Architecture

I.Brief Introduction


The discipline of Architecture focuses on the ontology of architecture, composition of its environment, its fabrication methods and its evolution process. It crosses the boundary of natural science, humanity and social science, with the help of engineering technology and visual arts, to design functional and physical space as the main research, the discipline of architecture is formed by many relevant professional research fields, like theory, design and technology.


The discipline of Architecture in Tongji University was established in 1952, it is a national key discipline. The discipline of Architecture in Tongji University became one of the first colleges to have master degree program (in 1956), doctor degree program (in 1981), post doctor program research station (in 1988). It was one of the first majors that passed the national professional evaluation (in 1992), the first school of establishing the major of Historic Building Conservation Engineering. The discipline of architecture has 135 teachers, among them there are 1 member of Chinese Academy of Science and 1 member of Chinese Academy of Engineering, 37 professors and 54 associate professors, which accounted for 67.4% of the total number of teachers. There are 88 teachers who have doctor degrees which accounted for 65.2% of the total number of teachers. There are 33 full-time and 5 part-time doctoral tutors. 


The discipline has a great achievement in its research and social practice. It has published a large number of monographs, translations and textbooks. Many influential papers were presented in many national and international academic conferences and published by academic magazines. It has won both National and Shanghai Outstanding Teaching Award and the Progress Award of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The discipline also has an international vision with active thinking. It has long-term collaborations of joint design studios with many internationally renowned universities like Princeton University, ETH Zurich, University of Stuttgart, University of Tokyo, Hong Kong University and etc. It established a dual-degree graduate joint training program with 11 international universities, such as TU Berlin, Bauhaus-Universitat Weimar, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Politecnico di Milano, University of Pavia, TU Vienna, Charlmers University of Technology, University of Hawaii System, Georgia Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and University of Colorado Denver. The joint research and exchanging programs spread through America, UK, France, Germany, Swiss, Italy, Spain, Japan and etc.


Associated labs and practical institutes include: Advanced Research Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; High-density Living Environmental Ecology and Energy Key Laboratory (includes Digital Design Research Center, Smart City Research Center, Historical Building Protection Research Center and Green Building Research Center), National Ministry of Education; Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University (Group) Co., Ltd.; Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning & Design Institute; National Laboratory of Urban Planning and Design Theory; Plastic Arts Laboratory; Building Technology Laboratory; National Laboratory of Modern Technology.


Engineering PhD degree will be awarded in the discipline. It can recruit post-doctoral researchers. 


II.Objectives


Candidates shall have strong theoretical knowledge, international vision and outstanding comprehensive ability. Candidates can have creative research and practice independently, they should be the professional elites to lead the future and explore the new fields. To achieve this, candidates need to have several characteristics listed below:

  1. With self-improvement, tolerant and healthy characteristic: establish a correct attitude towards life and have a positive value, with a good work ethic and professionalism, have scientific rigor and pragmatic attitude of learning and work.

  2. Having the ability of gaining the knowledge from observing the objects and studying the relationship: clear acknowledge the architectural phenomenon, influential elements and related connection; ability to propose new research mode and improve the existing mode, ability to apply architectural theory and research method to solve social problems and make creative contribution.

  3. With global view, but starting from local: be familiar with the world-class knowledge structure and convention, to integrate global architectural thinking into local action, can apply foreign language to have international academic communication, participate in international collaboration and competition.


III.Research Orientations


  1. Architectural Design and Theoretical Research

  2. Urban Design and Theoretical Research

  3. Interior Design and Theoretical Research

  4. Architectural History and Theoretical Research

  5. Architectural Heritage Protection and Theoretical Research

  6. Science of Building Technology


Architectural Design and Theoretical Research:

Mainly research on the basic principles and theories of architectural design, objective principles and creative ideas, the skills, techniques and expression of architectural design. Building energy efficiency, green building, building equipment system, intelligent building, building structure and other integrated technology.


Urban Design and Theoretical Research:

Mainly research on the development discipline and characteristic of urban forming, through the arrangement of public space and building groups, various components of city is coordinated with its function and form, it shows the qualification and value of the public environment, stimulates the urban dynamic, meet the social requirements of cultural heritage and economic development.


