Overview - School of Architecture

About School of Architecture

Architecture Degree in the Heart of TOKYO - Academic Tradition and Excellence Since 1927

The School of Architecture will open its doors to students in the spring of 2017.

An architect provides comfortable and enriching spaces for living. The architect can transform her designs into living spaces, she is who shows empathy for future residents, embraces local customs, understands climates and is connected to social environments.
Today, in the 21st century, we are facing urgent ecological crises on a global scale.

In Japan where falling birthrate, aging population, earthquakes and tsunamis pose immense threats, people have begun to define their values regarding home environments in increasingly new and diverse ways, as the result of heightened awareness and need for safety and security.
In its 90 years of history, Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) has accumulated tradition and expertise in architecture education.
The School of Architecture is born out of a desire to continue its tradition of academic excellence while bringing in innovations into the architecture curricula.
The School of Architecture aims to offer aspiring architects curricula which cultivate expert skills in engineering, unique sense of aesthetics in architectural design and well-rounded knowledge in liberal arts.
The founders of the School believe these skills will prepare the architecture students to prevail in the face of adversities on a personal level as well as a global level.
To learn architecture is to learn about society. The field of architecture brims with possibilities for offering solutions to societal crises.
Join us in our journey for making the future better through architecture.

Policy

Diploma Policy

School of Architecture confers a Bachelor's degree to those who have fulfilled academic requirements for graduation, and have attained the abilities specified in the following learning and educational objectives:

  • Can comprehend architecture within the context of historical development and understand the technical and social problems surrounding modern architecture.
  • Are equipped with a high level of ethics to be involved as a specialist in architecture, which is deeply intertwined with the natural world, society, and humanity.
  • Are equipped with the basic knowledge of the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, and a broad range of specialist knowledge of architectural design and technology.
  • Can recognize the diversity of the world and society, are equipped with highly developed communication abilities, have an international perspective to be active in twenty-first century global society, and are able to work on a team.
  • Can solve modern problems related to architecture or urban space by integrating and utilizing intellectual grounding and broad knowledge.
  • Are equipped with attitudes to explore and understand a wide range of knowledge and technology at their own initiative in order to discover and solve challenges.

Curriculum Policy

School of Architecture places an emphasis not only “how to build” but also “for what we build” in today’s society. Consequently, the School offers curriculum consisting of diverse common general education subjects in addition to specialist subjects in architecture.
In contrast to specialist subjects that specialize in architecture, common general education subjects are designed to equip students with the knowledge and use of the natural sciences, basic foreign language, communication, and good understanding of society and culture.
Furthermore, in order to realize the integration of “architectural design,” “engineering,” and “broad knowledge,” the School’s curriculum is designed to produce multiplying effects among subjects by encouraging interdisciplinary learning between highly specialized subjects and basic/general education subjects. Drawing from this curriculum policy, the following classes are offered:

  1. Specialist subjects aim to equip students with a wide range of specialist knowledge of architectural design, technology, and ethics.
  2. Common general subjects include humanities and social sciences subjects that cover a wide range of fields in addition to mathematics, science, and English. They are available in all years so as to enable interdisciplinary learning with specialist education.
  3. The basic format is to acquire knowledge in lectures and apply it in seminars and practical work. In addition, we value gaining insights and developing communication skills from working in society and on site. For this purpose, a number of project-based practical works in and outside of Japan is offered.

In each of the classes listed above, the emphasis is not only placed on transmission of knowledge but also on the deepening of specialist knowledge and enhancement of communication skills through interaction among students and with the teaching staff.
The School of Architecture sets the upper limit on the number of subjects a student can take in a year so that a reasonable learning plan is drawn up.
Each class has its own evaluation methods and criteria. The School achieves its learning and educational achievement objectives by evaluating student achievement in a multifaceted manner and by encouraging students to be reflective.

Admission Policy

The School of Architecture develops specialists in architecture who aim high with a rich sensitivity and a high level of technology.
Applicants who wish to join the School are expected to have formed a clear understanding of the “characters we seek” as specified below, the School’s educational policy, its curriculum, and its teaching and research.

Student character traits the School of Architecture seeks:

  • Those who are deeply interested in various challenges in architecture and urban space.
  • Those who strongly want to learn and research in the School and are passionate about creating architecture that supports people’s lives and brings them joy.
  • Those who aim to work regardless of place, region, or country by basing themselves in architecture, and capture changes in society, time, and the environment while accepting diverse values.

Those who agree with the above and wish to join the School are expected to acquire the following prerequisites in high school:

  1. The knowledge and skills of the high school curriculum (in particular, foreign languages, mathematics, and natural sciences).
  2. The abilities to think, judge, and express based on logical thinking.
  3. The basic knowledge needed to understand the societies and cultures that surround architecture and urban space in their historical context.
  4. The ability to actively collaborate with diverse people.
  5. The ability to capture space from a unique perspective and express own thoughts.

The School carries out the following selections in order to evaluate the capacities listed above and others in a comprehensive and multifaceted manner. For the distribution of marks, please refer to details of each selection method.

  • In the first half, second half, and all university exam route, an emphasis is placed on 1 as above and 2 is evaluated by means of written exams.
  • In the National Center for University Entrance Exam route, the evaluation is made by aggregating marks of multiple subjects while placing an emphasis on 1 as above.
  • In the recommendation by the designated schools, affiliated schools, and attached schools route, evaluation of 1 and 2 is made based on the school report and interviews are carried out in order to evaluate 1, 2, and 3 comprehensively.
  • In the project entrance exam route, 1-4 are evaluated by way of school reports, entry sheets, letters of reference, and exams, and interviews are carried out to evaluate 1-5 comprehensively.
  • In the special entrance exam for foreigners and returnees route, written exams and externally awarded qualifications are used to evaluate 1 and 2, and interviews are carried out to evaluate 1, 2, and 3 comprehensively.