UNITY UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
The Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at present offers Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture and Urban Planning.
It was in 1995 E.C. that the School of Architecture was established at the then Unity University College. The same year, the admission of the first batch was conducted. The instructional program began by offering merely common courses. That same year, about 50 students were registered for the regular program in the 5-year curriculum. In 1996 E.C. the second academic year for the first batch went on smoothly and the main architectural courses were offered. No new students were admitted. Furthermore, pre-accreditation for a four-year program was obtained.
In 1997 E.C. normal registration started and full accreditation was obtained for the four-year program. At the end of this year the first batch graduated. Besides, full accreditation was obtained for the first batch under the five-year program.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
Ethiopia being one of the developing countries needs all rounded graduates who are skilled to handle relatively wide fields of interrelated disciplines. It is with this in mind that the curriculum is designed. To achieve its end, the curriculum not only covers the field of Architecture and Urban Planning but also closely related fields, such as: Interior Design, Eco System Planning and Management, Environmental Planning & Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning & Design, and Construction Management. Currently, there is a chronic shortage of professionals skilled in disciplines related to Architecture, as these subjects are generally given in graduate programs. In the absence of graduate programs, which develop specialized professionals; we found it wise to include these disciplines as part of the undergraduate program and deliver them at an introductory level. These will result in having professional Architects and Planners but at the same time who are conversant and to a certain extent skilled to tackle problems related to Urban Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture and Construction Management, fields which are at present ill managed or are handled by professionals who know the subjects very remotely.
The program takes the design of individual buildings as the basic issue of the built environment while trying to incorporate related design scale levels so as having a comprehensive understanding of the subject. In simple terms, while the individual building (Architectural Design) is at the core, its interior (Interior Design), its exterior (Landscape Architecture), its related infrastructure and neighboring building (Urban Planning and Design) and the implementation and construction of the above is given due consideration.
The General objective of the degree Program is to produce Architects and Urban Planners with a comprehensive body of knowledge and skills that shape the built environment in order to fulfill the current and future needs worldwide with a specific focus on Ethiopia.
To produce qualified architects and urban planners who can:
The above General and Specific Objectives would be achieved through a range of pedagogy techniques including studio based teaching, lectures, field trips, workshops and professional internships.
FUNDAMENTALS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
With architecture always being responsive to the cultural context, the overall aim is the design of buildings and cities that are robust, responsive to climatic conditions and, in the broadest definition, sustainable and livable. By the end of the Professional Architectural Education, students should have a mature understanding of the controlling influence of environmental, structural and technological issues on Planning, &design and building form, as well as an appreciation of cultural and social issues, visual art disciplines and their influence on design. They should be aware of various institutional and legal as well as constructional processes involved in the design of complex buildings.
For the majority of full time students these subjects should be taught and learnt in a theoretical context, and strengthened by practical experience by integrating them in design projects. Architectural education should also equip the student with tools to assume simultaneously the process of intellectual creation and of economic realization corresponding to the commercial milieu within which the design project is situated. The efficiency of the architect‘s intervention can only be acquired when the architect is considered to be a “specialist” in this area. It is only through organized education, training and experience that the architect will be able to make the appropriate contribution to, and establish the appropriate influence upon, multidisciplinary teams in which an increasing number of specialists of complementary disciplines are to be found.
The UIA/UNESCO charter demands a 10- semester academic study. The revised curriculum requires 11 semesters including internship. The proposed practice (internship) program will take one semester which is added outside of the regular 11 semester schedule and will take a maximum of 4months’ period outside of the university. It is a mandatory exercise that requires the students to bring well documented reports about the specifics of their practice signed and approved by the authorities of the institute, company or organization where they were practicing. The major areas of practice shall also be mentored by the instructors in the department.
Ethics and Conduct
Architects are expected to observe professional ethics and established standards in carrying out their practice. They should maintain professional behavior and integrity. Architectures should uphold public and professional obligation.
The program extends to five academic years and one semester for internship.
The degree to be awarded to a student who has successfully completed all the
required courses of the program reads as follows.
|Bachelor of Science Degree in “Architecture and Urban Planning´
|የሳይንስ የመጀመሪያ ዲግሪ በኪነህንፃ እና በከተማ ንድፍ´