Interior Design and Theoretical Research:

According to the use of the building, its location and appropriate standard, the discipline mainly research on creating eco-friendly, efficient, comfortable, beautiful and unique interior space to meet the physical and spiritual requirements of people, through the application of material technology and architectural aesthetics 


Architectural History and Theoretical Research:

Mainly focus on the evolution history, theory and development trend of Chinese and foreign architecture, regional characteristic of Chinese traditional architecture and its relationship between architectural localization, the cross application of the thoughts, theory and methodology from other discipline that influence architecture.


Architectural Heritage Protection and Theoretical Research:

Mainly focus on the conservation, repairing and renovation of important architectural heritage that can reflect the achievement of human civilization, technical progress and historical development. It involves the theory of human science, like the history of art and science, archeology, philosophy, aesthetic and etc. It also involves the theory and knowledge of the discipline, like the history of architecture, architectural techniques, the science of building material and environmental studies. 


Science of Building Technology:

Mainly focus on the construction of the building and its relevant building technology, physical environment, building energy and green building, building equipment system, intelligent building, building structure and other integrated technology.


IV.Program Duration


Doctor degree program need 3 years for learning, the longest period of learning is no more than 6 years. But according to "The Management Regulation of Extended PhD Student in Tongji University", the students who have been approved by this regulation can extend their study. 


During the studying period, the PhD course studying period is no more than 1 year, the period of thesis working need at least 2 years. The outstanding PhD student that complete all the courses and studying plans in advance and meet the condition of graduation can have thesis defense and graduation in advance after approving.


V.Credit


The total credit requirement for PhD student is at least 13 credits, among them 4 credits for common courses, 4 credits for professional degree courses, 2 credits for non-degree courses, 3 credits for required courses.


According to "The Management Regulation of Course Study for PhD Student in Tongji University", each PhD student need to finish all the course study and get the credits before mid-examination.


VI.Dissertation


  1. Scientific Innovation is the core of doctor degree program. The doctor degree thesis is the important symbol to evaluate the academic level and the quality of the program. It needs to have obvious innovation in the research field of architecture. It can be the innovation of theoretical research and methodology under the discipline. The thesis needs to be completed independently under the instructing of the tutors. It needs to have specific scientific innovation with systematic, integrity and academic characteristics. The basic argument, conclusion and suggestion need to have strong academic values or theoretical and practical value to economic, cultural and social development. The thesis needs to be written in Chinese. For foreign student it can be written in English or other language that has been approved, but with detail Chinese abstract. For the thesis that is written in Chinese, except the English abstract, a thesis that is written in other language is also needed (it can not be formally published) 

  2. The opening report of the degree thesis needs to be finished no later than the third semester. The basic requirements, contents and organization ways of the opening report can reference in "[2007] No. 158 – The Educational Regulation of Doctor Degree Program in Tongji University (June 2012 revision)". If there are any big changes of the thesis, the opening report needs to do that again.

  3. The mid examination of PhD student will be completed no later than the fourth semester. The examination is mainly the examination of the first stage and examines the completion of other aspects. The organization of the mid examination can reference in "[2007] No. 158 – The Educational Regulation of Doctor Degree Program in Tongji University (June 2012 revision)".

  4. The doctor degree thesis needs to be previewed blindly twice. The twice blind preview normally 2-3 months before the formal defense.

  5. The reviewing, the defense organization, approval and other advancement or delaying of the process can reference in "[2007] No. 158 – The Educational Regulation of Doctor Degree Program in Tongji University (June 2012 revision)".


VII.Research Papers


  1. For the application of doctor degree, PhD student should public relevant magazines or present the research achievement in international meeting. See the publication contents in "15 Doctoral Degree Evaluation Sub-Committee on the application requirements and periodicals published academic conference directory, 2013".

  2. If the contents are revised, follow the revised version. The interpretation of this provision belongs to the College Degree Evaluation Sub-Committee.


VIII.Remark


The first foreign language in public courses should be the same language of PhD students in their entrance examination.


For the master students who do not have master degree in Architecture, they need to have at least 2 relevant complementary courses under the guidance of tutor. (the credits of the complementary courses will not be account in the total credits)