The information and program qualifications related to the Architectural History Master of Science Program, under the Department of Architecture of the Graduate School, are summarized below.
Information About The Program
ITU Faculty of Architecture has taken a leading role in the acceptance of Architectural History discipline as a separate area of expertise in Turkey. Paolo Verzone (1902-1986), a civil engineer, architectural historian and restoration expert, had a major effect in the development of the area in ITU. At the beginning of his academic life Prof. Doğan Kuban, having witnessed closely the research approaches and educational methods of his advisor Prof. Verzone, also had a share in the leading role of ITU in the field of Architectural History with the researchers he trained.
Since the doctorate program was not yet established in the foundation years of ITU Faculty of Architecture, the assistants produced original studies by preparing a “Proficiency Thesis" instead of a "PhD Thesis". It is seen that the proficiency theses in various departments since 1950 are mainly on History of Architecture. The first doctoral studies started in the 1960s; One of the earliest PhD thesis in the field of "History of Architecture" is Prof. Bülent Özer's dissertation "Regionalism, Universalism and Our Contemporary Architecture", which was accepted in 1964 under the supervision of Prof. Kemali Söylemezoğlu.
Architectural History Chair was named "Architectural History and Survey Chair" in the academic year 1962-63 under Kuban's management. First PhD thesis in the field of Architectural History under Kuban’s supervision was Belge Aran's thesis entitled "Roman Architecture in Anatolia" accepted in 1971.
The name of the "Architecture History and Survey Chair" was changed to "Architectural History and Restoration Chair" in 1973. In this period, when the historical building stock in Anatolia was tried to be revealed with theses and researches, Kuban founded and chaired the "Architectural History and Restoration Institute" (MTRE, 1974-1982). The Institute's greatest contribution to the field of Architectural History is the journal MTRE, which still constitutes a valuable reference source today.
When the postgraduate education was taken from the faculties and started to be carried out by the institutes affiliated to the Rectorate in 1982, the "Architectural History and Restoration Chair" was divided into two as "Architectural History Department" and "Restoration Department" in relation to the strengthening of studies on cultural heritage in the world. Architectural History postgraduate education was carried out under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Semra Ögel, first at ITU Institute of Social Sciences (1982-1986), then at ITU Institute of Science (1986-1999). Following Prof. Ögel, Prof. Dr. Metin Ahunbay, Prof. Dr. Günkut Akın, Prof. Dr. Filiz Özer, Prof. Dr. İlknur Kolay and Prof. Dr. Aygül Ağır were the directors of the Architectural History Graduate Program, respectively.
Reserach Areas of the Program
All kinds of expansions of the city and architecture from antiquity to the present in reference to the surrounding cultures;
Antiquity and Byzantine architecture; All kinds of expansions of the architecture of the Seljuk, Principalities, Ottoman and Republican periods in reference to the surrounding cultures;
Modern architecture process and theories in Turkey and in the world.
Click here for the program's website.
Registration Requirements
Application Term : 2024-2025 Spring Semester
Application Dates : 06.12.2024 09:00:00 - 03.02.2025 17:00:00 ( UTC/GMT+3 )
Application Requirements (For T.C Nationality) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.75/4 (70.83/100). Graduation must be Archaeology, Interior Architecture, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Art History, Urban and Regional Planning. 1)1000 words research proposal
2)Example of a study on history of architecture (course works are acceptable)
3)Turkish language certificate (min. B2 level or equivalent)
4)Min 50 points at the written examination
(Documents proving that conditions 1, 2 and 3 are met, must be uploaded as a single pdf document to the necessary documents section in the system)
Quota (For T.C Nationality): 3
Application Requirements (For International Students) ALES Numerical must be minimum 75 (old system GRE Quantitative minimum 700, new system GRE minimum 155 ). Undergraduate GPA must be minimum 2.75/4 (70.83/100). Graduation must be Archaeology, Interior Architecture, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Art History, Urban and Regional Planning. 1)1000 words research proposal
2)Example of a study on history of architecture (course works are acceptable)
3)Turkish language certificate (min. B2 level or equivalent)
4)Min 50 points at the written examination
(Documents proving that conditions 1, 2 and 3 are met, must be uploaded as a single pdf document to the necessary documents section in the system)
Quota (For International Students): 1
Application Page Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles
Application requirements, application dates, and quotas are updated in real-time from the Application System.
