Course Description / Curriculum

First Grade – 1^st Semester

ARCH 111 Basic Design I

In this course, the students will learn general design and composition making, through basic elements. They will work with the essential visual design elements like, point, line, & plane, and how to make these items in simple designs like compositions & advertises & posters. This course will focus on 2D elements and how it develops to 3D composition design

ARCH 112 Architectural Graphic I

This course is an introduction of the main Tools and instruments of architecture drawing and graphic techniques. The course will train the students in using the drawing tools and improve their presentation skills, which make them have a powerful tool to produce and show their projects in an effective way, this course will focus on using Pencils, Poster color, Collage Technique & basics of Architectural Models.

ARCH 113 Art and Architecture

In this course students will study the relationship between the principles governing the fields of art and their intersection with architecture. The visual qualities of the products of art, like symmetry, balance, organization, patterns, etc. share some attributes with architecture and this course studies these principles.

IT 103 Introduction to Information Technology

This course is designed to make the student familiar with Computer literature. Information Technology Concepts are Introduced with an emphasis on software and hardware utilization. Students will be exposed to a board range of computer Technology and IT topics including Understanding Computer, Hardware, software, Computer and communication, Multimedia, web pages & Internet, Networking and the role of IT in public life. This course is divided into two sections: a lecture and lab.

DBT 101 Academic Debate and Critical Thinking

This course is designed to develop students’ abilities and skills in academic communication and debate. The topics of this course train the students on using sources for academic communication, putting knowledge into good use, and raising academic questions and answering questions in an academic way. The course also aims to teach students how to accept and respect differing opinions, and how to conduct academic arguments. In this course, students are directed to raise questions and analyze academic texts logically and critically, i.e. they are guided to conduct a critical analysis of what they read, and are provided with the opportunity to practice and develop their skills by writing their reflections on the material studied and on their own learning. Moreover, the students will be assisted in this course with considering the problems of their country and making suggestions to solve problems relying on academic mechanism and methodology.

ELT 103 Advance English

The course reinforces academic writing skills. In this course students write different types of essays based on the ideas they are exposed to in the reading selections. The emphasis is on the writing process in which students go through many stages from brainstorming and outlining to producing a complete documented piece of writing.

MAT 101 Calculus

This course deals with preliminary topics in math, which are studied in high school, functions and properties and its graphs, some special functions especially trigonometric functions and their graphs, basic limit applications and differentiations.

KUR 105 Kurdology I

The territorial extent of Kurdistan, the ethnic and geographical extent of Kurdistan, Numerical extent of the Kurds, the geography of Kurdistan, Physical aspect, the living landscape and habitat, the human aspect, an anthropological profile of Kurdistan. Origins and pre-Islamic history, the Islamic period up to 1920, from 1920 to the present day, the fundamental structures of Kurdish society, the Kurdish family, tribal organization, language, and folklore.

First Grade – 2^st Semester

ARCH 121 Basic Design II

At this course, students will learn how to design 3 dimensions volumes with different materials, design spaces, and design a weekend house (small function house). The subject aims at developing the skills needed for designing 3D architectural forms as well as emphasizing on the relationship between form & space, the influence of functions, human scale, horizontal & vertical circulation, outdoor spaces, as well as structural principles, on architectural design. In addition, this subject, provides a training of the students’ creative capability of form & space formulation. Finally, training on different types of techniques and architectural presentation.

ARCH 122 Architectural Graphic II

This course is the second semester of the previous course with the same title. It aims to teach students drawings technique like ink on tress paper, shade, and shadow, iso metric, perspective drawings.

ARCH 123 Free- Hand Drawing I

Students will learn architectural freehand drawing skills. Through specific drawing exercises aimed to improving basic skills, students will develop a methodology for representing the surrounding three-dimensional world. This process will yield a series of exquisite drawings.

ARCH 124 Model Making

This course teaches the students the techniques of model-making. Students work in the studios on improving their architectural model making skills. Students make models out of different materials, like cardboard, foam, and wood.

ARCH 125 Computer Application in Architecture I

Intensive introduction to computer-aided design systems for developing 2D drawings into 3d Models. Lectures and exercises focus on learning the methodology for using CAD to efficiently prepare 2D & 3D models drawings.

ARCH 126 Theory of Architecture I

Course examines design theory as a means to develop cognitive and problem-solving skills. Difference between theory and design theory of architecture is explored. Also explored are issues of order and organization, phenomena of perception, elements and organizing principles of form and space, ordering principles, design typology, designers and design thinking, and design process.

ELT 104 Technical English

Technical English provides English language instruction for students who are following vocational and technical education. The syllabus covers the core language skills that students need to succeed in technical and industrial fields of architectural engineering work.

