Curriculum

In Waseda University’s architectural education, design is emphasized, and it is traditional to start specialized education from the first grade. It’s based on the basic philosophy of the Department of Architecture in Waseda University that strongly fosters individual power and vision, and responds to the needs of society.

In 2000, to further clarify this philosophy and based on the fact that more than 70% of architecture graduates will go on to graduate school, we have restructured the curriculum for 6 years ※. This curriculum has been certified by JABEE (Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education) and is an educational program corresponding to the UNESCO/UIA Architectural Education Charter.

※The curriculum is organized based on a vision that consistently covers the 6 years of graduate school / undergraduate, but this does not mean that the undergraduate and graduate schools have been integrated. Generally it is possible to graduate in undergraduate 4 years and enter the society. In addition, it’s necessary to pass the examination to enter graduate school.

Waseda’s tradition of Architectural design education

As a tradition of Waseda University’s architectural education, emphasis is placed on design. The main subjects are “Architectural Design” and “Exercises in Architectural Design”. Architectural Design are the usual design issues such as “houses” and “museums”, and Exercises in Architectural Design are to tackle particularly sensitive issues such as “box of light” and “Botanical architecture”. At the same time, it is expected that these issues will play a role in bundling the specialized fields that are studying in parallel, and will continue to be the core of the curriculum for four years undergraduate.

At Waseda, we will also start learning specialized fields from the first grade. As a first year compulsory subject, omnibus-style “Architecture and Building Engineering”, “Environmental Aspects of Building and Cities”, and “Architecture and Society” will be provided to study the relationship between all teachers’ specialty fields and architecture, or the relationship with the real world. In addition, we are trying to gain a comprehensive picture of the construction field. From the first grade, let the students gradually touch on the specialized fields, and work on the Architectural Design as an integration work. This process is repeated in each grade, deepening and evolving. The graduation plan to be worked on before graduating the undergraduate program is a joint design by three students with different fields of specialization, and is the culmination of this process.When students enter the fourth year of undergraduate studies, they will study in the fields of architectural arts (Architectural history / historical engineering, Architectural design / planning, Urban planning) and architectural engineering (Building environmental engineering, Building Construction, Building Production). Divide into rooms and work on graduation thesis to improve professionalism. In the graduation plan, we will carry out joint design beyond this specialty. Therefore, all three students are required to belong to different specialized laboratories. This is not only the integration of academic knowledge, but also the training to proceed while communicating with human resources in different fields. This is connected to all graduation plans and evaluation policies in which all graduates make presentations, explain the contents to teachers, and undergo examination.

Curriculum for 4 years (undergraduate) and 6 years (master’s degree)

In 1996, the UNESCO and UIA (Union internationale des Architectes) jointly established the Charter of Architectural Education, which stipulates that the minimum term for architectural education that will be globally recognized in the future is 5 years or more. Five-year architectural education is already becoming common in Asia, and many graduates and international students are active in the world as Waseda University will continue to compete with them in the global market. In order to do this, we needed to address this situation.

Given this, we have already addressed the problem by providing a curriculum that is consistent for 6 years with higher specialized education at the graduate school, considering the fact that the graduate school enrollment rate exceeds 70%.In the previous curriculum, four years of undergraduate and two years of graduate were independently set, so fourth-year undergraduate students have been regarded as the culmination of undergraduate education.Compared to that, in the new curriculum is created by positioning the three years from the first year to the third year of the undergraduate course as the basic curriculum of architectural education and the third year from the fourth year of the undergraduate course to the second year of the graduate school as a specialized curriculum for architecture.

The most feature is the 4th-grade curriculum. Previously, there were subjects such as graduation design, graduation thesis, joint design, and other building laws that you should learn before graduating from university, but now, you will find graduation thesis, graduation design, It is only an exercise subject. This allows for flexible programs depending on the specialty chosen by the student. In extreme cases, the curriculum is highly flexible, allowing you to graduate or go on to graduate school while studying for more than half a year or gaining experience at an overseas design office. As before, you will be able to graduate from four years of undergraduate studies, find employment, go on to another university, or study abroad. Most of the graduates are active in construction companies, design offices, government offices, housing manufacturers, and so on.

The profile of professionals to be fostered

Our mission is to create a rich living environment and provide society with a world-class architectural culture that coexists with Japan’s natural environment, history and climate. Therefore, the Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering at Waseda University aims to nurture engineers who will practice “architectural design” in the broad sense rooted in the traditions and cultures unique to diverse regions of the world.

