Das Modul Masterthesis setzt sich zusammen aus:
a) der Masterthesis

b) der Präsentation und Verteidigung der Masterthesis
In der Präsentation und Verteidigung der Masterthesis weist der Studierende die Befähigung wissenschaftlicher Arbeitsweise sowie die für die Ausübung des Berufes erforderlichen fachlichen Kompetenzen und Kommunikationsfähigkeiten nach.

In der Masterthesis wird ein studiengangsspezifisches Problem auf wissenschaftlicher Grundlage selbständig erarbeitet.

Mit der Masterthesis wird ermittelt, ob folgende Ziele erreicht wurden:

Doctoral students in Architecture and Planning require in-depth knowledge in epistemology and ontology as well as an applicable base of research methods and design methodical tools. The individually tutored, recherche based investigative project will complement the module Research Design, and be tailored to the needs of the individual students and cover a selection of the following and other related topics:

• Theories of design in architecture and urban planning
• Form values in history
• Normative approaches to the theory of spatial quality
• Research design and the use of theory in architecture and planning
• Inquiry by design
• Interdisciplinary research in design and planning
• Research projects with industrial and government partners in he built environment
• Action research in planning and environmental studies
• Project design / design project

Participant centered learning approach consisting of inquiry into the literature, cases and best practices in a structured process of self-study, concluded by a presentation as well as a paper submission.

The students will be able to

• understand and be conversant in the ontological and epistemological foundations of their research work
• differentiate between different schools of thought
• design research procedures according to valid research questions
• select, develop and apply suitable qualitative and quantitative research methods
• evaluate their own research with respect to the ability to validate assumptions and hypotheses
• be successfully examined by a group of academics in a presentation and paper submission at the end of the tutorial recherche

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• Paper
• Presentation

A personalised working-schedule and tutorial times for participants will be agreed in due time.

The main objective is to provide opportunities of engagement at a high level of research development, and of networking at international conferences. The focus is on presenting and arguing the PhD candidates' research in a competitive and international scientific environment. Paper submissions are to be vetted through an expert academic committee. This module is to develop the communicative competence of candidates. Students participating in this module will find themselves in an internationally acknowledged conference in architecture and planning suitable to their area of focus. They will receive critical comments and feedback on their research project by experienced faculty members, conference delegates and other student participants.

Preparation of paper and presentation

The primary objective of the conference participation and paper presentation is to present, argue and advance the candidates' doctoral research in an international, scientifically relevant conference.

Successful participation will strengthen students' understanding of competitive scientific discourse, documentation and career development through conference participation and publishing.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• competitive paper review process
• line of argument and discourse
• formal presentation aspects
• research paper presentation
• event report and evaluation
• quality of proceedings publication

Module availability:
In coordination with supervisor: upon application and successful submission of a paper at an international conference relevant to the focus of the candidates' dissertation, in architectural design theory; low-carbon building technology and building integrated sustainability systems; or sustainable spatial development, urban and regional planning and design, or an approved related field.

• This module aims at fostering professional competences. In particular, an overview on theories of the firm is given in order to provide students with a profound background for better understanding the various current topics of their discipline. The set of theories dealt with in the course will continuously be reviewed and adapted. So far, the following theories of the firm are considered to be particularly relevant for all three doctoral programs currently being offered by the graduate school:Introduction to the Theory of the Firm (Dr. Ferdinand Thies)The Nature of the Firm and the Problem of Social Cost (Ass.Prof. Dr. Tanja Kirn)Agency Theory (Prof. Dr. Marco Menicetti)Transactioncost Theory (Dr. Martin Angerer)Information Processing Theory (Prof. Dr. Jan vom Brocke)Resource-based Theory of the Firm (Dr. Ferdinand Thies)Knowledge-based Theory of the Firm (Dr. Ferdinand Thies)Behavioral Theory of the Firm (Dr. Ferdinand Thies)

Lecture; self-study; presentation and paper by students

• Basic understanding of the fundamental research questions connecting to the existence and boundaries of organizations Basic understanding of the different approaches which try to explain the existence and boundaries of organizations from various perspectives. Basic understanding of the underlying assumptions of these approaches.

