Architecture Degrees Online

Master in architecture

Would you like to create beautiful buildings that will outlast you? Would you like to shape aesthetic and practical surroundings to people’s delight? Do you want to work within a fascinating profession?

By following this five-year long Master’s degree programme in Architecture you will be trained as a creative planner in one of Norway’s largest industries. Planning and building activities in Norway amount to more than NOK 100 billion every year. The architect’s main area of responsibility and knowledge is the shaping of our physical surroundings with a view to quality, practical use and aesthetic value.

Interdisciplinarity
At NTNU we make sure our lecturers are highly skilled professionals. Landscape architects, interior decorators, advanced engineers, philosophers, sociologists, industrial designers and art historians teach alongside performing artists, but the majority of our teachers are trained architects. This is a presumption in order for our students to learn how to include the different architectural aspects in their work.

A project and problem based programme
Through project assignments and lectures the students will learn how to approach problems of various natures, and solve them in an aesthetical, practical and resource-friendly manner.

Parallel to the projects, we teach various theoretical, analytical and practical subjects which provide the basis for the creative process.

Specializations
The first three years of the programme are identical for all students. After that, the students may specialize over two years within the following areas:
Planning of buildings and building environments for industry and business, public institutions and housing
Form and function, creative processes and planning methodology
Technical and financial aspects of architectural activities. Construction engineering, technical installations, building economy, building management and computer engineering
Drawing, plastic form, use of colours and aesthetic communication
The theory and history of architecture; protection, renovation and improvement of buildings and building environments
City and town development, physical planning.

Excursions
Excursions in Norway and abroad are an important element of the programme. The students’ sense of form is trained through personal observations of surroundings and objects. Studies of both historical and modern examples are important in the learning process.

Studies abroad are also relevant for many students in their final part of the programme.

Spesialisation requirements
The first two years (120 credits) are compulsory and the same for all students in the study programme. In this part of the programme, a one-week obligatory job placement is included in the course LAA113 (Introduction to Landscape Architecture II). In the next three years (180 credits), the students choose between three specialisations. The specialisation Design and Detail Project Planning consists of 80 compulsory credits, 70 elective credits and a Master\’s thesis of 30 credits. The specialisation Superior Landscape Planning consists of 75 compulsory credits, 75 elective credits and a Master\’s thesis of 30 credits. The specialisation Urban Green Space and Landscape Management consists of 90 compulsory credits, 60 elective credits and a Master\’s thesis of 30 credits. In all the three specialisations, a compulsory specialisation course at the 300 level is included in the fifth academic year that is directed towards the respective specialisation and where the purpose is to gather all the academic threads. The elective part should primarily consist of courses in landscape architecture or courses particularly relevant to the specialisation course in the chosen specialisation. The compulsory courses that are included in the first and second part of the programme are specified in the Internet version of the curriculum.

Student advising
The academic staff and the student adviser are responsible for providing guidance in relation to courses, project assignments and Master\’s thesis, and in addition, the following advisory channels have been established: Several information meetings for the students are held each year: Information meetings at the beginning of a new academic year, information meeting about study periods abroad, information meeting at the beginning of the spring semester, information meeting for postgraduates, information meeting about choice of topic for the Master\’s thesis, information meeting about choice of specialisation, and other information meetings when necessary.

Evaluation
The teachers in the study programme have staff meetings regularly where the programme\’s content and profile are discussed. Each semester, day-long staff meetings are also arranged where specific courses in the study programme are discussed. Staff meetings are also arranged at the end of each semester where study techniques and experiences from recent courses are discussed and evaluated by the teachers in plenary. Time is set aside for mid-semester evaluations by the students. These are used to adjust the direction of the course. External examiners from the profession are some of our most important correctives when it comes to teaching. Once a year, meetings with the board in the Norwegian Association of Landscape Architectures are held to discuss the study programme.