MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SUMMER RESIDENCY 1
AD600 Architectural Design VI (6 Credits)

A design intensive focusing on a community partner or community design issue relevant to an urban setting. Students will be exposed to both the design issues and construction realities including budget, schedule and their ability to carry out portions of the construction. Students will be encouraged to work using systems of form in design and the development of primary and secondary building systems, and work directly with building materials.

AD601 Artisanry + Construction (6 Credits)

A follow up of AD600 Architectural Design VI, in which students will continue to detail and then build elements and/or components of the work designed in AD600

FALL SEMESTER REQUIRED CLASSES
AD700 Architectural Design VII (9 Credits)

A guided study of the primary issues of urban architecture (land use, zoning, context and site history, programming, public space, access, urban nature and behavioral design and the urban ecosystem) in a studio focused on our local environment and the detailed issues that are relevant for planning neighborhoods and communities in an urban, social, environmental and ecological setting. Students will be exposed to the site in historic context, vernacular traditions and compare this site and its adjacencies to other built projects in the context of designing a fabric of both building and land for the urban landscape, as well as addressing the access, infrastructure and service systems to these sites.

AD720 Advanced Building Systems: Mechanics + Technology (3 Credits)

Mechanical systems from domestic to tall buildings are introduced in a context of declining energy supplies and increasing global pollution. Sustainable and low energy systems for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning, plumbing and lighting for new and retro-fit applications are contrasted with traditional systems and selections of architectural design and landscape elements which support sustainable systems covered. Students estimate heating, cooling, ventilating, lighting, electrical, elevator, sewage and pure water loads and gain some understanding of how handling these loads affects the space and layout of buildings and what sort of collaboration with engineers is to be expected. The principles of operation and code standards for the various environmental control systems are explained, together with current costs and expected maintenance requirements. Issues of energy source availability, safety, pollution, storage and delivery are discussed from local and global perspectives. Field trips to local “green” buildings demonstrate the use of currently available lower energy systems.

SPRING SEMESTER REQUIRED CLASSES
AD750 Architectural Design VIII (9 Credits)

A studio designed with a focus on the issues of housing. The course proposes students engage in an analysis of the development of urban housing models in western and non-western traditions starting with vernacular traditions leading to a focus on the development of urban prototypes globally in context of a cultural framework. Includes presentations on historic and cultural alternatives to traditional housing prototypes including settlements issues in development countries, review of local precedents, cohousing models, sustainable zero net models, as well as models for non-traditional populations - low income, live/work models, public housing initiatives. A local project will be proposed in which students will develop designs that address these issues in context of site, program, community user group, tectonics and material. Students will spend time not only in studio, but will also interview the local community, visit the proposed site, working in groups to develop a base in research to inform their design proposals.

AD760 Thesis Preparation (3 Credits)

A major design issue of complexity and relevance to both the student and the current practice of architecture is proposed and undertaken during this first research semester of a two-semester investigation. The thesis/hypothesis shall be central to the students’ previous work and investigation. The course begins with a student’s analysis and review of their work leading to the development of a proposal/investigation in architectural design, form, and material and/or construction issue. Students shall each develop a methodology for addressing their research and proposal and an approach to the design issue. Each thesis proposal shall be approved in advance by the primary faculty advisor and thesis advising committee - a minimum of three professionals with backgrounds relevant to the thesis topic.

AD770 Professional Practice (3 credits)

Students are introduced to the issues of architectural practice through social and community design issues, fiduciary responsibility, design and construction contracts and contract law, regulations and codes governing design and construction, ethics, sustainability and environmental issues and requirements for planning, site design and building design and construction. These issues shall be presented in the context of the ethical issues governing design as a practice and relevant to multiple types of design projects, using case studies, field trips and outside lecturers.

SUMMER RESIDENCY II
AD800 Thesis (12 credits)

An in-depth student directed study and set-up critiques with student’s Thesis Advising Committee and primary faculty advisor, construction, models, prototypes and drawings of the student project. Students will meet regularly with their thesis advisor and advising committee on the project, showing progress and timetable and development of issues relevant to student thesis.

ELECTIVES
AD715 History of Architecture Seminar (3 credits)

Topics and Descriptions vary. Group or individual topics proposed by faculty or student approved prior to registration.

AD 725 Research in Architecture (3 credits)

Topics and descriptions vary. Group or individual topics proposed by faculty or student approved prior to registration.

AD735 Advanced Lighting and Daylighting (3 credits)

This course proposes that effective lighting design begins with an understanding of architectural and urban design principles, as well as the design principles of the construction process. The course is a guided seminar on the physics of lighting, design principles and applications of architectural lighting and daylighting, as well as issues of sun-control, energy conservation and environmental responsibility.

AD745 Real Estate Development (3 credits)

A course in the basic principles of Real Estate Development. Issues will cover involving communities in neighborhood planning, the responsible/ecological use of land, real estate markets, products in the development of real estate proposals, legal context and constraints (site, economics, zoning, community, etc.). The class will work in groups to develop business plans and proposals for a particular project and present to development professionals.

AD755 Seminar on Materials, Details and Fabrication (3 credits)

Topics and Descriptions vary. Group or individual topics proposed by faculty or student approved prior to registration.

AD765 Seminar on Housing and Development (3 credits)

Topics and Descriptions vary. Group or individual topics proposed by faculty or student approved prior to registration.

AD775 Graduate Architecture Internship (3 credits)

Students are able to elect to pursue a graduate architecture internship in an architectural office, in the construction industry, or in the context of a non-profit entity to gain experience and improve their skills in design, management and/or construction. Proposals must be reviewed and approved by a Faculty Advisor, the Director of the M. Arch program and the Dean of the Graduate Program. Students must also, with the prospective employer, generate an agreement of service showing learning/experience goals for both student and employer, what will be learned through the development of skills and or experiences, the time commitment, and length of service.