Graduate Studies in Architecture
Department of Architecture at Bilkent University (BUDA) offers Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Architecture to equip students with advanced skills in architectural design and in-depth critical thinking on architectural theories. The graduate program invites students who would like to excel in using current technologies and broaden ways of creative thinking in architecture. This 2-year program has a research-based curriculum, with a thesis as the end product for the degree.
* History and Theory: Comprising topics related to social, cultural, historical, and theoretical aspects of architecture criticism, architecture and society/community, urbanism, preservation.
* Architectural Technologies: Comprising current technologies in architecture, design and construction (building science, structure, digital technologies, computation and acoustics.
*Urban Studies: Comprising current issues in urban studies and urban design, urban memory, politics and environmental history.
About the Program:
Admissions
All applicants are required to have a Bachelor of Architecture degree or a B.S. degree in a related field of design. Students with a B.S. degree in a related field may be requested to take several undergraduate courses in architecture to acquire necessary background in the field.
Admission requirements include ALES (Akademik Personel ve Lisansüstü Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı – Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination) scores, past academic records, reference letters, and a statement of purpose. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and/or Turkish citizen applicants who are residents of another country may submit GRE exam results instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit a proof of satisfactory knowledge of English. Applicants who meet the requirements are invited for an interview upon which the applicant’s admission is decided.
Application Deadline: 4 June 2024
Date of Interviews: 1-3 July 2024
Contact Person:
Dr. Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu (Acting Chair)
E-mail: aysu.berk@bilkent.edu.tr For application requirements and more information: http://mfbe.bilkent.edu.tr/
Courses and Degree Requirements
Following the completion of at least 21 credit units of course work in the first year of study, the candidates must prepare and successfully defend a thesis through taking two seminar courses in their area of specialization. The duration of the program is four semesters.
Courses:
| Course Code | Course Name | Course Credit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilkent | ECTS | ||
| ARCH 513 | Theory and Methodology | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 514 | Architectural Readings | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 515 | Topics in Architectural Technology | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 516 | Computational Design Technologies | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 517 (ARCH417) | Advanced Visualization Studio | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 533 | Analysis of Buildings | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 534 | Structural Analysis | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 550 | Current Issues in Architectural Design | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 563 (ARCH463) | Modern Turkish Architecture | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 564 | Space and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 565 (ARCH465) | Contemporary Architecture and Theory | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 566 (ARCH466) | Architectural Theory and Criticism | 3 | 5 |
| ARCH 590 | ARCH Graduate Seminar | — | 1 |
| ARCH 599 | Master’s Thesis | — | 71 |
Requirements:
| Course Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Code | Course Name | Bilkent | ECTS | Specifications / When to enroll |
| GE 500 | Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics | — | 1 | To be enrolled in the 1st and 2nd semester |
| GE 590 | Academic Practices | — | 12 | To be enrolled EVERY semester |
| ARCH 590 | (ARCH) Graduate Seminar | — | 1 | To be enrolled in the 3rd semester of the program |
| ARCH 599 | Master’s Thesis | — | 71 | To be enrolled EVERY semester except the 1st semester |
| ARCH513 (or GE512) * | 1 Core Graduate Course | 3 | 5 | To be enrolled within the first year of the program |
| ARCH5XX * | 2 Restricted Graduate Electives | 3 credit (each) | 5 credit (each) | Any ARCH5XX coded courses with minimum 3 credits |
| 5XX or 6XX * | 4 Graduate Electives | 3 credit (each) | 5 credit (each) | Any 5XX or 6XX coded courses with minimum 3 credits (with the consent of the program coordinator/advisor) |
| Total | 21 | |||
* at least 21 credit course work.
** Following the completion of at least 21 credit units of course work, preferably in the first year of study, the candidates must prepare and successfully defend a thesis by the end of their second year. The expected duration of the program is four semesters.
** Students with a B.S. degree not in architecture but in a related field will be expected to take three (3) undergraduate courses in architecture in addition to the regular course load requirement to acquire necessary background in the field.
** After fulfilling the course load required for the degree, the student can enroll to additional courses.
Contact Person:
Dr. Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, Acting Chair
E-mail: aysu.berk@bilkent.edu.tr For application requirements and more information: http://mfbe.bilkent.edu.tr/
Advisors:
Aslıhan Günhan Çalışkan, Ph.D.
Email: aslihan.gunhan [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of Interests: #modernity #migration #dispossession #architecture #OttomanEmpire #Turkey
Dr. Aslıhan Günhan specializes in exploring the histories of modernity in the late Ottoman Empire, particularly focusing on migration, dispossession, and violence.
Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, Ph.D. (Co-Advisorship Only)
Asistant Professor
Email: aysu.berk[at]bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #structure #building science #architecturaltechnologies
Dr. Aysu Berk’s research interests are shaped around the relationship between structural system-form, architectural geometry, construction and construction process of free-form structures and the importance of material selection in this process.
Ayşe Henry, Ph.D. (Co-Advisorship Only)
Instructor
Email: ayse.henry[at]bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #conservation #historical sites #historical environments
Dr. Ayşe Henry’s research interests focus specifically on the Late Antique and Byzantine periods, covering general themes such as the space and divinity and the conservation of historical sites.
Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department Chair
Email: burcu[at]bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #computer aided design #history of architecture #design education
Dr. Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan’s research interest are architectural design, design education, computer-aided design, history of architecture and e-learning.
Bülent Batuman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Associate Dean
Email: batuman [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #urban politics #architectural politics #history and theory of architecture & urbanism
Dr. Bülent Batuman’s research areas include social production and politics of built environment, history and theory of modern architecture and urbanism, and urban politics.
Deniz Üçer Erduran, Ph.D. (Co-Advisorship Only)
Instructor
Email: deniz.ucer [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #structural systems #construction materials #environmental impact analysis
Dr. Deniz Üçer Erduran has experience in teaching structural systems, construction materials, and environmental impact analysis.
Ezgi İşbilen, Ph.D.
Asistant Professor
Email: ezgi.isbilen [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #architecturaltheory #contemporaryarchitecture #tectonics #architecturalrepresentation
Dr. Ezgi İşbilen, Assistant Professor, specializes in the relationship between architectural theory and contemporary production, with a focus on tectonics and representation.
Giorgio Gasco, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
Email: giorgio.gasco [at] bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #architectural design #20th century architectural history and theory
Dr. Giorgio Gasco’s research interests cover architectural design, design education, 20th century architectural history and theories. Gasco continues his research on the restoration work of the early Republican principles in Turkey, design education and the concept space.
Özge Selen Duran, Ph.D. (Co-Advisorship Only)
Instructor
Email: selen.duran[at]bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #design process management #building design development #process optimization
Dr. Özge Selen Duran is specialized in design process management, interdisciplinary project and process optimization, as well as sustainable lifecycles in multidisciplinary building design developments.
Segah Sak, Ph.D. (Co-Advisorship Only)
Instructor
Email: segah[at]bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #criticism #culture #society #urbanism #memory
Dr. Segah Sak’s research is interdisciplinary and lies in the intersection of architecture, urban issues, memory studies, digital humanities, and environmental psychology.
Yiğit Acar, Ph.D. (Co-Advisorship Only)
Instructor
Email: yigit.acar[at]bilkent.edu.tr
Areas of interest: #digital humanities #data mining #computerized presentation techniques
Dr. Yiğit Acar’s research interests include theory of architecture and urbanism, data mining, artificial intelligence and visualization.
Concluded Theses
Mahmudov, Elif Ilgın. “Public space formation in peripheral urban development: a comparative analysis of Batıkent and İncek districts.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2023.
Demet, Gönülnur. “Pivoting on the church of St. John Exoteichos: from the empire to modern Trabzon.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan and Ayşe Henry, 2023.
Ejaz, Khawaja Talha. “A study on shell structures through a comparative case study analysis.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, 2023.
Tarman, Damla. “Biobased sound absorptive panel system design and development using fruit seeds.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Zühre Sü Gül, 2023.
Kaynar, Melek. “Spatial-making of urban populism: The case of post-gezi Taksim.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2023.
Leblebici, Elif. “Impact of intermediate and informal adaptations on the reuse of post-industrial sites: from Hasanpaşa Gasworks to Müze Gazhane.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco and Segah Sak, 2023.
Jamil, Maryam. “Gendered urban imaginations: literary representations of Lahore and Heera Mandi.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2023.
Karakaya, Ceylin. “Transcultural dwelling: an exploration of finnish and Japanese influences in Alvar Aalto’s design of Villa Mairea.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco, 2023.
H’sain, Houssame Eddine. “Deep reinforcement learning for urban modeling: morphogenesis simulation of self-organized settlements.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan and Yiğit Acar, 2023.
Oktar, Nadide Pınar. “Influences of structural systems on form and space integrity of free-form buildings: an investigation through case studies.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, 2023.
Yılgın, Cem. “Utzon’s Middle East: The Reinterpretation of the Traditional Middle Eastern Architecture in the Work of Jørn Utzon.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Chen-Yu Chiu, 2022.
Şenel, Ayşenur. “Claiming Mosque Space: Women’s Agency in Mosque Architecture in Contemporary Turkey.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2022.