• Students will be able to:gain an overview about various theories of the firm and their historycritically review and discuss different theories of the firmapply theories of the firm as guiding theoretical framework to own thesis topic and research questions

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• Paper (5000 - 7000 words)
• Presentation of paper

The module takes place in the context of the planned series of lectures “renewable architecture” at the institute of architecture and planning (autumn-semester 2018/19 and summer semester 2019). One of the greatest challenges of our time is the sustainable and qualitative renewal of existing settlement and infrastructure. The overbuilding of cultivated land will in the future become an exceptional case, the building in the stock must become the rule. Existing urban and building structures need to be transformed, developed further, revalued and upgraded. Planning and building in the social, physical, constructive and infrastructural context represents a challenge for the methods and instruments of architecture and urban development.

Participation in the series of lectures “renewable architecture”
Participation in the tutorials, evaluating the evening lectures
Self-study of the topic
Presentation and writing of a paper about the topic

The students receive an overview of the current urban and architectural theoretical, monument preservation as well as constructive discussion on planning and building in existing buildings and settlements. Students are able to reflect critically on the various positions and relate them to their own research. The students can formulate their own theoretical position on the topic of the year.

The students have to take part in the evening lectures of the "renewalbe architecture"-series in the autumn semester 2018/19 or in the summer semester 2019 (expected 3 events per semester). The lectures will take place irregular, on Thursday evening. After every evening lecture the students reflect the speech in short tutorials with each other and the lecturer (tutorials will determined by individual agreement).
Furthermore, the students have to write an paper (3-5 pages) about renewable architecture, discussing the concept to their individual research. Depending on the quality, the essay will be published in the planned publication of the renawable architecture - series.
Participation in the kick-off event and further meetings in coordination with the lecturer.

This course is designed to give first year PhD Students an aid for their academic endeavour. Just like in Research Design, the focus lies on methodological competences. At the same time, however, this course also aims at techniques rather than design strategies. The objective is to provide core compentences on how to craft a scientific text properly. Due to the concept of peer-monitoring applied in this course also social competencies will be trained.

During the first year students will be working on their academic writing style, they will be made familiar with normative writing styles and ways to publish tackling various kinds of genres, and they will help and learn from each other through peer-monitoring activities. As a base sample texts will be used and the texts students will be producing will be worked on. The course is built on three pillars:

• Knowledge Management:
  Working with databases, literature management softwares, etc.
• Publishing:
  How to write and publish various genres: abstracts, research papers, articles, data commentaries, reviews, project proposals, formatting, etc.
• Peer-Mentoring:
  Giving and receiving feed-back, presenting and reviewing, considering peer-feedback, joint writing activities, etc.

Workshops, one-on-one and think-pair-share sessions, individual and guided e-learning.

Students will be acquainted with principles of academic writing, normative writing, publishing, and peer-mentoring.

By the end of the course they will be able to make use of academic vocabulary, they will be able to discuss texts, tables, charts, and figures, and they will be sensitised about their personal and academic command of the English language.

They will be familiar with reference management systems, working with databases, formatting written texts, and academic values.

They will know principles of certain academic genres, like abstracts, research papers, articles, data commentaries, reviews, project proposals, etc.

They will be able to give and consider peer-feed-back, present and review, and they will be able to carry out joint writing activities, etc.

• identify exemplary A-journal papers of your field
• provide own texts for review
• prepare and present reviews
• participate in text discussions
• prepare and present learning input

This module helps the student to further broaden and intensify his knowledge and methodological skills needed for his dissertation.
This module could focus on Banking, Finance or Taxation.

Lecture or seminar or self-study, possibly combined with preparation and presentation of a paper.

Based on lectures offered on the master's level, this module helps to enable the student

• to further intensify the existing knowledge and methodology needed for the dissertation project;
• to independently develop a research concept for specific research questions;
• to develop, analyze and synthesize new complex ideas;
• to develop the scientific and/or cultural progress for an academic or non-academic environment.

Students will be able to:

• Have an advanced and intensified overview on specific topics needed for the dissertation project;
• Develop their own research project;
• Apply the methodological structures of these specific topics for their dissertation project.

The students will be assessed in this module through:

• competitive selection process of the research seminar
• specific mechanisms of the research seminar

Module availability:
On application at an internationally renown PhD program, such as organised e. g. by London School of Economics, University of Constance, Zürich, St. Gallen, Innsbruck.