KUR 106 Kurdology II

The territorial extent of Kurdistan, the ethnic and geographical extent of Kurdistan, Numerical extent of the Kurds, the geography of Kurdistan, Physical aspect, the living landscape and habitat, the human aspect, an anthropological profile of Kurdistan. Origins and pre-Islamic history, the Islamic period up to 1920, from 1920 to the present day, the fundamental structures of Kurdish society, the Kurdish family, tribal organization, language, and folklore.

Second Grade – 1^st Semester

ARCH 211 Architectural Design I

The first semester of design consists of designing a single family detached residential unit. The course aims to teach the students the principles of design. It aims to introduce site analysis extensively and train them on matters related to zoning and building the mass of the project according to the formal, economical, and functional needs. The course also aims to strengthen the students, technical drawing abilities, and boost their abilities of visual imagination. The course aims to train the students to think logically and produce architectural solutions out of the presented context.

ARCH 212 Building Construction Technology I

Building Construction is an introduction to the techniques, materials, and structural systems used in the construction process of any Building. Building Construction classes will focus on the main components of the building and their connections. Topics of this course include Components, Materials and Techniques used in Building Construction process which include (Masonry walls (Brick & Block), Floors and Slabs (Concrete and Reinforced Concrete), Opening (Doors and Windows), Finishing Materials, and Connection Techniques). During the Course, the students will be asked to visit material stores and Construction sites to have a clear idea about the available materials and techniques in the Local Market.

ARCH 213 Free hand Drawings II

Students will draw complex models and learn new techniques in shading and using colors. Also, there will be focus on drawing building and landscape for developing and communicating ideas in the design process.

ARCH 214 Structure I

The course aims to give introduction about structural engineering, types of structures, and types of loads. It also gives detailed knowledge about equilibrium of structure, force analysis, and moments. It gives full understanding of finding stresses and strains in building elements

ARCH 229 Perspective drawings

Introduction to perspective systems and their use in the representation of three-dimensional forms. Instruction will be conducted through projected diagrams, lectures, and individual tutoring. The course covers: Linear Perspective, Geometric Tools and Perspective Methods, Perspective Measurements, Squares, Cubes and Circle, Sloping Planes and Stairs, one and Two Points Perspective Drawing from Observation, Perspective Views from Plans and Elevations, etc.

ARCH 216 Computer Application in Architecture II

This course is a technical course that improves the CAD drawing skills of the students. Students will work with 3D modeling software like 3Ds Max. They will utilize the Parametric modeling technique using 3ds Max Design advanced featured in modifier list. Students will utilize and manipulate rendering and also animation technique using Lumion software, and produce professional-level presentations of their ideas, from conceptual designs to finished renderings and postproduction using adobe Photoshop.

ARCH  History of Architecture I

This course traces the history of Architecture from Prehistoric Era refers to the period of human history before the beginning of
written records. Analytical study of spanning from the emergence of the first hominids to the invention of writing.

ARCH 224 Survey

This course will introduce the fundamentals of surveying measurements to provide a broad overview of the surveying instrumentation (level), measurements, corrections, reduction and computations that are required to produce a topographical map or a site plan for engineering and design projects. Also with proper field procedures for basic surveying which include taking field notes, taping and leveling. The overall course is designed to make the students able to learn and understand the theory and field procedure by applying suitable surveying methods to produce map.

Second Grade – 2^st Semester

This course emphasizes on basic constructional details and primary school facility design. Students will make their 1^st step toward larger scale designs. Throughout the course students will learn about benefiting from natural light, orientation and landscape design even more. Emphasizing the application of ordering concepts, and aspects and determinants of form and space. An individual design process is developed by the student.

ARCH222- Building Construction Technology II

A continuation of ARC 212 emphasizing more on materials and methods of building construction asserting more on wood, concrete, unit masonry, and light steel construction. Laboratory projects may include working drawings interpretation, sketching construction details, or field trips to construction sites and fabricant plants. Designed primarily as the initial materials and methods course for architectural transfer students.

ARCH 223- Free hand drawing III:

Teaching drawing with new coloring techniques like watercolors , and draw complex forms, inside and outside buildings and environment.

ARCH 224- Statics and Mechanics

Covers static and Mechanic forces analysis. Introduces scalars and vectors with applications to the study of forces, moments, and couples. Stresses free body diagrams with engineering examples.

ARCH 225- History of Architecture I:

A general survey of architecture from early Mesopotamian and Egyptian architectures to roman and Greek architectures including an integration of art forms, structural forms and ornamental forms used in various cultures of the world during those times.

ARCH 226 STRUCTURE II:

A continuation of ARC 214 course aims introduces students to more advanced structural techniques and solutions.

ARCH 227- Computer Application in Architecture III:

This course is designed for students with previous computer-aided design knowledge. Students will use both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional CAD software to further develop their abilities to apply CAD techniques to the solution of architectural, engineering, and interior design problems.

