Instructions for Authors

Instructions for Authors

Scope and Focus

The journal MODULO ARQUITECTURA CUC is a peer-reviewed scientific journal with national and international visibility, created with the aim of serving as a communication channel for original contributions from researchers, professionals, academics, and the general public interested in the fields of Design, Architecture, and Art. The journal welcomes research and review articles written in English and Spanish

Manuscripts that align with the journal's scope and meet the minimum evaluation criteria will be submitted to double-blind peer review. MODULO ARQUITECTURA CUC adheres to the COPE Code of Ethics, available in the journal's ethics section. It is an open-access electronic publication, operates on a pay-per-publication (APC) model, and is edited on a continuous basis with biannual packaging.

The journal is managed by the Universidad de la Costa and its editorial board. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Urbanism (history, theory, and design)
  • Urban Design
  • Architectural Design
  • Technology in Architecture
  • Structural Design in Architecture
  • Sustainable Development (territory, society, economy, politics, culture)
  • Sustainable Construction
  • Bioclimatic Architecture
  • Landscaping
  • Eco-design
  • Public Space
  • Public Art
  • Participatory Design
  • Urban and Regional Planning (plans, programs, and projects)
  • Habitat Management
  • Urban Law

Typological Guidelines

Submitted articles must comply with the following types:

  1. Scientific Research Article. A document presenting in detail the original results of completed research projects. Required structure:
    1. Title
    2. Abstract in Spanish
    3. Keywords
    4. Title in English
    5. Abstract
    6. Keywords
    7. Introduction
    8. Development
    9. Methodology
    10. Results-Discussion
    11. Conclusions
    12. References
  2. Reflection Article. A document presenting results of completed research from an analytical, interpretative, or critical perspective of the author. Required structure:
    1. Title
    2. Abstract in Spanish
    3. Keywords
    4. Title in English
    5. Abstract
    6. Keywords
    7. Introduction
    8. Discussion
    9. Conclusions
    10. References
  1. Review Article. A document resulting from a completed research that analyzes, systematizes, and integrates the results of published or unpublished research on a specific field in science or technology, in order to present the state of the art and development trends. Must include a detailed bibliographic review of at least 60 references. Required structure:
    1. Title
    2. Abstract in Spanish
    3. Keywords
    4. Title in English
    5. Abstract
    6. Keywords
    7. Introduction
    8. Research Results-Review
    9. Conclusions
    10. References

Editorial Guidelines

Language: Articles must be submitted and written in Spanish or English, including abstract and keywords in both languages.

If the native language is English, the article and abstract should be written in English, and translated into Spanish.

Description of Methodological Elements:

  • Title: Should be in uppercase, not exceeding 15 words, descriptive of the categories and/or dimensions addressed, concise, engaging, and original. Authors must include a footnote indicating the research project from which the article is derived (if applicable), research group, and funding institution.
  • Author(s): Up to five authors. Full names and surnames must be listed in agreed order of contribution. Include, in the initial footnote, academic background from highest to undergraduate degree, research group/body/line, institution of affiliation, institutional email, personal email, ORCID, and city.
  • Abstract: Must be structured, concise, and summarize the work in no more than 150 words in a single paragraph without indentation. Should describe the issue addressed, objectives, methodology, and key conclusions.
  • Keywords: Up to six keywords, reflecting the article’s content and abstract. Alphabetically ordered, initial indentation, colon, lowercase start, no final period.
  • Title in English: Translation of the Spanish title.
  • Abstract in English: Literal translation of the abstract. Authors must enter the metadata as required by the OJS system.
  • Length and Font: Articles must be between 15 and 25 pages, in Spanish or English.
  • Keywords in English: Same rules as above.
  • Graphics, Tables, and Illustrations: Should be in their original format (preferably Excel, PowerPoint, or high-resolution image).

Tables:

  • Numbered with Arabic numerals (e.g., Table 1 at the top)
  • Italicized, brief, clear, and explanatory title below the table
  • Use three horizontal lines (no vertical lines)
  • Column headers only
  • Body can be single or double spaced
  • Font: 12 pt
  • Include italicized note with source reference
  • Left-aligned, no indentation, font size 10 pt, double spaced

Figures (graphs, diagrams, maps, drawings, photographs, etc.):

  • No title
  • Caption with “Figure” and number in italics (e.g., Figure 1.)
  • Brief, descriptive caption
  • Include source reference (same as table note)
  • Left-aligned, no indentation, font size 10 pt, double spaced

APA Standards and References: Articles must follow rigorous citation standards according to the current APA (American Psychological Association) style.

