MAS ETH ARCH Course Program
Since the Fall Semester 1992/93, the Faculty of Architecture has been
offering Post-Graduate Studies in Architecture (NDS [Nachdiplomstudium]
Architektur) and since 2004/05 a Master of Advanced Studies in
Architecture (MAS ETH ARCH/Housing).
The MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme has been offered in individual form
since WS 1992/93; since WS 2000/01 it has been directed by Prof. D. Eberle
and the lecturer S. Gysi. Beginning with the 2008/09 academic year, the
MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme has been directed by Prof. D. Eberle and
the lecturer Dr. M. Glaser.
Since WS 2003/04, it has been implemented in classes with 8-10 students.
Thus far, 63 international students have participated in the Housing
programme. The programme is based on one year of full-time study.
The two-semester elective lecture course Housing or the seminar Housing in
the Cultural and Social Context of Urban Development represents the link
with MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme.
Team
Prof. Dietmar Eberle
Dr. Marie Glaser
Søren Linhart
Teaching and Learning Objectives
The MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme is designed to train architects to
become critical experts in the socially relevant market segment of
housing. As communicators, they become competent in cross-discipline
collaboration between the academic field and actual practice. The MAS
programme's interdisciplinary approach leads to an understanding of the
complex cultural, social, technical, and economic connections in the field
of residential architecture. This is achieved by means of the staffing of
the teaching team (architecture, cultural studies). The programme connects
the subfields of housing and urban and housing development.
With the background of an introduction derived from theory but with a
praxis-oriented method, the job-related abilities and skills of the
students are extended and deepened in discussions and collaboration in the
areas of conceptualising, analysing, interpreting, implementing and
written and oral communication.
The course of study is not designed to produce generalists – rather,
issues addressed and the methods used by the students should be generalist
and interdisciplinary. This ensures the qualitative advantages of a
cross-disciplinary approach.
Audience and Admission Requirements
The MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme is intended for graduates with a university degree or an equivalent level of education in the field of architecture or fields relevant to housing. Professional experience and proof of in-depth consideration of housing issues are required.
Language requirements: German B1, English B2
As a rule, lectures at the Faculty of Architecture are given in German.
Duration and scope of the course of study
The MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme begins in the Fall Semester. The courses are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the semester. The course of studies includes a total of approximately 600 hours of supervised events and the MAS final project.
Didactic Principles
The MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme focuses on knowledge and praxis. Various forms of learning are offered, such as knowledge transfer, self-study, knowledge exchange, discussions and practice lectures Students are expected to participate actively in courses. The amount of information conveyed should be secondary to self-defined, task-oriented, cooperative learning.
Teaching Programme
The MAS ETH ARCH/Housing is divided into four modules:
- Module 1: The Cultural and Social Context of Housing and Residential
Architecture >>> details in German
- Module 2: Designing Houses, Yesterday and Today: Characteristics, Buildings and the History of Their Use >>> details in German
- Module 3: Sustainability in Residential Architecture >>> details in German
- Module 4: Residential Architecture as a Contribution to Developing Cities, Neighbourhoods and Housing Estates >>> details in German
The individual modules include:
- 4 lectures
- 1 seminar
- 1 workshop
- 1 introduction working method
- 3 individual guidance sessions
- 1 group guidance session
- 1 excursion with external experts
Individual guidance from the team can also be arranged during university vacations.
Additional Offerings
The semester week on issues of urban development and housing, organised by
D. Eberle's chair during the Fall Semester, is an integral part of the MAS
Housing programme. MAS students are required to participate.
Participation in one Seminar Week in the Spring Semester is recommended
for MAS students. Students are free to choose the organiser and
destination.
The Faculty of Architecture, the other faculties of the ETH, the Collegium
Helveticum, the Universität Zürich and other universities in the city of
Zurich have additional offerings which can chosen to meet students
specific interests. We wish to call special attention to the elective
subject offering of the Faculty of Architecture. Students are required to
attend at least three additional one-semester lecture series or seminars
of their choice.
About the Teaching Programmes
Lecture Course on Housing
This weekly two-hour lecture course offered as part of studies for a diploma or Bachelor's/Master's degree provides the basic material for the four modules. General conditions, examples and major players, primarily represented the Swiss context, are discussed and placed in the international context as far as possible.
Seminar
In the seminar, the topics covered in the lectures are explored in greater
depth thematically, expanded to cover additional standpoints and placed in
the context of circumstances and examples from abroad. The objective is to
encourage exchange and collaboration among the students: in small groups,
they analyse texts selected each module. They give an oral presentation of
and commentary on the texts, provide written summaries and lead the
discussion that follows.
In two meetings, current elective subject projects are presented by the
elective subject students.
Workshop
In the workshops, proposals for and interim reports on MAS projects are discussed with Prof. D. Eberle or external experts. The objective is to supplement the stances and competencies of the team and provide students with additional input to provide them direction. The MAS projects are discussed individually and in comparison on the level of method and of content.
Guidance
The guidance consists of the working method, individual guidance and group
guidance.
The objective of the working method is the introduction to research
practices and the most important instruments and methods for qualitative
social research.
The objective of individual guidance is to support the students with both
content and methodology as they conceptualise, implement, write up and
design their MAS final projects and to provide access to relevant sources.
These meetings are scheduled with the team by individual appointment.
The objective of group guidance is to reflect on the material presented in
the workshops, to discuss how to proceed and to provide general hints on
the conception and methodology of the MAS projects.
Excursion
The objective of the excursions is to get to know and learn to understand
current examples of new or renovated residential buildings or
neighbourhood open areas in their urban planning, economic and social
context.
In addition two Seminar Weeks offered by the D-ARCH represent an integral
component of the MAS ETH ARCH/Housing programme.
Study Groups
Study groups of two students each are formed for the duration of a semester. The goals are to encourage exchange and collaboration in a study group, to make one's own competencies available and to support one another in the learning process.
Measures of Achievement and MAS Final Project
Seminar presentations, lecture course certificates, interim results, the
final presentation and the finished MAS final project serve as measures of
achievement.
The thematic focus and form of the MAS final project are proposed by the
students – e.g. reading or empirical (research) work, analysis and design
proposal on an urban them. Methods appropriate to the selected focus –
e.g. analyses of the literature or of data, interviews, observations,
video recordings and designs come into play. The study topic can also be
an autonomous contribution to one of the research focuses of the ETH
Wohnforum - ETH CASE.
Degree Awarded
The requirements for awarding the Master of Advanced Studies ETH in Architecture, Specialising in Housing (MAS ETH ARCH/Housing), which is recognised and registered by the Swiss federal government are: successfully passing the measures of achievement, a minimum of 66 of the 72 ETCS credits listed in the Diploma Supplement and an approved MAS final project (Master's thesis).
