Architecture (M.Sc.)

The Department of Architecture offers a Master of Science in Architecture (M.Sc.) degree. The program intends to provide opportunities for Egyptian and international students to pursue graduate studies at AUC.

The program focuses on finding and building connections between Architecture and other relevant disciplines at AUC. Exploring these connections is inherent in the essence of architecture as a multidisciplinary domain, always seeking new questions and finding alternate paths by bridging with other domains. The new program also capitalizes on the rich cultural and heritage background in Egypt. These can form strong basis for unique architectural investigations that are rooted in Egypt and the Middle East, and are of interest to many international scholars.

Graduates of the program will become excellent candidates for local and international graduate architectural studies and architectural design firms. They will be well equipped to pursue their PhD studies and conduct scientific research upon completing the MSc. Degree.

The program of study for each student is developed in close consultation with their faculty thesis advisor and may be shaped by various possible directions that reflect the available expertise and broader interdisciplinary opportunities at the university.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The program’s primary goal is to provide students with an opportunity to contribute to advancing knowledge in architecture, which is seen as an interdisciplinary domain that intersects with other fields of expertise. Advanced studies aim to fulfill societal needs with consideration for human, ethical, cultural, and environmental issues and an appreciation of lifelong learning. The program’s specific objectives are to enable graduates to:

Think critically about architectural paradigms and make an impact on the future of the architectural domain.
Develop a critical awareness of the issues inherent in the rich culture and heritage of Egypt and the Middle East with a critical eye on relevant contexts.
Reflect on “What’s Next,” pose relevant questions, and explore different directions, paths, or modes of thinking and frames of mind derived from a clear contextual understanding.
Conduct independent research that bridges architecture with other disciplines, fostering the development of a responsive built environment.
Work collaboratively in multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary teams locally and globally.

Upon completing the degree requirements for the MSc Program in Architecture, graduating students should be able to:

Develop a comprehensive understanding of architectural paradigms.
Identify relevant areas of research that advance architectural knowledge.
Connect between architecture and other disciplines to develop and address knowledge gaps about the built environment and architecture.
Apply quantitative and/or qualitative research methods relevant to architecture.
Communicate, orally and in writing, advanced theories, concepts, and ideas effectively.
Create scholarly and creative outputs relevant to architecture.

Admission

A candidate for the Master of Science in Architecture program must have a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) or Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture (B.S./B.Sc. Arch). Students who have completed a Master of Architecture (MArch) or other professional degrees in architecture-related fields are eligible for admission to the program. Students with other equivalent architectural degrees, such as Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering (BSArchEng), and holders of Engineering and Bachelor of Science degrees in architecture-related fields equivalent to architecture, are encouraged to apply, provided they might be accepted provisionally.

Students deemed deficient in their undergraduate training but well-qualified in other aspects could be accepted provisionally and prescribed undergraduate prerequisites to compensate for the deficiency.

Admission is also subject to the general university requirements for graduate programs, including English language proficiency.

The following documents are required by the graduate faculty committee for admission to ensure an acceptable level of research capabilities:

A research statement that clarifies the direction of the intended research in the program, and that explains the reasons for their interest in the program and in applying to graduate school.
Applicants are encouraged to supply examples of past research outcomes (e.g., papers).

Courses (24 credit hours)

A minimum of eight courses (24 credit hours) is required. Courses are to be selected from the following categories:

I. Program Core Courses (12 credit hours)

II. Program Advanced Courses (12 credit hours)

Advanced Architecture Courses (6 credit hours)

Students, and based on the recommendation of the Thesis Supervisor and/or Graduate Program Director, should enroll twice in ARCH 5930 - Advanced Topics in Architecture (3 cr.) , based on the following sub-domains: Humanities, Tectonics and Computational Design, Heritage and Urbanism, Sustainability, and other emerging topics in architecture.

Advanced Elective Courses in Other Disciplines (6 Credits)

Research Methods course in another discipline (3 credits)

According to the research focus, and based on the recommendation of the Thesis Supervisor and/or Graduate Program Director, students are directed to take one (1) 5000-level Research Methods course of the existing courses in another discipline at AUC according to the research area of study. Possible Research Methods Courses from other Disciplines (Other courses could be counted toward this category, provided the approval of the thesis supervisor and program director):

General Elective from Other Disciplines (3 credits)

According to the research focus and based on the recommendation of the Thesis Supervisor and/or Graduate Program Director, students are directed by their research supervisor to take at least one (1) 5000-level elective course from the existing courses in another discipline at AUC. The selected courses could be in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Humanities, Management, and other related graduate offerings. Those courses should not be from the student’s undergraduate major (unless recommended by the advisor and approved by the graduate committee).

Thesis

Graduate thesis work is a required part of the Master of Science in Architecture degree program. Each student must submit a thesis topic that has been approved by a faculty advisor by the end of the first academic year. Various research topics are discussed in ENGR 5940 - Graduate Thesis Seminar (3 cr.) . Students must complete ENGR 5940 - Graduate Thesis Seminar (3 cr.) before registering for thesis credits.

To ensure adequate faculty consultation on the thesis, the student must register for ARCH 5980 - Research Guidance Thesis (3 cr.) after completing 15 credit hours. Students must register for at least two semesters in ARCH 5980 - Research Guidance Thesis (3 cr.) . Students will not be allowed to register for the second time in ARCH 5980 - Research Guidance Thesis (3 cr.) unless they have defended their thesis proposal.

Thesis work, including development, preparation, supervision, defense, submission, and publications, are subject to the general university and school requirements and guidelines.

AUC New Cairo Campus

AUC Tahrir Square Campus

New York