THESIS GUIDELINES FOR ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

1. INTRODUCTION

Thesis in architecture is typically envisioned and executed entirely as a design project. It tackles a
problem that others have not yet addressed adequately, or it approaches the problem from a new
angle. Research into what others have said and done is the essential first step, but the thesis
should go beyond prior work to include student’s own insights and critical thinking. The student
should have an acquaintance with the relevant scholarship and display originality in the
formulation of their arguments. Typically, such a thesis includes presentation of drawings, and
scaled models or 3D computer Models.

These Thesis Guidelines shall be the implementing rules on the conduct of the Architecture Thesis
Class of the Architecture Program. The thesis would be a group effort (3 members per group) and
as such the student members of the group are responsible for their conduct of research based on
the consultations made with their respective advisers. These Thesis Guidelines will help the
students understand the full responsibility they will have to take when undergoing the final
requirement for the Degree of Science in Architecture.

2. THESIS CLASS

2.1 Coverage:

2.1.1 The thesis is a culmination of all the knowledge that the student must have learned
from the course. The Thesis Class is composed of AR200P (5 units) and AR200-1P (5 units).

2.1.2 AR200P will consist of problem identification, thesis proposal submission, thesis
design studies/research and preliminary book writing, preliminary deliberations
presented in a panel deliberation.

2.1.3 AR200-1P will include the translation stage of the design studies output and final
book writing of AR200P presented in a panel deliberation.

2.2 Student Qualifications:

2.2.1 Students are allowed to take AR200P (Architectural Design 9) after passing AR107P
(Architecture Design 8).

2.2.2 Students are allowed to take AR200-1P (Architectural Design 10) after passing
AR200P (Architectural Design 9).

2.3 Student Responsibilities:

2.3.1 Students should read and fully understand the content of the Thesis Guidelines.

2.3.2 They are to inform their parents/guardians about the financial requirements to be
incurred for the whole duration of the thesis project and the preparation thereof.

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 2.3.3 They are required to attend all fora, meetings and lectures given by the Thesis
Coordinators and Thesis Advisers. If students failed to attend two scheduled activities for
any reason, he/she will be automatically dropped from the course.

2.3.4 It is the responsibility of the student to check for any announcements regarding the
course.

2.3.5 They are to submit on schedule various requirements throughout the course. Non-
compliance will automatically incur a grade of 5.0 in that particular requirement.

2.3.6 Required consultations are to be made by the student with their respective advisers.

2.3.7 Students are responsible to check on the originality of their thesis. Mere
duplications of previous thesis works are not allowed. If the thesis passed the proposal
stage and afterwards it was found out that it was already been done before in the college
or elsewhere, then the student will have to be dropped from the course. Otherwise, the
students should present proof that the study to be undertaken will be different from the
previous thesis work.

2.3.8 The students bear the ultimate responsibility for meeting all the requirements
necessary for completing the course.

2.3.9 All communications regarding thesis proceedings from the students and their
parents should be properly coursed to the Program Chair through their respective Thesis
Coordinators and Thesis Advisers.

3. THESIS COUNCIL

3.1 Composition:

3.1.1 The Thesis Council shall be composed of the Architecture Program Chair as
Chairperson, and the Thesis Coordinators and Thesis Advisers as members.

3.1.2 In case of complaints, and the Program Chair is also the Thesis Coordinator or
Thesis Adviser, the Dean of MITL will preside over the Thesis Council.

3.2 Function

3.2.1 Approves the schedules, content and formats of submittals,

evaluation/deliberation guidelines, and other thesis concerns as recommended by the
Thesis Advisers and/or thesis panel.

3.2.3 Decides on complaints and other concerns coming from students and or Thesis
Advisers and/or panel members.

3.2.3 Amend the thesis guidelines as deemed necessary.

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4. THESIS ADVISER AND PANEL MEMBERS

4.1 The Thesis Adviser shall handle a maximum of six groups.

4.2 The Thesis Adviser is automatically a Panel Member to the groups that he/she is advising.

4.3 The Thesis Panel member could handle as many groups as he/she is able. Caution should be
exercised in accepting groups so that he/she can properly evaluate the group that meets his/her
field of interest.

4.4 Students will choose who will be their Thesis Advisers and panel members.

4.5 Chosen Thesis Adviser and panel members should accomplish Form ORPC 001A
(ACCEPTANCE OF ADVISER AND PANEL MEMBERS) to be submitted to the Thesis Coordinator by
the students.

4.6 Responsibilities of the Thesis Adviser:

4.6.1 The Thesis Adviser shall guide the students in this endeavor and ensure the proper
implementation of the Thesis Guidelines.

