The Faculty of Architecture / Architecture (English taught)
6th Year, sem 2, 2024-2025

IT-65E | Supervised Dissertation Development

Compulsory Course | Hours/Week: 1C+3P | ECTS Credits: 10

Syllabus

Department:

History & Theory of Architecture and Heritage Conservation

Course Leaders:

prof.dr.arh. Celia Ghyka

prof.dr.arh. Augustin Ioan

Teaching language:

English

Learning outcomes:

The integration of previously acquired knowledge and skills through a comprehensive exercise applied to a specific architectural case or context. Demonstration of both professional expertise and transversal competences through independent research and scholarly writing in the architectural discipline.

Content:

Students write a scholarly dissertation (approximately 7000 words) on a topic selected from any disciplinary area of architecture: architectural theory, urban planning, architectural heritage conservation, architectural technology, or related fields.

The dissertation constitutes a rigorous academic work with a substantial research component that provides theoretical foundation for the diploma project, rather than serving merely as an architectural memoir. This scholarly investigation demonstrates the student's intellectual engagement with architectural discourse.
The dissertation topic is determined collaboratively between the student and supervisor, ensuring the research directly supports and enriches the theoretical underpinning of the diploma project.

The dissertation must effectively demonstrate the student's comprehensive knowledge of the subject, critically evaluate existing scholarship in the field, incorporate elements of original research, and establish clear methodological connections between theoretical inquiry and practical application in the diploma project.

The text of the dissertation will not exceed 7000 words (including footnotes/endnotes, and excluding bibliography and abstract). The text should be formatted in 11-point font with 1.5 line spacing, A4 format.
- The text will be written in Romanian (Faculty of Architecture in Romanian) and will be accompanied by a 1-page abstract in Romanian and the same abstract in English.
- The text will be written in English for the Faculty of Architecture English-taught, accompanied by a 1-page abstract in English.

Teaching Method:

Course ”Dissertation Elaboration” - prof.dr. Augustin Ioan, first part of the 2nd semester (1C)
Individual guided study graded by the supervisor (3P)

Assessment:

Assessment:

The dissertation will be assessed as follows:
1. - as a separate grade, part of the syllabus of year 6 (10 ECTS) , 2nd Semester.
This evaluation will have two components:
[A] 25% - an intermediate grade awarded by the holder of the course "Elaboration of the dissertation" (semester II) - prof.dr.arh. Augustin Ioan
[B] 75% - a grade awarded by the dissertation tutor, which reflects the process of elaboration of the dissertation as a research exercise and which will take into account the following criteria:
- construction of the research question and conceptual framework (2p)
- critical engagement with relevant scholarly literature (2p)
- depth of analysis and coherence of argumentation (2p)
- quality of academic writing and scholarly expression (2p)
- appropriateness and comprehensiveness of bibliography and sources (2p)

2. The final paper will be submitted as follows:
— June 5th: electronic submission (drive link that will be provided by the Dean’s office) + directly via email or transfer to the dissertation tutor. Submitting the final work to the tutor is the exclusive responsibility of the student.
— June 6th, until 12:00: 3 printed copies will be submitted physically, at the Dean’s office (hall will be announced in due time).

Dissertation tutors will submit the grades (B) directly to the Dean’s office no later than June 11th, 10:00 AM, via a table format that will be provided to them by the Dean’s office.

The dissertation final exam consists of an oral defense starting from the topic and research questions of the dissertation elaborated by the student, conducted before a committee appointed by the Dean's Office.

Bibliography:

Borden, Iain, Katherina Ruedi,The Dissertation. An Architectural Student’s Handbook, Architectural Pr., 2000
Eco, Umberto: "Cum se face o teză de licență", Ed. Pontica, Constanța, 2000
Gibaldi, Joseph: "MLA Handbook for Writers’of Research Papers", 7th edition, MLA, 2009
Lange, Alexandra, Writing about architecture, Princeton Architectural Press, 2012
Murray, Rowena: "How to Write a Thesis", Open University Press, 2006
Russey, William E.; Ebel, Hans Friedrich; Bliefert, Claus: "How to Write a Successful Science Thesis: The Concise Guide for Students", Wiley-VCH, 2006
Șerbănescu, Andra: "Cum se scrie un text", Ed. Polirom, Iași, 2001
Vulpe, Magdalena, Ghidul cercetătorului umanist. Introducere în cercetarea și redactarea științifică, Clusium, Cluj, 2009
http://www.howtowriteadissertation.co.uk/