Architecture (Ph.D.)
Offered by: Architecture (Faculty of Engineering)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
The Ph.D. in Architecture focuses on research areas in the history and theory of the built environment, building technology, climate-conscious design, media and computation, urban studies, and spatial justice.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (15 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 700 | Thesis Proposal. | 0 |
Thesis Proposal. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Development of a research proposal and a comprehensive framework for the doctoral thesis. | ||
| ARCH 701 | Comprehensive Examination. | 0 |
Comprehensive Examination. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Presentation of a comprehensive literature review paper, covering material that is central to the student's doctoral research, with an oral defense before the Doctoral Advisory Committee. | ||
| ARCH 711 | Doctoral Proseminar 1. | 3 |
Doctoral Proseminar 1. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Major issues and themes in architectural research. | ||
| ARCH 712 | Doctoral Proseminar 2. | 3 |
Doctoral Proseminar 2. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Further exploration of major issues and themes in architectural research. | ||
| ARCH 721 | Literature Review 1. | 3 |
Literature Review 1. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Literature review covering the first of three fields as identified by the student in consultation with the supervisory committee. | ||
| ARCH 722 | Literature Review 2. | 3 |
Literature Review 2. Terms offered: Winter 2027 Literature review covering the second of three fields as identified by the student in consultation with the supervisory committee. | ||
| ARCH 723 | Literature Review 3. | 3 |
Literature Review 3. Terms offered: Fall 2026 Literature review covering the third of three fields as identified by the student in consultation with the supervisory committee. | ||
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
9 credits of courses at the 600 or 700 level, selected with the approval of the School.