Architectural research methods are introduced and applied to the development of an undergraduate thesis in Architecture. Students develop and investigate research questions, research methods, and data sources.

Topical offerings in architecture. For a one-page course description and recommended baseline academic experience, please be in touch with the faculty member or academic advisor. 

Independent research on topics selected by individual students in consultation with a faculty advisor

Independent Design Research Studio for 4th year students in their final year. Prerequisite: ARCH 4010 and ARCH 4100, permission of the chair.

This course offers a foundation in understanding climate and energy in buildings and cities, and teaches the tools to parametrically analyze, model, visualize and design for energy impacts. Starting from real energy in real buildings through physical and data exploration, the course then teaches parametric tools to propose interventions and analyze for performance. The course is open to students in both Architecture and Engineering.

Combining tools, spaces, and skills of Arts Grounds, this course explores the design and construction of large moving creatures that culminates in The Stan Winston and Steven Warner Festival of the Moving Creature. Students will gain hands-on experience with materials, craft, and prototyping, and learn lessons from professional designers, artists, and Hollywood creature makers. This is a collaborative course, diving into storytelling and movement to bring each student's vision to life. Graduate students will have additional requirements.

Worldwide urbanization processes will increase in the next years reaching a rate of 75% until the middle of the century. Shrinkage, stagnation and rapid growth will be simultaneous phenomena and to achieve urban sustainability it will be important to innovate analytical methods and urban design frameworks. Discussions, lectures, and readings in combination with an urban design group project will introduce students to contemporary urban design methodologies.

This seminar is about architectural design. Approximately twenty-five lecture/discussions span various aspects of design beginning with principles and including topics such as multiple ideas, multiple studies, abstraction, proportion and composition. Final topics include practical and esthetic considerations of design and materials. A class notebook is required for lecture notes and assignments of writings and drawings.

This course grows from the idea that excellence and innovation in all the arts come from constant practice. Students will commit to making an iteration of a creative project of their choosing every day for 100 days. In class we will evaluate ongoing work and discuss the role of discipline, routine, and iteration in the creative process. Students will be expected to post their work every day on Instagram.

Independent research on topics selected by individual students in consultation with a faculty advisor