Architecture Schools and Programs in India

Architecture Studies in India

Are you interested in pursuing a degree in Architecture?  Have you considered perhaps earning a portion of your degree by studying abroad in a foreign country such as Italy?  Architecture is a popular degree program around the world, including in Italy, a country whose architectural beauty simply has no equal.
 
Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is one of the most historic countries in the world.  A unitary parliamentary republic in Southern Europe, the country is bordered to the north by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, and is roughly delimited by the Alpine watershed, enclosing the Po Valley and the Venetian Plain.  To the south Italy consists of the entirety of the Italian Peninsula, as well as the two largest Mediterranean islands—the island of Sicily and Sardinia.
 
Italy is the fifth-most populous country in Europe, with roughly 60 million inhabitants.  A modern and fairly wealthy nation, Italy boasts the fourth-largest economy in the European Union, the third-largest in the Eurozone and the ninth-largest economy in the world.
 
The capital and largest city in Italy is Rome, a city which for centuries has been one of the leading political and religious hubs of Western civilization, serving as the capital of both the Roman Empire and Christianity.
 
Architecture Education in Italy
 
Architectural degree programs are offered by most of Italy’s major colleges and universities.  Since the adoption of the Bologna Process, an educational reform designed to streamline and standardize the credit and degree structure at universities across the European Union; students pursuing a degree in Architecture are now required to spend five years in the program, broken down as:
 

• Academic Bachelor.  The Academic Bachelor degree normally takes 3 years to complete, totally 180 academic credits.  No actual degree is awarded after this stage, but it does qualify students to participate in the Master of Science degree program in Architecture.
• Master of Science in Architecture.  The Master of Science in Architecture normally takes two years to complete, totaling 120 academic credits.  Students must also complete and defend a Master’s Thesis or Project prior to graduation.

Students participating in Italy’s Architecture degree program take courses that combine cutting-edge architectural theory with real-world practice.  To complete the bachelor's degree in architecture, students take courses in five categories:

• Architecture and Urban Design Studios
• Architecture History and Professional Ethics
• General Education and Electives
• Engineering and related subjects
• Science, Mathematics and Computers

Students can further complement their work by taking university courses in departments such as Environmental Science and Civil Engineering; Sustainable Energy and Leadership; Urban Community Planning and Designing; and Computer-Assisted Design (CAD) training.
Towards the end of the degree program in Architecture, students can participate in professional internships, community projects, design competitions, and field trips, visiting some of the iconic structures that make Italy one of the most architecturally-pleasing countries in the world.
Why Study Abroad in Italy
 
In addition to the outstanding education students will receive when studying at one of Italy’s excellent universities, they will also be exposed to a warm culture and a country full of friendly people.  Italy is one of the top tourist destinations in the world; a country known for its delicious cuisine, fine wines and more historic sites and attractions than one can possibly count.  Architecture students will love exploring the many structural wonders of this historic country, including, but certainly not limited to:
 
The Roman Colosseum
 
The Roman Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is the largest amphitheatre built in the Holy Roman Empire.  With Classical, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian engaged columns; it is one of the most majestic structures in the world. Originally capable of seating 50,000 spectators, it was once used for gladiatorial combat. It was built in the 70s AD by Jewish slaves captured at the end of the Great Jewish Revolt.
 
The Pantheon
 
Built from 118 to 126 AD, the Pantheon takes its name from the Greek word “pantheion,” meaning “Shrine of all Gods.”  It was originally built as a temple for the seven deities of the seven planets, but has been a Christian Church since the 7^th century. It is the best-preserved of all Roman buildings and the oldest important building in the world, with its original roof completely intact.  It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and although the identity of the Pantheon's primary architect remains uncertain, the credit for its design is largely assigned to Apollodorus of Damascus.
 
St. Peter’s of Rome
 
The Basilica of Saint Peter, locally known as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and colloquially called Saint Peter's Basilica, ranks second among the four major basilicas of Rome and its Vatican City enclave. Possibly the largest church in Christianity, it covers an area of roughly 5.7 acres and has a capacity of just over 60,000 people.  Considered one of the holiest sites of Christianity, the church is traditionally the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, first Bishop of Antioch, and later the first Bishop of Rome.  Although the New Testament does not mention Peter either in Rome, or being martyred there, a very old tradition holds that his tomb is below the baldachino and altar.  For this reason, many Popes, starting with the first ones, have been buried there.  Construction on the current basilica began on April 18, 1506 and was completed in 1626.