Citation and Reference Norms Detailed citation styles, referencing formats for books, articles, chapters, electronic sources, legal documents, theses, encyclopedias, blogs, and more are included. (See full text for examples).

Frequency All scientific articles are openly accessible online. The journal operates on a biannual packaging frequency, continuous publication model, and accepts submissions year-round.

ACADEMIC ENDOGAMY
In order to meet international standards required by high-impact journals, MODULO ARQUITECTURA CUC may publish up to 10% annually of manuscripts submitted by authors affiliated with the publishing institution, or those related to research projects led by academics from the same institution.

This percentage is calculated based on the total number of authors published in each volume of the journal. Once the established limit has been reached, manuscripts will be placed in an article repository for potential selection in future issues, following a chronological order based on the date of acceptance.

Likewise, to prevent endogamy among external authors and to avoid unethical practices in scientific publishing—as well as to promote open access to knowledge and uphold the principle of editorial transparency—all authors, regardless of institutional affiliation, must wait at least one semester before submitting another manuscript for potential publication. The only exception to this rule applies to “Letters to the Editor”, due to their special nature.

Open Access and Article Processing Charges (APC)

MODULO ARQUITECTURA CUC is an open-access journal that ensures permanent and unrestricted access to all published content. To sustain the editorial and publishing processes that guarantee this visibility and accessibility, the journal operates under a pay-per-publication model.

An Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied only to manuscripts that have been formally accepted after successfully completing the peer review process. These fees support the long-term maintenance of open access, editorial quality, and technological infrastructure.

Updated APC Policy 

Updated APC Policy – MODULO ARQUITECTURA CUC

The journal MODULO ARQUITECTURA CUC informs its authors that, in alignment with the sustainability of the editorial process and international standards of scientific publishing as a Q2 journal (SJR) indexed in SCOPUS, an Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied only to manuscripts that have been formally accepted following completion of the peer review process.

The new APC, effective as of April 10, 2025, will be:

  • USD 750 per accepted article

This fee is required only after formal acceptance has been communicated to the author. No payment should be made at the time of submission, during the initial editorial review, or during the peer-review process, until an editorial decision has been officially issued.

Important:
Articles that were accepted before April 10, 2025, will remain under the 2024 APC rate of USD 500 per article.

Payments can be made through the following link, where options are available for both national payments (within Colombia) and international payments via PayPal:https://pagosrevistascientificas.cuc.edu.co/

Once the payment is completed, the payment receipt must be sent to:educosta@cuc.edu.co

For any questions related to the payment process, please contact Editorial EDUCOSTA at the same email address.

Publication Ethics

Authorship: Articles must be original and unpublished, not under review elsewhere. Submission must include the consent of all authors. Each article is reviewed for relevance and structure by the Editor or Editorial Coordinator before entering the double-blind review process. Final decisions are based on peer evaluations via the OJS platform.

Before publication, authors must sign a copyright transfer agreement. The editorial team reserves the right to edit titles and content for clarity.

Plagiarism Management: All articles are checked for originality. Authors must submit:

Authors are responsible for permissions and proper citation of all materials. Any detection of plagiarism (total, partial, or paraphrasing without citation) will result in rejection or retraction.

Conflict of Interest: Peer reviewers are selected based on expertise and publications. The double-blind process guarantees impartiality. The editorial team will decide based on peer feedback whether to accept (with or without revisions) or reject the manuscript.

Authors must disclose permissions, prior results, informed consents, funding, and collaborators.

Research Fraud: Submissions must originate from verifiable research. Authors should have data available and ready for review if requested.

Duplicate Submissions: Articles must be unpublished and not under review elsewhere. Paraphrased content must be properly cited. Articles previously published in another language are not accepted.

Fragmentation: Redundant publication is not allowed. Authors must cite prior related work. Significant repetition may lead to rejection.

The journal follows COPE and Elsevier’s publishing ethics: http://www.elsevier.com/editors/publishing-ethics/perk

For more information: spadilla13@cuc.edu.co

CREDIT Taxonomy – Author Contributions Declaration

Funding: Authors must declare all funding sources. Include project title, funding entity, and project code (optional).

Conflict of Interest Declaration: Authors must confirm that there is no conflict of interest with the journal, publisher, or funders.

Acknowledgments: Authors may acknowledge individuals, institutions, or funding contributors. Ensure all contributors are appropriately credited. Refer to COPE guidelines: https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines-new/cope-authorship-guidelines

References: References must be current and appropriate to the research. Use APA Style (latest edition). Include DOI or shortened URL via https://bitly.com. Include recent multilingual literature. References must be alphabetically and chronologically ordered. Use letters (a, b, c) for multiple works by the same author in the same year. Prioritize sources from Scopus and Web of Science.