The goal of the Single Cycle Degree/Combined Bachelor and Master in Architecture (LM-4CU), according to Directive 85/384/EEC, is to train architects giving them the ability to competently take part in the processes of transforming urban cityscape, the architectural heritage, the city itself and also the rural areas.The objective, therefore, is to train designers with the ability to control the formal, constructive, productive and regulatory aspects of the processes to transform the built environment, at various scales and in relation to different contexts.

The programme produces professionals with specific skills in architectural and urban composition and design, urban and landscape design, technological, structural and environmental design,architectural restoration, conservation and enhancement of architectural heritage and landscapes, and the design and layout of internal environments. With this in mind, the programme has beendeveloped and structured with a view to training generalist architects.

The degree programme seeks to produce professionals able to assume specific roles and responsibilities in the architectural sector.

The course modules of the degree programme in architecture are centred around a central core of design culture understood as deriving from the rational composition of historical and scientific methodologie sand technical-compositional procedures that are indispensable in the construction and transformation of architectural and urban space.

These modules are designed to cover everything needed to ensure the successfu lachievement of the objectives indicated in Directive 85/384/EEC on Architecture through the following activities:

a- design activities at different scales of intervention applied to architectural works, urban developments projects in cities, restoration of historical buildings and monuments, urban planning and the built environment in general;

b- appropriate preparation in the field of study of urban and architectural history. These preparatory studies are essential for the processes of transforming the anthropic space and for design activities based on methodologies aimed at the acquisition of acritical understanding of the value of architecture and urban spaces;

c- specific preparation in the field of traditional, electronic and digital representation techniques and virtual reality. Representation techniques understood as fundamental tools of knowledge and communication for architectural design and the representation of the physical space;

d- appropriate scientific preparation in the fields of science, mathematics and geometry in relation to the study method and calculation of existing and new architectural structures using IT software and other software for the calculation and analysis of building kinematics;

e- preparation in the area of construction techniques, the technology of construction materials and innovations in the field of energy savings in buildings;

f- technical and administrative preparation in relation to managing the construction process with regard in particular to ethical responsibility and to matters of safety and the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the architectural works.

Degree programme structure

The degree programme is equally divided between theoretical and practical modules. The complete degree programme is divided into three teaching cycles.

At the end of the first cycle (1st and 2nd year), students must demonstrate, through progress tests, that they have learned the basics: of architectural logic of construction of the history of essential components in architectural spaces of fundamental architectural representation techniques (traditional and electronic) of the preparatory disciplines related to the technical control of the architectural project.

In the second cycle (3rd and 4th year), students will undertake scientific, technical and professional studies in the fields of architectural and urban composition and design, urban planning an ddesign, and architectural construction and restoration.

The third cycle (5th year) will be dedicated to the further investigation of specific themes and subject areas in course workshops (Laboratoridi Laurea) and to the preparation of a dissertation.

The Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degree Programme in Architecture begins with the acquisition of a solid foundation in the mathematics, physics, technical, history and representation disciplines relatingto architecture as well as in architectural design.

In particular, with regard to the mathematics, physics and technical disciplines, the aim is to equip students with the methodological skills and experimentation of knowledge necessary to understand the technical problems arising in architectural design. With regard tot he history of architecture, students will gain the knowledge required to recognise and critically evaluate architectural works in relation to the architectural form systems, the context, and the materials and techniques used. With regard to the methods used to represent architecture and living space, the aim is to equip students with knowledge of architecture and the ability to formulate and communicate a design project.

The programme entails further study of the core subject areas through monodisciplinary courses and workshops that examine the design skills required in various areas of the discipline: architectural and urban composition and design, urban planning and design, restoration, and structural design.

Students will also gain an awareness of the economic and regulatory aspects related to each area of design.

The design workshops take place throughout the programme and are usefulnot only in order to verify the knowledge acquired, but also in order to encourage the acquisition of integrated design skills and to allow the contribution of specialists involved in complex modern design projects, in line with teaching programmes adopted by most European countries. The final objective, therefore, is to train designers with the ability to control the formal, constructive, productive and regulatory aspects of the processes to transform the built environment, at various scales and in relation to different contexts.

Candidates for admission to the Single Cycle Degree/Combined Bachelor and Master in Architecture must have a secondary school diploma awarded after five years of study or a recognized foreign equivalent qualification.

Admission to the Single Cycle Degree/Combined Bachelor and Master in Architecture(class LM-4) is regulated by the admission requirement regulations covering degree programmes with a limited number of admissions available nationwide (art. 1, paragraph 1, letter a of Law 264/99).

Admissionis subject to passing a mandatory entrance exam rolled out on a national basis. The entrance exam, the content of which is standardised throughout the country, is used as a selection tool and to verify the knowledge requisite for admission which, with regard to the specific objectives of thedegree programme, relates to knowledge in the fields of logic, general culture, history, drawingand representation, mathematics and physics.

English language skills (B1 level), based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, are also a requirement.

Information regarding the knowledge verification methods, of the additional learning requirements (Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi - OFA) and their fulfilment plus the testing methods, are found in the degree programme teaching regulations.

Students who fail to complete the additional learning requirements (Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi - OFA) by the deadlines set by the regulatory organisations and, at the latest, by the end of the first year of the degree programme, will be unable to take exams in subsequent academic years.