Course: Diploma Thesis

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Course title Diploma Thesis
Course code KAR/DT
Organizational form of instruction Lesson
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 30
Language of instruction English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements Course does not contain work placement
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Balda Vladimír, Ing. arch.
  • Buček Jiří, doc. Ing. arch.
  • Mičeková Alena, Ing. arch.
  • Novák Antonín, doc. Ing. arch.
  • Stolín Petr, doc. Ing. arch.
  • Žid Jiří, Ing. arch.
  • Šépka Jan, prof. Ing. arch. akad. arch.
Course content
1. Analysis of the Assignment 2. Research 3. Form-finding 4. Concept development 5. Design development 6. Design development 7. Design development 8. Design development 9. Design development 10. Design development 11. Design development 12. Design development 13. Presentation preparation 14. Thesis defense

Learning activities and teaching methods
Self-study (text study, reading, problematic tasks, practical tasks, experiments, research, written assignments), Individual creative and artistic activities, Independent creative and artistic activities, Individual consultation, Task-based study method
  • Class attendance - 560 hours per semester
  • Preparation for credit - 250 hours per semester
  • Semestral paper - 100 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The thesis represents a comprehensive, independent architectural project of a demanding nature, demonstrating the student?s technical and professional readiness to practice as an architect. It is the culminating output of the program, synthesizing theoretical knowledge, design experience, and critical thinking skills. Within this framework, the student independently responds to an assigned or self-selected topic, analyzes its broader context, and transforms it into a coherent architectural design that meets current professional, technical, and social requirements. The project demonstrates the ability to formulate and develop an architectural concept based on a deep understanding of the site and its historical, cultural, and spatial contexts, while also reflecting the current needs of users. The design demonstrates the ability to integrate urban planning, technical, environmental, and legislative aspects of the solution into a single coherent whole, in which the individual components do not operate in isolation but form a cohesive structure. The thesis also confirms that the student is capable of designing a technically feasible solution in accordance with applicable legal regulations, norms, and standards of construction practice, including the basic structural, material, and operational design of the building. An integral part is also the ability to professionally present and defend a comprehensive architectural solution, both through graphic outputs, visualizations, and technical documentation, as well as through structured verbal argumentation. The thesis thus represents not only a design project but also evidence of the author?s maturity, their ability to make independent decisions, their sense of responsibility, and their readiness to enter professional practice in the field of architecture.
1. Can work independently, plan, and manage their own creative process. 2. Applies critical thinking when evaluating and revising a design. 3. Integrates theoretical knowledge and practical skills into a comprehensive architectural solution that is technically and legally verifiable. 4. Communicates professionally and clearly with both experts and the general public. 5. Is capable of taking responsibility for the quality and feasibility of an architectural design.
Prerequisites
The thesis project within the semester-long studio courses at FUA TUL places high demands on students, who must demonstrate their ability to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills in a comprehensive architectural or artistic design. They are required not only to excel in working with models and visualizations but also to demonstrate the ability to critically analyze and reflect on their own design. The thesis represents a synthesis of the knowledge and skills acquired during the master?s program and serves as a key basis for the professional assessment of the student?s competencies during the state final examination.
KDA/SZ
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KNK/SZ
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KPS/SZ

Assessment methods and criteria
Presentation of artistic and creative activities

The program is duly completed with a state final examination. In accordance with Section 46, Paragraph 3 of Act No. 111/1998 Coll., on Higher Education Institutions and on Amendments and Supplements to Other Acts (the Higher Education Act), as amended, the state final examination may consist solely of the defense of the thesis. This method of completing studies in a follow-up master?s degree program is practiced at FUA. The state final examination is designed as a comprehensive assessment of the graduate?s professional knowledge, creative abilities, and competencies, with the defense of the master?s thesis being a key component. The defense of the master?s thesis is public (Section 53(1) of the Higher Education Act). The procedure is structured as follows: ? Project Presentation: The student presents the main architectural idea, emphasizing the innovativeness of the solution and its cultural contribution. The submitted documentation and presentation include a technical abstract or summary of the main concept in English, through which the student demonstrates the ability to communicate professionally in a foreign language. ? Professional Discussion: This follows the presentation and serves to verify in-depth knowledge. During the discussion, the committee focuses on the student?s ability to defend the chosen approaches within the broader context of technical feasibility, urban planning impacts, and material logic. Assessment Objective: Rather than testing encyclopedic facts, the emphasis is placed on a professional discussion of a complex architectural work, the ability to critically reflect on one?s own design, and the response to professional critique.
Recommended literature
  • GLANCEY, Jonathan. Modern Architecture: The Structures that Shaped the Modern World. Welbeck, 2023. ISBN 978-1802791013.
  • HEYNEN, Hilde. Architecture and Modernity: A Critique. The MIT Press, 1999. ISBN 978-0262581899.
  • JENCKS, Charles and Karl KROPF. Theories and Manifestoes of Contemporary Architecture. Wiley: Academy, 1997. ISBN 978-0-471-97687-5.
  • NORBERG-SCHULZ, Christian. Principles of Modern Architecture. Andreas Papadakis Pub, 2020. ISBN 978-1901092240.
  • PALLADIO, Andrea. The Four Books of Architecture. Dover Publications Inc., 1965. ISBN 9780486213088.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester