The educational objective of the single-cycle degree in Building Engineering-Architecture is to enter the labour market a professional designer of buildings which, through its interdisciplinary training, is able to identify problems and seek appropriate design solutions, keeping pace with the innovative dynamics of the area, to improve the quality of buildings under the physical, technical, aesthetic, performance, economic and procedural perspective.
The building engineer-architect carries out the design (in all the stages, from preliminary studies up to operations), the construction and operation of building works. To achieve this objective the training of the Building Engineer-Architect is based on solid foundations of mathematics, physics, chemistry, design, architectural history, art history and covers all sectors characterizing the Architecture and Building Engineering-architecture: technical architecture, urban and architectural design, architectural restoration, construction theory and structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, building production, planning, valuation, administrative law, sociology and economics. Other core disciplines of Engineering (technical physics, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics, materials technology) complete the training.
The strong multi-disciplinary approach of the course makes the Building Engineer-Architect, a professional able to address current issues and ensures him/her the possibility of continuous updating.
The training provided for the role of Building Engineer-Architect combines the education of civil and environmental engineers and architects, through a series of mandatory teachings, though ordered out of five continuous years, runs through four periods of significant and diversified learning.
The first period is preparatory and includes core engineering (mathematics, geometry, physics, rational mechanics) and architectural subjects (architectural design and survey, architectural history and history of art, basics of architectural composition and computer-aided design, technology of construction elements, etc.).
Since the whole course of studies aims at training in architectural design, most teachings, where possible and appropriate, address, in addition to theoretical and methodological content, operational issues, through workshops, where students develop the necessary understanding, application and communication abilities.
The second period, the third course year, is characterized by the first activities of integrated design synthesis based on the knowledge and skills acquired by students, through the elaboration of integrated and complete projects.
The third period is dedicated to cultural enrichment through the study of specialized disciplines completing advanced learning and technical -professional and cultural training, preparing students to face the fourth and final period. This latter aims at the completion of professional training according to each student specific objectives and cultural choices (through elective courses, in line with the general educational model), as well as at the final synthesis activity, consisting in the elaboration of the dissertation for the final exam. The dissertation normally consists of an architectural project developed in all its parts and of a series of disciplinary insights of one or more of the design aspects.