4.6.2 The Thesis Advisers shall hold Thesis Forum together with the Thesis Coordinators
when the need arises for more clarification on the manner of the thesis proceedings.
Announcements of meetings/Thesis Forum shall be made at least one week before the
schedule.

4.6.3 The Thesis Adviser may conduct collaborative mentoring.

4.6.4 The Thesis Adviser has to review, comment, and approve thesis proposals prior to
its recommendation to the Program Chair through the Thesis Coordinator. They He/she
shall are to report of any findings on regarding duplications with previous thesis titles.

4.6.5 They The Thesis Adviser shall are to report and comment on the insufficiency of
data and incomplete work of the students.

5. THESIS COORDINATOR

5.1 The Thesis Coordinator shall handle a maximum of fifteen (15) groups per class.

5.2 The Program Chair will assign the Thesis Coordinator.

5.3 Responsibilities:

5.3.1 The Thesis Coordinator shall prepare the format and/or schedules of
consultations, submittals, and deliberation for the approval of the Thesis Council.

5.3.2 The Thesis Coordinator shall introduce the thesis proponents at the start of the
deliberation and be present during the entire procedure to ensure that the conduct of
deliberation is carried out properly.

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 5.3.3 The Thesis Coordinator shall collate the result of deliberation per day and submit
the same to the Program Chair.

5.3.4 The Thesis Coordinator shall submit all required reports on time.

6. THESIS PROPOSAL

6.1 The initial step in the thesis class is the preparation of the Thesis Proposal.

6.2 The students are required to prepare at least three different thesis proposals.

6.3 Thesis proposals should be submitted to the advisers for initial approval at start of the term,
deadline for submission shall be the 2nd week of the term.

6.3.4 The thesis proposal format is as per Standard MCL Thesis Format (Annex A).

7. RESEARCH APPLICATION

7.1 The proponent shall be guided by the research methods/procedure as prescribed in APA
format.

7.2 Plagiarism, if found existent in the work of the student, shall be subject to academic
sanctions as embodied in the MCL Student Handbook.

7.3 Format of book presentation shall be as prescribed in the MCL THESIS/CAPSTONE PROJECT
STANDARD FORMAT (Annex B).

7.4 Two draft copies of the thesis book shall be distributed to the panel members one week
before the scheduled deliberation day.

7.5 The final copy of the book, in A3 landscape format, shall be submitted after the following
tasks are accomplished in its proper order: (1) with all revisions as per panel recommendations
have been incorporated: (2) the issuance of Certificate of Proofreading from the MCL accredited
proofreader. (3) signed by the panel members; (4) certified as accepted by the Thesis Advisers,
and then by the college, through the Program Chair and finally the Dean.; and (5) bookbinding.

8. RESEARCH CONSULTATIONS

8.1 The Research Proponents shall undergo research consultations with their respective Thesis
Advisers. Form ORPC 003A (INTEGRATIVE COURSE PROGRESS REPORT) should be accomplished
after every consultation and a copy should be submitted by the Thesis Adviser to the Thesis
Coordinator.

8.2 The Thesis Advisers shall schedule consultations per major topic in the MCL Standard Thesis
Format.

8.3 The Thesis Advisers shall properly record and note comments using Form ORPC 003A.

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 8.4 The Research Proponent shall submit a copy of the accomplished Form ORPC 003A to the
Thesis Coordinator for recording the progress of the research and the advisers shall keep a
second copy for filing.

8.5 Any Research Proponent who has not undergone consultation after two given consultation
schedules without valid and certified excuse will be automatically dropped from the course. It is
the responsibility of the student to know and be aware of how many times they have been
absent from the given consultation schedules.

8.6 The Thesis Advisers are to submit a report to the Thesis Coordinator a week before the
deliberation containing the adviser’s’ evaluation of the student for every scheduled topic
consultations and other requirements for the course.

9. DELIBERATIONS

9.1 A schedule for submittals of all requirements for deliberations has to be arranged by the
Thesis Coordinator.

9.2 Submittals prior to deliberations schedule shall be the minimum requirements as set by the
Thesis Coordinator.

9.3 AR200P Deliberations (First Term)

9.1.1 Thesis Proposal Report (MCL-Thesis Proposal Format) Two printed copies in A3
landscape format of the draft of the Thesis Proposal Report shall be distributed to the
panel members one week before the scheduled deliberation day.

9.1.2 Digital Report in pdf or PowerPoint format.

The Digital Report must contain the following:

 Concept Boards, Allot 1 page each to discuss the architectural design concept, and
each of these principles (Identity, Functionality, Security, Sustainability, Feasibility
and Innovation), Site Selection and Analysis
 Case Studies
 Conceptual Site Development
 Conceptual Design*;
Floor Plans
Elevations
Exterior Perspectives
Interior Perspectives
Architectural Details

*Initially to be printed on A1 white paper during deliberation and after revisions

to be reflected in the book.

