Architecture Courses

Do you dream of being an architect? Are you someone who's favourite part of visiting a new city is exploring its buildings? Architecture not only shelters us, but inspires us as well. It speaks to history, art, politics and design. New styles and architectural techniques have emerged throughout every period of history, from Greek columns to Roman aqueducts. To be an architecture takes more than an eye for aesthetics. It requires a knowledge of construction, structural design and environmental design. Typically an undergraduate degree in architecture will cover: Introduction to Architectural History: History courses tend to be divided up into regions, since they each contributed their own spin on architecture throughout the ages. An introductory course in the history of architecture will likely cover Neolithic architecture; Ancient Near East and Mediterranean, including Mesopotamia, Ancient Egyptian, Classical, Greek, Roman, Byzantine; African; South Asian; Eastern Asian; Pre-Columbian including, Mesoamerican and Incan architecture; and Europe to 1600, including Medieval, Pre-Romanesque, Romanesque and Gothic. Introduction to Architectural Theory: A course in architectural theory will cover a broad range of issues including, the interface between philosophy and technology in the production and interpretation of buildings, the technical revolution- architecture as engineering, architecture as art and the aesthetics in philosophy, phenomenology in architecture, communication, structuralism and semiotics, and politics and architecture.  Principles of Construction: Architecture isn't just physics and design. Architects should be familiar with the construction process as well. This includes knowing the roles and responsibilities of the design team and financial advisors, as well as legal considerations. There is also the construction procurement process. The three most common types of procurement are traditional (design-bid-build); design and build; and management contracting. Principles of Structural Design: Structural design in architecture focuses on the integral relationship of structural/architectural form and spatial organization. It takes load configurations into account as well as other key drawbacks of design. Courses are likely to focus on issues such as the behaviour of structural elements under load, the use of load-bearing brickwork, reinforced concrete, the mathematical and graphical determination of simple structural systems, steel, and systems of roof spanning and their calculation.  Principles of Environmental Design: Environmental, or sustainable, design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment and services to meet the terms of economic, social and ecological sustainability. Sustainable design principles include the use of low-impact materials, energy efficiency, quality and durability, design for reuse and recycling, renewability and more.  Which architecture course will you sign up for first?