Introduction:

　　東海大學建築系成立於民國49年(1960)，由校園設計者之一的陳其寬教授擔任創系的系主任，當時稱為「建築工程學系」，實施四年制的建築專業教育。後因體認到四年難以傳授完整的專業教育，乃於民國63年(1974)改制為五年，並更名為「建築學系」，畢業授與「建築學士」學位。在陳其寬教授之後，有胡兆煇、漢寶德、詹耀文、張樞、洪文雄、黃業強、曾成德、羅時瑋、劉舜仁、陳格理等教授相繼主持系務，系上在教學、研究、服務與系務方面自此愈加完善。本系致力於培養建築設計專業人才，著重於學生建築設計的「創作」 與「人文」思考，並強調創意的思考與表現。

　　民國69年(1980)，繼成功大學之後，本系成立國內第二個建築研究所，旨在延續、擴大建築專業的訓練至都市設計，故有關都市理論、設計等成為主要的課程內容與訓練方向。民國81年(1992)成立招收大學非建築科系畢業生為主的「學士後建築碩士」，研讀年限為三至四年，畢業後同樣授與「建築碩士」學位。此舉不僅擴大了本系的教學任務，更加強了碩士班與大學部建築教育的一體感。民國89年(2000)再成立以建築設計為主的第三組，目標在培育具前瞻性與創造力的設計人才。所務工作由游明國、王錦堂、關華山等教授相繼主持，民國84年（1995）研究所併入建築系中，成為系內的碩士班。

　　民國96年（2007）建築系歸併於新成立的「創意設計暨藝術學院」，院中設有與系上研究工作相關的「建築研究中心」。此外，「中華東海建築文化協會」則為系友所組成的社團法人，以期為社會大眾提供服務。

　　For over four decades, Tunghai University Department of Architecture has been a leader in defining and piloting the discipline of architecture in Taiwan. It has long been regarded as the best architecture educational institution in the island.
　　The department was established in 1960 as the Department of Architectural Engineering by Mr. Chen Chi-kuan. It was then a four-year undergraduate program offering a bachelor’s degree in architecture. In 1974 it was evolved into a five-year professional program offering a bachelor’s degree and was renamed the Department of Architecture.
　　The course of undergraduate study is rigorous and comprehensive, preparing students for the future professional or academic activities in the field of architecture. Particular emphasis is placed upon developing mastery of design through an intensive series of design studio courses.
　　The undergraduate level curriculum is divided into two levels. The core courses is offered to first-year to third-year students, which is focused upon the fundamental training in architecture. The advanced level is offered to fourth-year and fifth-year students. Advanced studio courses seek to establish solid integration of design dicipline with in-depth investigation in the field of architecture history, theory, technology, social environment, etc.
　　The department’s graduate program provides opportunities for advanced study in architecture and urban design, training potential leaders in both professional and academic in the field. The master degrees program consists three areas of study:
(1) Master of Architecture in Urban Design and Environmental Studies,
(2) Master of Architecture, First Professional Degree,
(3) Master of Architecture, Post Professional Degree.
The program provides four major focuses of study to accomplish its goals: architectural design； history, theory and criticism；urban design； and environmental study.
　　The school also offers special programs to enrich its curriculum, which include,

1. Exchange program with academics and professionals from the international architectural community. Invited scholars in the past include Michael Dennis (M.I.T, U.S.A.), Val Warke (Cornell University, U.S.A.), Arthur Ovaska (Cornell University, U.S.A.). Raoul Bunchton (A.A., U.K.), Randall Wilson (Southern California Insitute of Architecture, U.S.A.), Shin Egashira (A.A., U.K.). The school will continue to extend its invitation to the scholars worldwide.

2. The Architecture Research Center. Among the tasks of the center includes promoting the discourse, publishing documents and piloting advanced research. To reinforce the function of the organization, the Architectural Research Center consists several individual workshops which is conducted by the faculty members. The workshops include :
　(1) Architecture and Design
　(2) Environmental Planning
　(3) Human Behavior
　(4) Digital Space & Culture
　(5) History, Theory and Criticism.

3. Joint-PhD Porgram. In 2002, a legal document was signed to establish an exchange program between Tunghai University and Oxfordbrookes University (U.K.). The Tunghai-Oxfordbrookes Link provides joint-PhD program and future collaboration of research on specific topics.