Third Grade – 1^st Semester

ARCH 311-Architectural Design III:

This course provides the student more information about the design principles so it helps the student to learn how to make plans for a big project and in this way the student faces problems of design in plans, elevations, sections , site ,isometric and perspective…etc. and learn how to solve those problem. Also teaching the student how to use steel structure and which buildings should be designed with steel and others with concrete, so it allows the student to do a comprehensive design so in the final of the course the student will design a complete project ,learn how to think as a designer and how to follow an architectural style to have a really good design project.

ARCH 312-Building construction Technology III:

This course is a continuous of the Building Construction Technology of the 2^nd year; it introduces the materials in detail and how to design a project in order to will not face a failure in constructing. It also allows the student to know about the structural systems and their uses in construction. Have practical lessons of the building materials and steps of construction. To know how the weather effects on constructing a building and what should we do if we construct in a summer or winter. It allows the student to have a comprehensive information about material, construction steps and structural systems so to have the capability to design a good project.

ARCH 313-Sustainable Architecture:

Is a new trend that lets the student to learn how to design a more efficient and sustainable building, to understand the Green Architecture, what is it , and how to make a building more sustainable , how to enter green into the project. To take care about natural light and use less as possible as the artificial lighting. Cares about ventilation inside a building and allows the student to know which project need a natural lighting and natural ventilation. Teach the student what are renewable energy resources (solar, wind, Biomass, Geothermal) and how to take useful of them in our country and how to put them in our projects. It helps the student to think more livable about the human comfortable and ways of having a less energy use project.

ARCH 316-Building Services :

To introduce the student the Mechanical, Electrical ,Sanitary, drainage and water supply systems. How to consider them in designing a project and how are they working in building ,how does they should affect on building and what should the designer do for building services so it will not cause damage of the building. It allows to know how an architect should connect with the mechanical, electrical and water supply engineer.

ARCH 315-History Of Architecture II :

This course is about to introduce the students the steps of design from the beginning of the human being life, since the stony epochs until today. What are the history of ( Gothic, Ancient Egypt, Islamic and other architectures ) How they designed and built the buildings , how was their plans , where was the entrance to the building how was their courtyards, which architectural elements did they use . what was their architectural monuments and how did they care about religious buildings from Temples to churches and mosques.

ARCH 314- Computer Application in Architecture IV:

This course is designed for the students with previous computer-aided design knowledge. Students will be able to use both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional CAD software to further develop their abilities to apply CAD techniques to the solution of architectural, engineering, and interior design problems concerning modelling of large scaled buildings.

Third Grade – 2^st Semester

ARCH 321-ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IV:

In this course the student will design a project like a sport center or museum or other big project. The student starts from the Data Collection then Concept then Design to the Presentation of the project, in these period he will put a concept that may be by a plan or a 3d or both together and starts to solve the problems of design and finally have an organized big project with (plans, elevations, sections, site, 3ds and model of the project.

ARCH 322-PRINCIPLES OF PLANNING I :

This course provides the student to understand the principles of planning a city , what is city planning, what are the principles, how do they use those principle how can they start planning a city , and how can they do a renewable for a city.

ARCH 323-Theories Of Architectural Design:

This course is about theories of architecture since the architecture started till our days. It informs the styles of designing and the leaders of those styles . It allows to know how was the architecture before Industrial Revolution like classic, renaissance …etc. and how was after the Industrial Revolution. What are the reasons of appearing Industrial Revolution . what is modern, post modern styles . what are deconstruction, folding …etc. architectures who are leaders of these styles. What is the futurism . Who are Peter Eisenmen, Zaha Hadid, Ritchard Mier and some other architects. In this course the student will collect information about theories and styles of architecture.

ARCH 324-City Planning :

In this course the students have practical lessons by distributing into groups and each group take a district then have site visits and collecting data about that district to know how many is the number of population there, how many male how many female ,and how many dwellings there is, which infrastructures they need , how is the case of houses and buildings there , where they should have green areas and recreation facilities and finally each group do a presentation about the existing case and give recommendation and solutions of how the city should be.

ARCH 325-History of Architecture III:

In this course the student will be informed about the Islamic architecture in detail. How was the mosques design according to epochs. Which characters did they use in mosques. Which materials did they use, How did they make the mosque be a monument, How was the plan of the mosques. How they deal with dome and lighting in the mosque. Which activities were in the mosque.

ARCH 326-Architecture and Environment I:

To introduce the student the environmental effects on building and how to make the building be environmental. How to deal with sun light in seasons of year. What are shading devices and how can we take useful from them, where can we put then with which proportion, what insulation materials should be used in construction. How can we make an efficient natural ventilation, where can we put windows with which type and proportion. In each day of the year how is the sun light.

Fourth Grade – 1^st Semester

This course aims to expand the view of the student and help him to move from thinking about the design of a single building with a specific function to go out into the whole city and how to link the project with visual and movement paths in it.

