Explain, in detail, why the Department / School wants to make these changes. The explanation can include, among other things, changes in the department’s focus, changes in the field, changes in quality standards, changes in expectations regarding the qualifications of graduates, or weaknesses in the old program that the new program is designed to rectify. Some historical background and a comparative analysis with the programs of some universities will be most appropriate.
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Department of Architecture has started undergraduate education in 1991-92 Academic Year, under the Faculty of Engineering. Throughout the progressing years, both the number of academic staff and the students have increased in number; and with the establishment of Interior Architecture Department within the Faculty of Architecture (1997) and with its graduate programs, the Department has turned to be a very dynamic academic environment. Throughout this process the first revision of the program has been made in 1996 and today, regarding the changing internal and external factors based on time, a new revision has become inevitable. Particularly, in order to protect and increase the esteem and popularity within the competition arena, an overall change of Architecture Program has been an obligation. For this purpose, in 2001-2002 Academic Year, research and commission studies have been in progress with the Interior Architecture Education Program in the Faculty. Program revision studies were discussed at the Department Meetings as well. However, because of changes in administrative staff in the 2002-2003 Academic Year, the process is interrupted; yet throughout the last three months, program revision studies were brought up in the agenda of the Faculty again, and by getting the opinions of the academic staff, Faculty Administrative Commission decided on the pre-final format of the proposed program. The program revision proposal presented in this form has been finalized by the Head of the Department with the final approval of the Faculty, according to the recent Policies and Procedures of the Curriculum of Undergraduate Programs, approved by the Senate on April 27, 2005.
The main changes of the mentioned course program and the reasons behind them are as follows:
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Decreasing the educational loads: In order to reach international standards, make the education atmosphere more enjoyable, create more time for individual research and social activities, the course loads, course hours, credits and the number of prerequisite courses of the students and academic staff are decreased.
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Increasing the number of elective courses: In order to be in harmony with the General Education - SPIKE (Socio-cultural, Professional, Industrial Knowledge and Experience), that was become valid throughout the university context in this academic year, to realize the free information gain for the contribution of general education and culture, and in order to provide deeper information for different perspectives of design, the number of elective courses are increased and grouped under major titles.
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Designing the first year common basic education program for the existing and new programs in the context of faculty: Carrying out the different department programs in common for the first year basic program will provide a gain in time and human resource, and strengthen the collaboration between the departments, and facilitate the possible student transfers.
The newly proposed program will easily be adapted to the 4 + 2 system as / if will be introduced by YÖK (Higher Education Council in Turkey) as a part of EU process.
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