History of Architecture and Town Planning
SubjectArchitecture, History
Is this programme for you?
Are you interested in how architecture and urbanism can improve our conditions, and how they contribute to public health? Do you wish to gain knowledge about the global dimension of architectural and urban theories and practices?
Starting with the Enlightenment and focusing on issues related to public health, our Master's degree in History of Architecture and Town Planning explores the tensions between global and local, gaps between formal and informal, the post-socialist condition in former Eastern Europe, and architectural and urban strategies aiming at sustainable living conditions and their historical precursors.
Part of the courses is provided by the Thomassen a Thuessink Chair, a joint venture of Groningen University Medical Center, the University of Groningen and Delft University of Technology; the chair focuses on the public health dimension of urban interventions.
Why study History of Architecture and Town Planning with the University of Groningen?
The course positions the evolution of the European city (including the post-socialist cities in Central and Eastern Europe) as intimately linked with trends and tendencies at the global scale.
The input of the Thomassen a Thuessink Chair results in a clear focus on the health effects of the built environment and the phenomena summarized in the healthy cities concept (ranging from yesterday's hygienic measures to tomorrows urban guerilla gardening campaigns)
In Groningen, the history and theory of architecture and urbanism are taught within the context of social, economic, cultural and philosophical phenomena and geared towards active participation of the students in the discourse on global urban tendencies. Embedded in a classical art historical context, this so-called 'Groningen school' expands the envelope of it scientific explorations and targets planners and policy makers as well as historians and art historians.
Past, present and future are seen as a continuum, the historian's expertise and research tools as constituting a methodology that is applicable throughout this continuum, its essence being the conviction that man-made changes should always be attributed to those responsible for them.
Groningen University promotes cooperation with universities and institutions in the Netherlands and abroad: Delft University of Technology, Gent University of Technology, Berlin University of Technology, ETH Zürich, Erasmus University Rotterdam, International New Town Institute and others.
The Master's prgramme offers the opportunity to take courses at other universities.
The city of Groningen is well-known for being the liveliest student city in the Netherlands, with an ever-growing international student population.
How to apply
Prospective candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree.
Career Opportunities
The master opens a myriad of career opportunities, in the Netherlands and abroad, as has been proved over the years. For instance:
- jobs in the field of urban history and consultancy for municipal agencies and scientific institutions
- jobs for private or public architectural and urban platforms
- jobs in the field of journalism and public relations
- the master prepares students for a scientific career
- jobs as advisors for healthcare institutions
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