English Proficiency
Regulations and Guidelines
Academic Calendar
Course Plans
Course Schedules
Course Adjustment and Exemption Procedures
Program Educational Objectives
• To approach the issues of architectural history with an inclusive perspective and to reach conclusions within the relevant research methods and systematics;
• To provide the ability to construct an original research;
• To gain analysis and interpretation skills in the context of style, period, construction techniques and social contexts;
• To gain the ability to publish and defend the scientific results obtained in international platforms.
Measurement and Evaluation
Evaluating Student Success
The student success is evaluated considering Articles 56, 57, 58, and 59 of the Istanbul Technical University Graduate Education and Training Regulation Senate Principles.
ARTICLE 56 - Before the enrollment for the courses begins, the faculty member who offers the course informs the Program Executive Committee about the types, number and contribution percentage to the final grade of the studies within the semester, as well as requirements for a right to take the semester final exam. These requirements shall be finalized by approval of the Program Executive Committee and approval of the chair of the department, who declares them to the student and informs the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 57 - A student may appeal the final grade of a course within one week following the announcement of the grades. Appeals must be submitted to the Graduate School in writing. The relevant faculty member shall re-evaluate the student's success status and submit the result to the Graduate School within one week. Appeals not submitted within the prescribed time frame shall not be considered by the Graduate School.
ARTICLE 58 - Courses in graduate programs shall be evaluated according to the following grading system.
| Grade Description |
Grade |
Scale |
| Excellent |
AA |
4.00 |
| Very good plus |
BA+ |
3.75 |
| Very good |
BA |
3.50 |
| Good plus |
BB+ |
3.25 |
| Good |
BB |
3.00 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB+ |
2.75 |
| Conditional Pass |
CB |
2.50 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC+ |
2.25 |
| Conditional Pass |
CC |
2.00 |
| Fail |
FF |
0.00 |
| Fail(No Exam) |
VF |
0.00 |
ARTICLE 59 - Students who wish to improve their cumulative grade point average may retake courses during the course-taking period. The most recent grade will be counted for the repeated courses.
Internship
There is no internship in this program.
Graduation Requirements
See ITU Academic Rules and Regulations for graduate students.
The Awarded Degree and Title
Degree : Master of Science Title : -
Program Employment Opportunities
Graduates contribute to the studies in the fields of architectural and urban history.
Number of Graduates
Graduate Statistics
| Year | Number of Graduates |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 5 |
Program Outcomes
P.O.1 Ability to develop and deepen knowledge at the level of expertise in the program based on undergraduate level qualifications. Ability to use theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of expertise. Ability to carry out a study, that requires expertise in the field of study, independently.
P.O.2 To comprehend the interdisciplinary interaction in the field of study. Ability to evaluate and combine his/her knowledge with the works from other disciplines and obtain new knowledge. Ability to develop new strategic approaches and take responsibilities to create solutions for the complex and unpredictable problems in the field of study.
P.O.3 Ability to solve problems related to the field of study by using research methods. Ability to present the current developments and his/her own studies, supported by qualitative or quantitative data, to the groups within or out of the field of study in written, visual and verbal formats.
P.O.4 Ability to establish a leadership in the environments that need problem solving related to his/her field of study
P.O.5 Ability to do a critical evaluation of the knowledge in the field of study at the level of expertise.
P.O.6 Ability to examine, develop and act on changing -if necessary- the social relationships and their guiding norms from a critical point of view.
P.O.7 Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a foreign language at minimum B2 level of the European Language references.
P.O.8 Ability to use computer software, information and communication techniques at the level that is required by the field of study.
P.O.9 Ability to supervise and teach social, scientific, cultural and ethical values during the process of collection, interpretation, application and publication of data related to the field of study. Ability to develop strategy, policy and implementation plans on field related issues and evaluate the results through the lenses of quality process. Ability to use knowledge, problem solving and application skills for interdisciplinary studies.
P.O.10 For master’s program-with thesis, ability to share the results of the studies via written, oral or visual presentations on international platforms.
Program Coordinator
Head of the Department
Links