ARCH 102A
Capstone Project Preparation Seminar
This course is a course in architectural research methods with an emphasis on collaborative work. Students will work on individual facets of a collective topic of critical importance to the contemporary discipline of architecture within areas of faculty expertise. These include: architectural history and theory, structures, materials and methods of construction, building performance, energy and environment, and social factors and human behavior in architecture and the environment. The goal of Capstone Preparation is to develop a coherent research proposal that will be used as a topic for the Capstone Project course taken the following semester.
Topics
- Develop a research proposal of scholarly significance, identifying and effectively communicating the information sources, skill sets, and research process required to pursue the project. Identify and critically assess the knowledge base and body of literature relevant to a specific research project. Formulate clear and precise questions, interpret information using abstract ideas, consider culturally diverse points of view, and reach well-reasoned conclusions. Gather, record, evaluate and apply information relevant to a research problem. Work with others to coordinate individual research ventures addressing a larger collective topic, and to learn to work in a supervised collaborative team. Understand the role of applied research in environmental design and its impact on human conditions, behavior and impact on the environment. Comprehension of the ethics and professional responsibilities of research and how they relate to the discipline of architecture. Ability to communicate research findings through oral, written and graphic modes of presentation to a variety of audiences.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027