The Faculty of Architecture, which began its academic activities as a department of architecture under the Faculty of Engineering in 1991, was converted into a Faculty in 1997 with Departments of Architecture and Interior Architecture. Today it has Departments of Architecture and Interior Architecture, graduate programs. in Architecture; 1-year, non-thesis, MArch in Architecture; 2-year MSc. in Ur
ban Design; 1-year, non-thesis, M.U.D Urban Design; 2-year M.A. in Cultural Heritage Studies. Interior Architecture: 2-year MSc. in Interior Architecture; 1-year, non-thesis, M.Int.Arch) and Doctoral Program of Architecture. Faculty continues education with 39 full-time academic staff (12 professors, 15 associate professors, 11 assistant professors, and 1 instructor), 29 part-time staff, and 30 research assistants. There are 1213 undergraduate and 169 graduate students in the Faculty of Architecture. Department of Architecture has taken accreditation from the Architecture Accreditation Council of Turkey (MIAK) and accreditation from the National Architectural Accreditation Board (NAAB). Department of interior architecture has taken accreditation from Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs (AQAS). Faculty is a member of ENHR (European Network for Housing Research), EAAE (European Association for Architectural Education), and IFI (International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers). The Faculty's mission is to develop a distinguished curriculum in accordance with international standards, to provide opportunities for interdisciplinary design education to its diverse student community, to encourage and educate the future architects and designers as innovative, creative, culture-sensitive, and environment responsive professionals with high critical thinking abilities and with up-to-date knowledge of technologies used in architecture, and interior architecture; who can share and apply their knowledge within and with other disciplines, and who are open to new possibilities and collaborations with other disciplines in processes of both learning and professional practice. The vision of the Faculty is providing leadership in design education with internationally accredited programs both at national and international levels through its distinguished academic infrastructure and supportive milieu for students to orient themselves and acquire knowledge and skills needed towards a creative and fruitful career. Improving the quality, increasing the motivation, cooperation, and diversity besides developing ethical values are amongst the goals of the Faculty. Faculty of Architecture provides a holistic and international education that highlights local values and real-life problems. There are many extra-curricular activities. Design Week, which is organized every year, is one of these. Since visual education is the target, many technical trips are organized. Urban Research and Design Center (URDC) of the University and Design and Research Center (TASAR) and Center for Housing Education and Research (HERA-C) and Research Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Built Environment (ISBE) are among the educational and research facilities which the students can make use of. Photography, model making, computer, ceramic, construction and material laboratories and workshops, wireless internet facilities, as well as well-equipped studios enable the students to make the most out of their education. Faculty encourages both joint and individual research. The Circulating Capital Unit of the Faculty enables academic staff and students to develop real-life projects and apply them. This provides service to society and improves the social responsibility of students.
