The training program offered by this Department, Bachelor of Architecture degree, is structured to enable students to develop and promote available resources in the design development. It is aimed at sensitizing students to analyze and synthesize design ideas that are responsive to the environmental context.
To enable us achieve this the department has formulated the following means of training:
1. Studio Programs
The studio programs will have a bias on design methods, such as modular coordination, that emphasize buildability of the project. Studio Programs in the upper years will encourage students to erect parts of design elements (staircases, slabs, etc.) in full scale.
2. Working Drawings
Studio programs in the upper classes will emphasize construction technology expressed in form of working drawings and related details. Planning considerations that inform design resolution will also be given significant weight.
3. Practical Attachment
Our programme has 24 weeks of practical attachment. The students are supposed to learn the following: Organization of an architect’s office, various stages that design and design production undergoes, and relatedness of university education to professional practice. The first eight (8) weeks are now conducted in our workshops to instill the practical approach as students are required to design and fabricate various items using mixed materials.
4. Building Technology
Building technology will be practical oriented by use of workshops and visits to construction sites and industries that manufacture building materials. Consequently, students will learn how construction details and joinery are assembled in the actual construction. They will also understand how design and detail influence each other in the realization of the total building. These lessons in technology must find expression in portfolio.
5. Design Tools
Students will be taught how to make use of available design tools, for example computers and environmental simulation, to achieve better design results. Students are proficiently trained in Archi-CAD and other relevant programmes. However, much emphasis is laid on such traditional tools as the drawing board, photography and physical three-dimensional modeling.
6. Theory classes
Theory classes are formulated to equip students with tools to understand, formulate, analyze and interpret design problems related to “good designs that are buildable”. Introduction to research methodology and human sciences such as, Human Settlements, Urban Design, Urban and Regional Planning and Conservation, will be given premium in this school. They improve students’ awareness of the practical nature of design in addressing real life societal challenges.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
A candidate wishing to be admitted into the Department of Architecture for pursuit of a Degree of Bachelor of Architecture must:-
(a) Satisfy the minimum entrance requirement of the University.
(b) Score a mean grade of B- in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and have a minimum grade of C+ in the following individual and cluster subjects
i. Mathematics
ii. Physics
iii. Any Group III (Geography, History and Government and Christian, Islamic and Hindu religious education)
iv. 2nd Group II (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) or 2nd Group III or any group IV (French, German, Arabic, Music, Business studies
(c) Have a mean score of B- in the cluster subjects
(d) Hold an Advanced level certificate with a minimum of 12 points with 3 principal passes in Mathematics, physics and any Group III (Geography, History and Government and Christian, Islamic and Hindu religious education) and one subsidiary pass.
(e) A candidate with a Distinction or Credit and above in the JKUAT Diploma in Architecture (2001) may be considered for admission into the third year of study.
(f) A candidate with a pass in the JKUAT Diploma in Architecture (2001) may be considered for admission into the first year of study.
(g) Any other Diploma approved by the University senate
Other criteria and methods of selection include:-
(a) Priority placed in choosing the course
(b) Merit
(c) Existing Capacity
(d) Cut-off points.
A candidate is required to have a cluster of four subjects with a minimum grade of B-, which in numerical terms translates to 45 points, being based on the following equivalence:-
(A) = 12, (A-) = 11, (B+)=10, (B)=9, (B-)=8, (C+)=7, (C)=6, (C-)=5, (D+)=4, (D)=3, (D-)=2, (E)=1.
The total points fluctuate annually with the overall performance of candidates countrywide.
1.2.1. LIST OF TAUGHT COURSES
FIRST YEAR
HRD 2101 Communication skills (University Unit)
ABA 2102 Physics
SMA 2170 Algebra
ABA 2103 Chemistry
ABA 2104 History of Architecture I
ABA 2105 Architectural Communication I*
HRD 2102 Development Studies
(University Unit)
SMA 2171 Geometry
ABA 2108 History and Theory
of Architecture I
ABA 2109 Materials Science I
ABA 2110 Physical Environment I (Ecology)
ABA 2111 Architectural Communication II
SECOND YEAR
SMA 2172 Calculus
ICS 2421 Introduction to Computer Science
ABA 2203 History of Architecture II
ABA 2204 Material Science II
ABA 2205 Physical Environment II (Geology)
ABA 2206 Architectural Design I*
ABA 2207 Structures I
ABA 2208 Surveying
ABA 2209 History &Theory of Architecture II
ABA 2210 Workshop Technology I
ABA 2211 Environmental Behavior Study
ABA 2212 Architectural Design II
ABA 2213 PRACTICAL ATTACHMENT I (8 weeks) – equivalent of I unit
THIRD YEAR
ABA 2301 Landscape Design
ABA 2302 Structures II
ABA 2303 History & Theory of African
Architecture
ABA 2304 Building Env. Science I (Thermal)
ABA 2305 Building Technology I
ABA 2306 Architectural Design III*
ABA 2307 Computer Aided Design
ABA 2308 Structures III
ABA 2309 History of Architecture III
ABA 2310 Bldg. Env. Science II (Lighting)
ABA 2311 Building Technology II
ABA 2312 Architectural Design IV
ABA 2313 PRACTICAL ATTACHMENT II ( 8 WEEKS) – Equivalent of 1 unit
FOURTH YEAR
ABA 2401 Economics for Designers
ABA 2402 Structures IV
ABA 2403 Building Env. Science III (Acoustics)
ABA 2404 Urban and Regional Planning
ABA 2405 Building Services I
ABA 2406 Architectural Design V*and Interior Design
ABA 2407 Building Economics
ABA 2408 Building Technology IV
SMA 2272 Statistics
ABA 2410 Urban Design
ABA 2411 Workshop Technology II
ABA 2412 Architectural Design VI
ABA 2413 PRACTICAL ATTACHMENT III (8 WEEKS) – Equivalent of 1 unit
FIFTH YEAR
ABA 2501 Research Methodology
ABA 2502 Architectural Conservation Studies
ABA 2503 Management
ABA 2504 Human Settlement
ABA 2505 Environmental Impact Assessment and
Environmental Audit
ABA 2506 Architectural Design VII*
ABA 2507 Entrepreneurship
ABA 2508 Architectural Management
ABA 2509 Building Law
ABA 2510 Cost Planning and Control
ABA 2511 Research Methodology II
ABA 2512 Architectural Design VIII
SIXTH YEAR
ABA 2601 Thesis and Research Project
ABA 2602 Project Programming
ABA 2603 Design Thesis
All Courses have 1 x 3 examination hr/paper. All studios and final year (6th) are examined by course work.