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PH.D Program in Architecture Program Requirements
Coursework
Students are required to complete four Residence Units, during which time they are expected to take thirteen courses (39 credit points), of which eight must be taken for a letter grade. Given the overall aims of the program, students are encouraged to pursue coursework in two main areas: the history and theory of architecture and urbanism, and cultural history and critical theory.
A student with a Master of Architecture degree or 30 points of advanced standing is required to register for four Residence Units and complete 39 points in approved courses. All students are therefore required to take a minimum of thirteen courses, of which at least nine must be seminars. These courses should be spread out over the first four semesters of study, with a typical load being eight courses in the first year and five in the second year. In addition to one elective course chosen by the student, the distribution pattern for the course work is as follows:
A student with a Master of Architecture degree or 30 points of advanced standing is required to register for four Residence Units and complete 39 points in approved courses. All students are therefore required to take a minimum of thirteen courses, of which at least nine must be seminars. These courses should be spread out over the first four semesters of study, with a typical load being eight courses in the first year and five in the second year. In addition to one elective course chosen by the student, the distribution pattern for the course work is as follows:
History And Theory Of Architecture, Urbanism, And Landscape Architecture
Students are required to take five courses in the history and theory of modern and contemporary architecture, urbanism, landscape, or design from the eighteenth century to the present, and one course covering a period prior to 1700. In addition, students must take at least two courses covering eighteenth and/or nineteenth century subjects. All courses may be Western or non-Western in scope.
Students with extensive, prior graduate-level experience in any of the above subjects may request a waiver of certain requirements, to be granted at the discretion of the program director in consultation with the faculty.
Students with extensive, prior graduate-level experience in any of the above subjects may request a waiver of certain requirements, to be granted at the discretion of the program director in consultation with the faculty.
Grades
The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation uses a High Pass/Low Pass/Fail grading system. Ph.D. students, however, must receive letter grades.
No more than 15 of the 69 points of required work can be taken for an R credit. Grades of "incomplete" are strongly discouraged. Any student who receives a grade of "incomplete" must complete all outstanding coursework before the beginning of the next academic year. Those who do not meet these terms will be required to take a leave of absence at their own expense to complete all necessary coursework.
No more than 15 of the 69 points of required work can be taken for an R credit. Grades of "incomplete" are strongly discouraged. Any student who receives a grade of "incomplete" must complete all outstanding coursework before the beginning of the next academic year. Those who do not meet these terms will be required to take a leave of absence at their own expense to complete all necessary coursework.
For the M.Phil Degree
The degree of Master of Philosophy is conferred on students who fulfill all requirements for the Ph.D. degree except the dissertation. Any student who has satisfactorily passed the comprehensive examinations and has a dissertation proposal accepted is awarded the M.Phil. degree.
Advancement to the M. Phil. is contingent upon completion of required course work and adequate reading ability in two languages other than English, one of which must be French, German, Italian, or Spanish. It is recommended that at least one of the two languages be chosen in relation to the student's area of specialization.
The four-semester course of study concludes with the M. Phil. examination, which must be taken in the third year. The M. Phil. examination covers a major and a minor field of study and is divided into three sections:
1) Three revised research papers based on course work, chosen to reflect the student's research interests and experience to date.
2) Three essays written in response to specific questions formulated by the examining committee based on bibiliographies submitted for the major and minor fields. Preparation of these bibliographies in consultation with faculty is an important component of the M.Phil. Two of the essays shall pertain to the major field and one to the minor field. The essays are to be completed in a three-week period and submitted at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.
3) The oral examination, based on parts 1 and 2, above.
Major and minor fields are to be determined in consultation with the program faculty. The major field should be relatively broad and comparative, covering at least a century in time. The minor field should focus on another topic, historical or theoretical in character, distinct from the major field. It is assumed that either the major or minor field will define a general context for dissertation research.
The examining committee will typically be composed of three members, two covering the major field and one covering the minor field. In general, at least two members of the examining committee should be drawn from the Ph.D. program committee or from the affiliated faculty. Each member of the committee will be responsible for one question.
After successfully completing the qualifying examination, each student defends his or her dissertation proposal before a faculty committee, typically composed of the student's dissertation advisor and two other readers, one of whom should be from the Ph.D. program committee or affiliated faculty.
Advancement to the M. Phil. is contingent upon completion of required course work and adequate reading ability in two languages other than English, one of which must be French, German, Italian, or Spanish. It is recommended that at least one of the two languages be chosen in relation to the student's area of specialization.
The four-semester course of study concludes with the M. Phil. examination, which must be taken in the third year. The M. Phil. examination covers a major and a minor field of study and is divided into three sections:
1) Three revised research papers based on course work, chosen to reflect the student's research interests and experience to date.
2) Three essays written in response to specific questions formulated by the examining committee based on bibiliographies submitted for the major and minor fields. Preparation of these bibliographies in consultation with faculty is an important component of the M.Phil. Two of the essays shall pertain to the major field and one to the minor field. The essays are to be completed in a three-week period and submitted at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.
3) The oral examination, based on parts 1 and 2, above.
Major and minor fields are to be determined in consultation with the program faculty. The major field should be relatively broad and comparative, covering at least a century in time. The minor field should focus on another topic, historical or theoretical in character, distinct from the major field. It is assumed that either the major or minor field will define a general context for dissertation research.
The examining committee will typically be composed of three members, two covering the major field and one covering the minor field. In general, at least two members of the examining committee should be drawn from the Ph.D. program committee or from the affiliated faculty. Each member of the committee will be responsible for one question.
After successfully completing the qualifying examination, each student defends his or her dissertation proposal before a faculty committee, typically composed of the student's dissertation advisor and two other readers, one of whom should be from the Ph.D. program committee or affiliated faculty.
Ph.D Dissertation
Following successful completion of the M. Phil. requirements, the candidate is free to pursue his or her research topic independently, in ongoing consultation with the dissertation advisor and other faculty. It is expected that the dissertation be completed within two years of the approval of the proposal.
The dissertation must be submitted four weeks before the dissertation defense. A copy is to be provided for each member of the examining committee. This committee ordinarily consists of five members, at least three of whom are drawn from the Ph.D. committee or affiliated faculty. One member of the committee must be from outside the GSAPP.
The dissertation must be submitted four weeks before the dissertation defense. A copy is to be provided for each member of the examining committee. This committee ordinarily consists of five members, at least three of whom are drawn from the Ph.D. committee or affiliated faculty. One member of the committee must be from outside the GSAPP.
Teaching Requirement
Participation in the instructional activities of the department for three years is required. As a rule, in the second, third, and either fourth or fifth years of study, students gain exposure to teaching as assistants to professors, as section leaders, and as instructors. There are also opportunities for students to gain experience in curating exhibitions and in editing publications.