Course Content

Bachelor's degree program – course content and schedule

The Architecture and Urban Planning bachelor's degree program begins in the winter semester and has a regular study period of six semesters. The course is designed to provide a comprehensive, internationally-oriented qualification in architecture.

For new first-semester students the degree program starts with a three-week introductory course to help students to get to know the Faculty and its institutes. It will familiarize them with working methods typical in the field of architecture and they will complete small assignments individually and in groups. They will get to know the teaching staff and other students and find out more about their study program and course content.

Structure of the bachelor's degree
Structure of the bachelor's degree

Core studies

The core studies will provide students with the necessary spectrum of artistic, technical, historical and social knowledge and consist of a broadly binding curriculum with compulsory modules. Students will receive a solid grounding in essential aspects of architecture and related methodology on which the subsequent architecture semesters will build. This will take the form of lectures with practicals and design/project work. Every semester there is a different core module:

Design > Space > City > Technology

Whenever possible, modules from other subject areas will be incorporated into the curriculum. The mid-degree exam at the end of the second semester serves to check the student's choice of study program.

The study program begins in the winter semester with a three-week introductory course designed to give freshers insight into their Faculty, its organizations and institutions. This is a great opportunity for new students to familiarize themselves with the University and Faculty culture.

It provides a preliminary grounding in various disciplines of architecture and urban planning, considering typical architectural and urban planning tasks. In so doing, students are introduced to the procedures, approaches and methodologies that they will need for their studies, acquiring a firm foundation on which they can build in the semesters ahead. 
After the introductory course, which ends with the traditional architecture festival, the "Archfest", regular lectures and teaching will begin. 

The study program is composed of two parts:

  •  Core studies (1st - 4th semesters) and
  •  Specialized studies (5th- 6th semesters).

Attendance of the introductory course is compulsory. You will receive a timetable on the first day of the semester. Your study program will begin after the three-week introductory course. The study program follows a set timetable.

 

  • The course kicks off at 11 a.m. on the first day of the semester with a welcome address from the Dean. After the welcome address, the degree program starts with a three-week introductory course which will help students to get to know the Faculty and the various institutes. It will introduce them to typical architecture working methods and they will complete small assignments individually and in groups. They will get to know the teaching staff and other students, and find out more about their study program and course content.

    Attendance of the introductory course is compulsory. You will receive a timetable on the first day of the semester. Your study program will begin after the three-week introductory course. The study program follows a set timetable.

    The semester coordinators are:

In the second-semester lecture break (Whitsun week) there will be a semester excursion. Using the example of a city, the students will have the opportunity to experience essential professional task fields ranging from urban development planning to architecture projects based on the interplay of factual information, concrete sensual experience and feelings.

Further excursions and workshops will be offered by the various institutes during the 5th and 6th semesters. These are available to students from seminars or design/project work related to the excursion. Financial support for excursions may be available from foundations and travel expense subsidies.

The mid-degree exam takes place at the end of the second semester and serves to ensure that students are properly matched to the course. Thanks to such an early orientation test, students have a fair chance to reconsider their study or career options. In the mid-degree exam students should be able to show that they meet the academic and design requirements of the architecture and urban planning bachelor degree course and, in particular, that they have acquired the analytical and methodological skills required to successfully complete their degree.

The mid-degree exam consists of the following module examinations:

- building principles
- geometry and CAD
- design assignment in area of specialization

There is no separately organized mid-degree exam. The mid-degree exam must be taken by when lectures start in the third semester. Students who have successfully completed the three modules automatically pass the mid-degree exam.

Students who do not pass the mid-degree exam and any re-sits by when lectures start in the fourth semester will not be allowed to take the exam unless the omission was attributable to reasons outside the student's control. This is decided by the chair of the examination committee at the application of the examinee.

Core studies  are largely carried out through group work. Students who are changing courses must therefore contact the responsible semester coordinators or the institutes organising the core module project before the lecture period begins. For the bachelor's degree program these are:

3rd semester:

  • Ley– SI /Prof. Baum – SI 

4th semester:

Specialized studies

The specialized studies in the 5th and 6th semesters develop students' professional expertise, improve their conceptual thinking skills and seek to provide them with a thorough understanding of architecture and urban planning. Selecting from a wide range of lectures, seminars, short-term design projects, design/project work and excursions, each student can put together an individual semester plan reflecting personal interests and skills from five subject areas.

We recommend that students spend a period abroad  as part of their specialized studies. If you are interested, we suggest that you use our advisory service.

To complete their specialized studies (Fachstudium) all students must write a bachelor's thesis to demonstrate their proficiency in exploring a topic independently, in different modes of architectural representation, and in presenting the ideas and results to an audience through presentation to peers and visiting critics.

Successful students are awarded a "Bachelor of Science" ("B.Sc.") degree. Graduates can then go on to take a two-year consecutive master's degree in architecture and urban planning"("M.Sc.").

We recommend that students spend a period abroad  as part of their specialized studies. For this please make use of our comprehensive advisory service and our subject-specific advisory service on the Bachelor International+ program 

The semester kicks off at 9 a.m. on the first day of the semester with a brief introduction to the design projects on offer during that particular semester. Information on all available courses (course catalog) can be obtained on the first floor outside the Dean's Office. The course catalog is available from the beginning/mid-September in hard copy from the Dean's Office and also for download.

  • The student council will be happy to help you with any general questions you may have.
  • Forquestions on recognition of successfully completed examinations please consult the examination committee.
  • Thecurrent students guide and information brochures are available from the Dean's Office.
  • TheExamination Regulations and other information are available under Downloads.

If you have other questions or need more detailed advice related to your studies, please contact the Student Counseling Center (ZSB).

Students who have passed their bachelor examination have demonstrated a broad basic knowledge and detailed knowledge in selected fields. They have shown that they possess the level of competence in the methodology of architecture and urban planning necessary to use their academic, artistic and technical knowledge in a range of practical applications.

Under § 24 of the Examination Regulations the bachelor examination consists of:

  • the module examinations of the mid-degree examination
  • the other modules listed in the annex to the Examination Regulations in conjunction with § 5
  • of the bachelor's thesis

Students can register their bachelor's thesis topic once they have accrued 153 ECTS credits. Processing takes three months. Topics and submission dates will be coordinated through the EXAMINATION COMMITTEE. Please note the information displayed on the official notice boards.

The University of Stuttgart will award successful candidates the academic title "Bachelor of Science" ("B.Sc.").

Students with a B.Sc. can proceed to a master's program.

A bachelor's degree qualifies the holder to enter the German civil service at "higher intermediate service" level. A master's degree qualifies the holder to enter the German civil service at "higher service" level. After the regular period of study of ten semesters and a degree qualification, graduates who have at least two years' trainee experience under the supervision of a practising architect in their respective special field can be entered in the register of architects , a qualification which is recognized throughout Germany and Europe.

 

Academic advisor for bachelor students Faculty 1

Keplerstr. 11, 70174 Stuttgart, K1 - 3rd Floor

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