Atay, Gülnihan. “Acoustical Characterization of Clay Pots in Ottoman Architecture through Experimental and Numerical Analysis Methods.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Zühre Sü Gül, 2022.
Sunsal, Beliz. “The Effect of Modular Systems on Spatial Design and Diversity: Analysis through Constructed Modular Buildings.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, 2022.
Erdoğan, İlknur. “Female Experience of Space: Readings from Two Novels.” Master’s thesis, Advisors: Giorgio Gasco and Segah Sak, 2022.
Makinacı, İrem Merve. “The Role of Structural Systems and Building Materials in Sustainable Post-Expo Use of World Expo Pavilions.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, 2022.
Güngör, Ezgi Nur. “Archipelago as a Tool to Study Urban Form: The Case of Ankara.” Master’s thesis, advisors Giorgio Gasco and Yiğit Acar, 2022.
Demir, Buse. “Prospects, Policies and Practices of Mass Housing in Turkey, 1960s – 1980s: Housing the Middle Class with the Sincan – Elvanköy New Town Experiment.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco, 2022.
Yavuzyiğit, Bilge Begüm. “Placemaking During the Pandemic: Exploring the Spaces of Celebrations in Turkey through Twitter.” Master’s thesis, Advisors: Burcu Şenyapılı and Segah Sak, 2022.
Naeemaee, Rozhin. “Assessment of Reverberance Perception and Preferential Acoustical Conditions in Educational Atriums.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Zühre Sü Gül, 2022.
Gülşen, Meltem Nur. “Negotiating Archeology and Urbanization at Bodrum Peninsula.” Master’s thesis, advisors Bülent Batuman and Ayşe Henry, 2022.
Adeeb, Ali Haydar. “An Archeoacoustic Study of Cappadocia; Acoustical Identification of Religious and Secular Indoor Spaces.” Master’s thesis, Advisors: Zühre Sü Gül and Ayşe Henry, 2022.
Kara, Naciye. “A Survey on the Emotional Responses of Users to Building Forms: Focusing on Digitally Manipulated Curvilinearity.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk, 2021.
Gökoğlu, Münevver Duygu. “Revealing the Potential of Human-Centered Design in Architecture.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk, 2021.
Cengu, Suard. “Visibility-Based Assessment of Urban Form: An Alternative Perspective for the Residential Development in Urban Peripheries.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2021.
Gürata, Deniz. “What a Kitchen Can Be: A Food-Centric Approach.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2021.
Bayatlı, Semire. “The Role of Toponymy in Neoliberal Urbanization, Case Study: İncek, Ankara.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2021.
Lale, Nilgün. “Tracing Conservative Modernization of Turkey between 2010-2020: School Architecture in Istanbul’s Historical Peninsula.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco, 2021.
Roshani, Mahya. “Social Affordances of Residential Open Spaces: Case Study of Dikmen Valley, Ankara.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Bülent Batuman, 2020.
Barut, Berrin. “Architecture and Cinema: Analysis of the Relationship between Narrative and Architectural Space in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Aysu Berk Haznedaroğlu, 2020.
Yazıcı, Beyza. “Biomimetic Acoustic Metamaterial Design for Architectural Applications.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Zühre Sü Gül, 2020.
Baiborieva, Zhamilia. “Building of a ‘New’ Architectural Tradition in Kyrgyzstan: The Case Study of the Open Air Park Manas Ayili.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco, 2020.
Tabrizi, Helyaneh Aboutalebi. “Islamic Feminism as an Inquiry into the Creation of Mothers’ Paradise Women-Only Park, Tehran.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Chen-Yu Chiu, 2019.
Bozkurt, Eda. “The Changing Dynamics of the Architectural Profession in Turkey, 1960s-1970s: The Rise of Participatory Design and the Experimental Case of İzmit New Settlements Project.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco, 2019.
Yousefimehr, Ali. “Smart Cities: Analyzing Themes and Concepts of Smartness in Urban Environments.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Giorgio Gasco, 2019.
Erdem, Aslı. “A Coordinate System Proposal for Investigating the Changing Body-Space Relationship Regarding Interactivity.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan, 2019.
Öztürk, Selen. “A Classification Matrix Proposal for Digital Fabrication Techniques in Architecture.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan, 2018.
Gürel, Adel. “Cognitive Comparison of Using Hand Sketching and Parametric Tools in the Conceptual Design Phase.” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Burcu Şenyapılı Özcan, 2018.
Pehlivan, Feyza. “REading the Transformation of Konya Culture Park as an Urban Space” Master’s thesis, Advisor: Meltem Gürel, 2018.
