Curriculum Requirements

Master of Science in Architecture, Urban Design

Major Requirements

Program Requirements Credits:
ARCH 701 Urban Design Studio I 6
The first Advanced Urban Design Studio in the MS. in Architecture, Urban Design Program. The studio focuses on design, research, and applied methods to address broader issues of urbanization connected to urban forms and their inter-relationships. Students are introduced to critical concepts, fundamental knowledge and technical skills to analyze, generate and project urban scenarios in real contexts. The studio is developed in conjunction with Arch 841 Digital Techniques and Media for Urban Design I to support processes of analysis and representation through a set of software platforms. Classroom Hours- Laboratory and/or Studio Hours- Course Credits: 2-6-6

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 2-6-6
ARCH 702 Urban Design Studio II 6
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: ARCH 701

The second Advanced Urban Design Studio in the MS. in Architecture, Urban Design Program. The studio expands on the methodologies, topics, and spatial dynamics of Arch 701 Urban Design Studio I. This studio focuses on design, research, and applied methods to address broader issues of urbanization connected to multi-scalar and interdisciplinary approaches associated with processes of urbanization in global contexts. The studio is developed in conjunction with Arch 842 Digital Techniques and Media for Urban Design II to support processes of analysis and representation through a set of software platforms. Classroom Hours- Laboratory and/or Studio Hours- Course Credits: 2-6-6

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 2-6-6
ARCH 721 History and Theory of Cities 3
History and Theory of Cities aims to provide a critical overview of the historical and theoretical development of cities through the engagement of social, cultural, economic, political, and morphological aspects that are inherently embedded within the processes of urbanization. This course aims to examine history and theory as side-by-side aspects to uncover critical themes that shape cities and urban dynamics.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 3-0-3
ARCH 725 Theories and Case Studies of Urbanism 3
Theories and Case Studies of Urbanism aims to examine theories of urbanism and case studies as parallel aspects in the past, present, and future development of the urban environments. The course investigates dynamics and relationships that emerge from theories and case studies by looking at processes of urban formation and their correlation with the contexts in which they emerge and operate in disciplinary practices.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 3-0-3
ARCH 841 Digital Techniques and Media for Urban Design I 3
Digital Techniques and Media for Urban Design I aims to introduce techniques and media for analysis, representation, and generation of narratives in urban design. Students are engaged with a set of software platforms for advanced modeling and representation, parametric tools, time-based techniques, and digital fabrication.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 2-2-3
ARCH 842 Digital Techniques and Media for Urban Design II 3
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: ARCH 841

Digital Techniques and Media for Urban Design II aims to expand the contents introduced in Arch 841 to provide advanced techniques and media for analysis, representation, and generation of narratives in urban design. Students are engaged with a set of software platforms for dynamic mapping and simulation, data-driven urban analytics, environmental modeling, and smart urban technologies.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 2-2-3
    Total: 24 Credits
 
Program Electives (select two courses from the following) Credits:
ARCH 824 Cities, Ecologies, and Infrastructures 3
Cities, Ecologies, and Infrastructures examine the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure systems in cities. The course addresses relations between urban dynamics and climate change, environmental and social justice, energy, mobility, networks, and flows to provide a critical overview of how infrastructures shape the urban environment from micro to macro scales.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 3-0-3
ARCH 861 Social, Economic, Political, and Technological Issues of Urban Design 3
Social, Economic, Political, and Technological issues of Urban Design aims to introduce social, economic, political, and technological issues connected with the urban scale and its implication in practice.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 3-0-3
ARCH 871 Housing and Urbanization Systems 3
Housing and Urbanization Systems examines housing policy and planning in global contexts to investigate urban growth and impact in communities. Through history, theory, and applied research, the course engages forms of settlements and implications in planning strategies.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 2-1-3
ARCH 881 Issues of Practice and Community Engagement 3
Issues of Practice and Community Engagement examines strategies to engage the expanded field of urban design practice with communities and organizations through real projects.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 3-0-3
ARCH 882 Externship 3
Students will work 12-16 hours per week at externships with government agencies, community associations, or architectural practices involved with urban design. Students will meet and report regularly with the Program Director on their work and the employer will make a final report to the Director. Students shall submit final written reports or project presentations. The externships will be developed and/or approved by the Program Director. Paid Internships that provide a stipend to cover the cost of three credits of tuition may be permitted with approval of the program director. International students must also have approval from the international student advisor.

Classroom Hours - Laboratory and/or Studio Hours – Course Credits: 0-12-3
    Total: 6 Credits
 
Total Required Credits = 30