Before completing the undergraduate program(B. Arch.), students are expected to acquire basic knowledge, skills, and ethics as specialists. They will have the ability to propose their ideas to society in collaboration with other professionals from various specialties.

At the completion of the master’s program in the arts field(M.Arch.), we aim to develop desingers/ engineers who can exercise leadership in the international field and discover, analyze, and solve issues practically based on in-depth knowledge of architecture and urban design.

Upon completion of the master’s course in the engineering field(M.Eng.), students will have in-depth knowledge of engineering in addition to the basic knowledge of architecture, urban design, art, and history. They are expected to discover and analyze, solve the problems practically, and demonstrate leadership in international fields.

Learning and education goals (Diploma Policy)

Diploma Policy (B.Arch)

A.

Study in the “Waseda Architecture” tradition, and learn what modern society expects of architecture and the built environment

B.

Cultivate both a global perspective and a point-of-view that appreciates region-specific history and culture

C.

Understand the professional skills required of architects and architectural engineers, and develop the ethics of the profession towards society

D.

Obtain broad knowledge of design and aesthetics of architecture

E.

Develop the ability to absorb innovative knowledge proactively with a pioneering spirit

F.

Develop the ability to propose a creative space by integrating knowledge in related fields-of-study

G.

Develop the ability to solve problems pragmatically in collaboration with experts from different fields-of-study

H.

Enhance the ability to propagate one’s ideas regarding architecture broadly to society

Diploma Policy (M.Arch, M.Eng, Architectural Design Area)

I.

Immerse in the “Waseda Architecture” tradition, and develop the ability to fulfill what modern society expects of architecture and the built environment

J.

Have both a global perspective and an appreciation for region-specific history and culture, and develop the ability to contribute internationally

K.

Have the opportunity be involved in the practice of architecture and urban design, and understand the professional skills of architects and their mission in society

L.

Obtain the ability to make creative proposals based on a deep knowledge of design and aesthetics of architecture

M.

Develop the ability to absorb proactively advanced knowledge in architecture, urban design, and related fields-of-study

N.

Develop the ability to identify, investigate, and analyze broad-ranged issues enrooted in human activity and the region, based on existing base of knowledge in architecture, urban design, and related fields-of-study

O.

Develop the ability to solve problems of architectural design and planning pragmatically through collaborative work with faculty and other students

P.

Develop the ability to exert leadership in collaboration with experts of different fields-of-study and the general public to propagate one’s idea broadly to society

Diploma Policy (M.Arch, M.Eng, Architectural Engineering Area)

Q.

Immerse in the “Waseda Architecture” tradition, and develop the ability to fulfill what modern society expects of architecture and the built environment.

R.

Have both a global perspective and an appreciation for region-specific history and culture, and develop the ability to contribute internationally.

S.

Involve in the practice of architecture, urban design, and engineering, to understand the professional skills of architects/engineers and their mission in society.

T.

Obtain the ability to make creative proposals based on an in-depth knowledge of design, aesthetics, and engineering in the architectural field.

U.

Develop the ability to absorb proactively advanced knowledge in architecture, urban design, structural mechanics, architectural environment, building engineering, and related fields-of-study.

V.

Develop the ability to identify, investigate, and analyze broad-ranged issues enrooted in human activity and the region, based on existing base of knowledge in architecture, urban design, structural mechanics, architectural environment, building engineering, and related fields-of-study.

W.

Develop the ability to solve various architectural engineering problems pragmatically through collaborative work with faculty and other students.

X.

Develop the ability to exert leadership in collaboration with experts of different fields-of-study and the general public to propagate one’s idea broadly to society.

JABEE Certification Program / UNESCO-UIA Architectural Education Charter

The curriculum of the Department of Architecture and the Department of Architecture (Arts) was certified by JABEE (Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education) in 2009 (undergraduate JABEE, graduate JABEE simultaneous certification), and at the same time since JABEE was recognized as a Japanese certification systemUNESCO-UIA by Architectural Education Accreditation Council, it was globally recognized as an educational program that complies with the Architectural Education Charter. In the future, credits for drafting subjects acquired in Japan will be recognized as credits for drafting subjects at overseas universities, or they can be incorporated into the qualifications of architects as they are. In the future, we plan to develop internationalization and exchange programs that take advantage of these. JABEEE certification is a certification system for educational programs that meet the standards of society. The accredited educational program is called the JABEE accredited program. In principle, graduates of the Department of Architecture are those who have completed the JABEE accredited undergraduate program. Those who have completed the training are exempted from the first examination of a professional engineer, and can practice practical training as a training engineer. In addition, you can name an assistant engineer if you register as required by law.