The aims of the Architecture Department

A. We are trying to foster students with a sharp sense of competition and a quick mind, together with an aptitude for architecture , a high sense of responsibility and all-round development of moral, intellectual,physical,aesthetics and labor education. They will become professional architects or high-level personnel in the specific field related to architecture, who are suitable for reformation and market economy.

B. After the systematical teaching and training, students will get solid base of the theoretic and techniques. They are creative and cooperative and flexible to the society.

C. They are also good at English, which makes them fit for the international standard for registered architect, the need after the entry into the WTO, and other aspects.

Leading Thoughts in Teaching

A. Framing a structure of major courses in architecture with layers and reasonable conformity. In order to make full use of the main course “Architectural Designing”, according to the students and methods, from easy to difficult, from analysis to synthesis, we make out the 5 years as “3+1+1” form in undergraduate program in Architecture, emphasizing the whole in the teaching system.

In Grade 1 to 3, according to the students’ ability of understanding, we mainly focus on “Classical Architecture”. In Grade 1, we introduce the current trend of architecture, basic qualities of architect, and the methods of learning this course. They will take courses like “Basic Architecture”(including “Introduction to Architecture”, “Introduction to Architectural Techniques”), and Arts. In Grade 2 and 3, they mainly learn about architecture and structure of indoor and outdoor environment. They take courses like “Architectural Designing 1”(about the inner structure of small public buildings), “Architectural Designing 2”(about the exterior environment for Mid-sized public buildings).

In Grade 4 and 5, they are to learn architecture all-sided. Grade 4 focuses on the living environment. The courses are “Architectural Design Special”, “Architectural Design of High Buildings ”, “Programming and Design of residential area”, “Whole Process of Designing”(shop drawing of architecture), “Urban Planning”, “Sights Designing”, “Indoor Designing”. In Grade 5, they go to the society, get ready to receive trainings for professional practice on architectural projects, so that they have a fly in their study. They will have practices and “Graduation Design”.

When carrying out the nurturing pattern, faculties of all grades discuss and summarize together, and create a special teaching through these years. They ask Grade 1 students to read more, question more, and draw more; Grade 2 students to learn the methods of analyzing; Grade 3 students to develop comprehensive abilities; Grade 4 students to get the consciousness of research; Grade 5 students to learn professional working methods, including engineering, planning, organizing, managing, etc.

B. Regarding basic technical knowledge and professional skill as the core in teaching, it forms a breadth caliber, high point of departure mode, according to the plan of the development and teaching plan in HUST, the whole teaching is divided into two links, namely classroom teaching and fulfillment teaching. Classroom teaching includes courses of two kinds and category of three types (required, optional subject): common sense education, foundation course and profession course. Profession lessons in architectural design are the core in the whole teaching system.

For the basic courses, and also according to principle of systematize, established the Building History and Theories, Building Technique and Science, Building Economy and Management and the Building Express and Arts.

For common sense education, besides public required course (see the appendix 1) that were set up by school, the Architecture Department also provides a set of optional course: “Introduction of Chinese Literature”, “History of Science Technique”, “Outline of Management”, etc., guide the students to ameliorate the construction of their knowledge.

C. Courses are reformed, and become one with architectural design. Architecture Department always puts strength on the education of technology. They do reformation on those courses. At the beginning, they began to use computers to assist teaching and to assure the safe in buildings. Then they make three mechanics into one, brought out a “mechanic of architects” system, emphasizing the concepts, easier the calculation and published their own textbooks. The book won a loud echo in academe. Now some of the departments also use this system, and the copyright is sold abroad.

Now the teachers ever have been abroad bring in the new concepts and techniques from German, USA, and do researches. They carve out ecological architecture, aptitude architecture and other fields. All the new methods and successes they gain are directly taught to students.

Teachers teach Architectural Construction and Architecture Physics have plenty of experiences working in big designing committees. They renew the content and methods according to their experiences, but still with theoretics. Besides teaching, students also go visiting and practicing. Then courses dealing with architectural equipment are more focus on new products, new techniques (like computers, intelligentization).

D. We put more efforts on the culture of literature, making students to be of high level. The teaching plan embodies the characteristic of colligation of this subject. The students must have classes that are a must by our university, and also some optional courses like Philosophy, Economics, Sociology, Literature, Art, etc. in order to widen their eyesight in cultures and literature. There are history and cultures in the major courses. For practice, there are practice on ancient buildings, sketching, researches, organizing students step out of the school and into the society, and serve the people.

E. Computer and English are constantly arranged in the class tables in these 5 years. Besides the computer courses that the university offers, the school has special offered “Computer Language VB”, “CAAD” according to the situation the level of the students. In middle and high grades, students are using computers to design in “architectural designing” courses, teachers correct their works on the net. After the practice, under the help of teachers, students do graduation designs totally on computers.

Freshmen are given 4 semesters’ “College English” in Grade 1 and 2, and they are asked to pass the national test. In Grade 3 and 4, they are given “Professional English ” by teachers who have been abroad. In Grade 5 they are asked to translate professional works, being a part of graduation. From “Introduction to Architecture” in low grades to “Architectural Physics” in middle grades, to “Modern Architecture” in high grades, the teachers all use two languages.