9.1.3 Print-out copy of conceptual design (print-out of perspectives are optional), to be

printed in A1 size white paper.

9.1.4 One AVP (maximum of 2 minutes) of the digital report.

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9.2 AR200-1P Deliberations (Second Term)

9.2.1 Final Manuscript Report - Two copies of the draft of the thesis book in A3 landscape
format shall be distributed to the panel members one week before the scheduled
deliberation day.

9.2.2 Digital Report in pdf or PowerPoint format.

The Digital Report must contain the following:

 Concept Board, Allot 1 page each to discuss the architectural design concept
and principles (Identity, Functionality, Security, Sustainability, Feasibility and
Innovation).Site Selection and Analysis
 Case Studies
 Final Site Development
 Final Design;
Floor Plans
Elevations
Exterior Perspectives
Interior Perspectives
Architectural Details

9.2.3 Presentation Boards - A1 or 20” x 30” size presentations boards of the Design
Proposal.
 Concept Boards, Allot 1 page each to discuss the architectural design concept, and
each of these principles (Identity, Functionality, Security, Sustainability, Feasibility
and Innovation).
 Site Selection and Analysis
 Site Development Plan with scale and labels (initially to be printed on A1 white
paper during deliberation and after revisions to be reflected in the book in
rendered format).
 Exterior Perspectives
 Interior Perspectives
 Floor Plans, Elevations and Sections with dimensions (initially to be printed on A1
white paper during deliberation and after revisions to be reflected in the book in
rendered format).

9.2.4 One AVP (maximum of 2 minutes) of the digital report.

9.2.5 One Scale Model (optional, scale to be announced, maximum size 20” x 30”)

9.2.6 The final copy of the book, in A3 landscape format, shall be submitted after the
following tasks are accomplished in its proper order: (1) all revisions as per panel
recommendations have been incorporated: (2) the issuance of Certificate of Proofreading
from the MCL accredited proofreader (3) signed by the panel members; (4) certified as
accepted by the Thesis Advisers, and then by the college, through the Program Chair and
finally the Dean.; and (5) bookbinding.

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 9.2.7 This thesis format shall be applicable to all undergraduate thesis/capstone
projects/plant designs for all degree programs at Malayan Colleges Laguna. The students
shall follow the standard format and guidelines in writing their proposal and final
manuscript as shown below:

COVER PAGE: MALAYAN BLUE COVER WITH SILVER LETTERS

Blank Page
Title Page
Approval Page
Copyright i
Biographical Sketch ii
Acknowledgment iii
Abstract iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables vi
List of Figures vii
List of Appendices ix
List of Acronyms/Abbreviations x
Definition of Terms xi
Introduction 1
Review of Literature
Methodology
Results and Discussion
Conclusions
Recommendations;
1. Concept Board, Allot 1 page each to discuss the architectural design concept and
principles (Identity, Functionality, Security, Sustainability, Feasibility and
Innovation).
2. Site Selection and Analysis
3. Site Development Plan with scale and labels.
4. Exterior Perspectives.
5. Interior Perspectives
6. Provide all floor plans, elevations, sections and architectural/engineering
details with dimensions.
References
Appendices

10. EVALUATION SYSTEM

10.1 AR200P (PROPOSAL)

Pre-Deliberation Consultations 10%
Technical Grade (Rubric for Design Project) 60%
Oral Presentation Grade (OVPAA-039-08) 30%
100%
P >=75, F <75

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 10.2 AR200-1P (FINAL)
Pre-Deliberation Consultations 10%
Technical Grade (Rubric for Design Project) 60%
Oral Presentation Grade (OVPAA-039-18) 30%
100%
P >=75, F <75
RESEARCH THRUST

“SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION IN ARCHITECTURE”

Research Areas;
a. INNOVATIONS
b. HISTORIC BUILDING PRESERVATION
c. GREEN BUILDING/ARCHITECTURE
d. SUSTAINABILITY
e. MATERIAL PERFORMANCE IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
f. COMMUNITY PLANNING DEVELOPMENT
g. URBAN DESIGN

Prepared by;

Arch. Wilfredo G. Gacutan

Program Chair
Faculty Members:

Mr. Mario M. Capalad Arch. Simon G. Cervantes

Arch. Don G. De Vera Arch. Alfredo V. Gutierrez

Mr. Generoso L. Loza Arch. J Antonio Vicente D. Mercado II

Arch. Paul Eugene A. Ong Arch. Amelia M. Parchamento

Mr. Henry L. Paz Arch. Ernesto O. Remolacio

Arch. Enrique Jose E. Valencia Arch. Armando B. Dela Vega

Approved by;

Engr. Orlando G. Perez

Dean - MITL