Arch 413- History of Architecture IV

This course focuses on the methods of comparative analysis and differentiation between different architectural styles through history and studying historical values ​​and characterization of climate and geological and methods of construction and art across different ages.

Arch 412- Interior design

in this course the students must know how to plan a space and how to present that plan visually so that it can be communicated to the client, and also know about the materials and products that will be used to create and furnish the space, and how texture, color, lighting and other factors combine and interact to make a space. In addition understanding the structural requirements of their plans, the health and safety issues, building codes, and many other technical aspects.

Arch 414- Islamic architecture 1

Encompasses a wide range of Islamic styles from the foundation of Islam to the Abbasid Caliphs, studying the elements and the components of Islamic buildings(Mosques, Houses, Palaces, tomb, Public buildings….) which are existing around the world.

Arch 415- Housing

Students learn to design housing through studying the origins of some of the criteria and determinants of housing standards and decisions associated with the design of the building especially in hot dry area.

Arch 416- Architecture & environment Students will understand the relation between the architecture and natural environment, starting with the environments of the region, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of the environment and its effects inside and outside the building.

Fourth Grade – 2^st Semester

In this course students learn the concepts and basic principles of residential compound, in addition to identify the problems of housing in the country and try to reach some of the solutions to solve them through the design of a whole housing project, so we will divide the project into two phases, the first one is about the whole concept of the studied area and is being done by many students in group while the second phase focuses on each part and detail of this concept or project.

Arch 422- Landscape Design

In this course the students know how to create the landscape around us. They plan, design and manage open spaces including both natural and built environments. Also they learn to provide innovative and aesthetically pleasing environments for people to enjoy, whilst ensuring that changes to the natural environment are appropriate, sensitive and sustainable.

Arch 423-Urban design theories

This course Includes topics of the basic vocabulary of the concept of urban design and the reasons for its evolution ,basic theories of special and general urban design. Its goal is to introduce students to the concepts, organizational relationships and components of the urban space.

Arch 424- Theories of Modern Architecture

Students will learn the distinctive varieties of modern theory in the twentieth century up to the profound social upheaval, they will know the act of thinking, discussing, and writing about architects working in this period of time.

Arch 425- Islamic architecture 2

The course focuses on the most iconic monuments and objects produced during the period(from Abbasid Caliphs in Andalusia to present day , studying the vocabularies of Islamic architecture which are used for the buildings.

Acoustic and architecture

Architectural acoustics is the science and engineering of achieving a good sound within a building .Architectural acoustics can be about achieving good speech intelligibility in a theater, restaurant or railway station, enhancing the quality of music in a concert hall or recording studio, or suppressing noise to make offices and homes more productive and pleasant places to work and live in.

Fifth Grade – 1^st Semester

An introduction to the structure and form of urban environments as understood through the urban architecture. The forces that determine the creation and development of urban places will be examined. Topics include: the plan as a generative form, urban building types, urban morphology and the shape of the public realm, infrastructure as both system and architectural object, nature and the park, and real estate and development controls.

ARCH512- Thesis Research:

The course prepares the senior students to review the literature needed for their graduation project and write their thesis research.

ARCH513 Research Methods:

This course will provide an opportunity for participants to establish or advance their understanding of research through critical exploration of research language, ethics, and approaches. The course introduces the language of research, ethical principles and challenges, and the elements of the research process within quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches.

ARCH514 Professional practice:

The course begins with an overview of architectural practice in a marketplace democracy – the participants, the transactions, the webs of relationships — considered from the primary relationship of the individual to the collective. This duality embodies a fundamental oscillation between two complimentary but sometimes competing orientations: a view of architectural practice from its identification as a profession (its history, its ideological structure, its obligations to society), and a view of architectural practice from a marketplace orientation, considering its role in the dynamics of late capitalism.

ARCH515 Specification and Estimation:

The course studies specifications and estimating and analyzing material, labor, equipment, methods of construction, overhead and profit, and submitting these factors in the form of a bid.

Fifth Grade – 2^st Semester

This Course represents the culminating experience resulting from student’s graduate study. Thesis project proves that the student have mastery in the subject matter.  The thesis demonstrates that a graduate is capable of finding solutions to significant problems, and that he/she can perform critical analysis and make sound technical decisions based on the findings and it is proof that the student can describe the project related activities and results in a well written scholarly publication.

ACH522 -Project management:

The course provides an overview of all the essential knowledge required to operate successfully as a Project Manager in the construction industry.  It discusses the history of Project Management and the context of project management within the Australian construction industry.  It discusses the life cycle of a project and introduces the concept of inputs, processes and outputs for project management.

ARCH- Architectural Philosophy

This course will study deals with aesthetic value of architecture, its semantics and relations with development of culture.