a maximum of 5 semesters. The proposed curriculum for this program includes 12 credits of specialized courses, 12 credits of elective courses, and 4 credits for the thesis.
Objectives
A brief look at our surrounding environment reveals that architecture in our country is afflicted by a complex illness, the most significant symptom of which is the decline in quality and loss of identity. To combat this issue, actions must be taken from various angles, with architecture schools playing a crucial role. To address the decline in quality, efforts must focus on enhancing the knowledge and abilities of the academic community. To confront the loss of identity, architecture schools in the country must foster and grow indigenous values.
In the first case, if we separate knowledge from ability, the doctoral program in architecture will be responsible for enhancing architectural knowledge. To elevate architectural knowledge, it is essential to expand and deepen architectural understanding while filtering it through the lens of our cultural heritage.
The doctoral program in architecture is a coordinated collection of scientific, educational, and research activities in the field of architecture (including civil projects, industrial projects, infrastructure, and other ventures) that relies on concepts, perspectives, and both theoretical and empirical methods—or a combination of the two—to remedy the informational deficiencies of candidates and pave the way for achieving research objectives.
The necessity of this doctoral program goes beyond training the required faculty for universities and educational institutions; it aims to cultivate researchers and senior architectural consultants for various fields. This program allows graduates from Master's degree programs in architecture and other related disciplines to continue their education at the most advanced level of architectural expertise in the country.
Candidates for this program will be drawn from graduates of Master's degree programs across various architecture specializations and other related fields. Admission can occur through three routes: through the National Organization for Educational Testing, direct admission for distinguished talents, or admission based on a professor's recommendation without examination.
According to the approved regulations of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, the doctoral program in architecture consists of two components: educational and research. Doctoral students must complete a total of 36 credits during their educational and research phases. Of these, 18 credits will be obtained from defined (core and elective) courses, with the remaining 18 credits allocated to the dissertation.
At the beginning of the program, students must complete 9 credits of courses each semester for two semesters. The courses defined for the first academic semester are core courses that are offered exclusively during that time. In the second semester, students may choose three 3-credit elective courses totaling 9 credits. All core and elective courses must be selected from those offered at the School of Architecture.
After completing the educational phase, students must take a comprehensive examination, which consists of both written and oral components. Upon passing this examination and selecting a supervisor and advisor, students must register for 18 dissertation credits.
The duration of the doctoral program is defined as 8 academic semesters, during which students must present two seminars related to their dissertation topic to facilitate the scheduling of the pre-defense and final defense sessions.
