Master Study MAS Sustainable Development in Architecture

Introduction

The ‘Master of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Development in Architecture’ (MAS SUS DEV ARCH) is a postgraduate degree that is offered by the Faculty of Architecture of Berne University of Applied Sciences. It is designed as a two-year part-time course, requiring 40 working hours per week. However, there is a possibility to acquire its various modules separately, in order to allow for adaptation to professional activity.

Goal

The program wants to offer a thorough upgrade in issues of sustainable development and sustainable architecture for architects and similar professionals. Arguably sustainability is intrinsically related to various aspects of place and location, so the aim is to undergo the major parts of the studies in one’s own working location. Therefore an intensive input in current state-of-the-art knowledge and ‚Best Management Practices‘ (BMPs) is coupled with intense studies of the sustainability levels and issues at one‘s own location. The United Nations‘ Indicators on Sustainable Development, with their social, economic, environmental and institutional dimensions, serve as a guideline for the educational objectives, while the weight of the indicators will be adapted to each participant’s professional field and locality.

The MAS SUS DEV ARCH is aimed at architects or professionals of similar fields with several years of practice experience who want to continue their education and become competent in the field of sustainable building. Graduates have the necessary awareness, knowledge and skills to cope with today’s challenges in the field of sustainability as pertaining to the built environment. About 30 students are accepted per year and location.

Benefits

As a student you will acquire specialised and profound knowledge in the field of sustainable development in relation to architecture and the built environment. You will learn how to develop and use suitable tools during the planning and design processes and will be able to integrate your knowledge about various aspects of sustainability into the design. You will be able to evaluate the results autonomously and critically and will master improvements in the key areas of sustainable development in the planning and realisation of architecture. You will be able to discuss and communicate all aspects of their plans with relevant stakeholders and will be familiar with the current standards and sources of knowledge on sustainable architectural design. You be able to subsequently keep your knowledge up-to-date independently.

Teaching Structure

Each of the six modules lasts 7 continuous weeks. The opening module of the course is taught in Switzerland. The students are introduced to the course themes during a four-week cycle of lectures, supplemented with field trips. Subsequently, the students have three weeks to accomplish a written task that finalizes the module. In the second module, back in China, the students intensify what they learned in the first module. Case studies in guided studio activity are used to help the students transfer the knowledge they have acquired into a local context. The work includes examining the sustainability of contemporary and historic local building styles. In Module 3, 4 and 5 the students apply in practice the knowledge they have gained, and the tools to which they have been introduced to, to three projects that become increasingly challenging. The course ends with a thesis (module 6), a piece of theoretical work covering an aspect of the course themes. The aim is for each student to investigate a specific issue in depth.

Teaching language

The teaching language is primarily Chinese. We achieve this by translating all necessary documents (lectures, tasks, submittals, etc.) and speeches (lectures, reviews, critiques, etc.) from English and German into Chinese and vice versa. Lectures in module 1 (Switzerland) are translated simultaneously. For modules 2, 3 and 4 (China) we aim to invite guest lecturers and guest critics that speak Chinese or also translate the speeches simultaneously. Teaching staff at the China location is bilingual Chinese-English.

Locations

The first four weeks of the MAS SUS DEV ARCH (part of module 1) and the last two weeks (part of module 4) take place in Bern/Burgdorf (Switzerland). For the large section of local studies students will study in China.

Examinations and Certification

Students have to meet certain requirements and working amount and quality in each module in order to receive certification.

A diploma certifies the successful completion of the full MAS SUS DEV ARCH course. The diploma grants the recipients the right to bear an academic title with the additional term of the completed field of specialization. BUAS awards students who complete the whole course the title «Master of Advanced Studies BUAS in Sustainable Development in Architecture».

A certificate certifies the successful completion of a single module within the course. For example, module 1 is a favorite because of its density of knowledge input.

Further details are agreed upon for each programme individually, or with individual professors.

Tuition

The tuition for the entire postgraduate course must be paid in advance. For the year 2011-13 the total tuition fee amounts to 20,000 CHF. This fee does not include travelling costs, such as the plane tickets, field trip transportation and daily commuting and accommodation.