A practicum course.

Allows students to gain exposure and experience with a host agency as well as increase their understanding in particular areas of architecture, environmental design, and urban planning. Advanced permission, agreement with the host agency, and a required final written report must be approved by School of Architecture and Planning Advisement.

A majors-only course.

Theme is communications and critical processes. Introduces two-dimensional and three-dimensional representation techniques for developing and presenting design concepts. Develops creative thinking and critical awareness in design. Cognitive understanding for spatial relationships present in structural, proportional, and site systems are introduced, combining geometry and graphics. Freehand drawings, 2-D and 3-D projections, shades, shadows, perspective, and reproduction techniques. Development of model-making skills utilizing various design media. Studio projects introduce a range of assignments for the making of both 2-D and 3-D environments. Introduces drawing and making as a mode of seeing and thinking.

An introductory course and approved arts general education course.

Provides a view and understanding of the profession and the discipline of architecture. Introduces architectural education and practice in the United States. Architecture responds to the past, embodied in the stones of the built environment, and is a fundamental aspect of the present. Connects architecture history and theory in an effort to show why architecture has been called 'the handwriting of humankind.' Examines architecture as a way of viewing the constructed world in the context of a liberal arts education as a study of aesthetic, technological, behavioral, social, environmental, physical, and legal forces determining architectural forms, landscapes, and urban patterns. Open to non-majors

A majors-only studio course.

Theme is architectural history and precedent. Emphasizes conceptualization, critical thinking, planning, and making. Analyzes the basic materials, methods, tools, and conventions of architectural design. Examines the connections between design precedent and the physical and visual environments. Project themes include transformation, connection, threshold, movement/storage, surface/structure, accessibility, and transition.

An introductory course and approved American general education course.

Examines the history and diversity of cultural experiences within the United States and their attendant environmental issues. Specifically, the course concentrates on the ways in which our physical and media environments affect various populations in the U.S. and, in turn, the ways these populations have affected our environments. It introduces students to eight issues of U.S. diversity: race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, physical ability, cognitive ability, and religion. Writings, films, products, graphics, electronic media, buildings, and environments by and about diverse U.S. individuals and groups are examined. The U.S. history of our diverse physical and media environments are analyzed using theories and principles related to inclusive design. Open to non-majors.

A history/theory course; renaissance to modern.

Introduces the fundamentals of architectural design from the theory and practice of the 1450's to the built and written manifestos of modern times. Situates the evolution of the architectural discipline within the context of social, cognitive and technological transformation.

An introductory urban design course.

Cross-listed with PD 279 Buffalo Niagara by Design. Explores the planning and design history of the Buffalo Niagara region in relation to the future. Examines proposals aimed at revitalizing the economy, improving the quality of life, and protecting the environment of Buffalo Niagara for future generations. Involves historical plus current plans and designs accompanied with lectures, discussions, films, and readings. Introduces urban design and regional development theory and practice . Provides an opportunity to understand community design, the full scope of small to large scale regional work, and comprehend location of place in relationship to the Buffalo Niagara region. Researches the history of Buffalo Niagara communities, examine the place as planned, and critically interpret its history, plans, and designs. Open to non-majors.

A majors-only studio course.

Theme is models, organizations, and environments. Synthesizes design fundamentals with architectural design. Uses organization and environment to convert various aspects of architectural design-form, precedent, spatiality, systems, preparation, use, context, aesthetics, construction, collaboration, and human behavior.

A majors-only technics course.

Three-dimensional drawings as tools for design development and presentation. Development of model-making skills. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A structures/construction course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics examined case studies of past uses, present conditions, and future functional and structural possibilities of older buildings. Analyzes opportunities for adaptive reuse. Discusses development of design concepts and space-use programs, including renovation, restoration, and reconditioning, as well as preservation. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A majors-only technics course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics examined prototypical forms and organizations of important building types; developed understanding of sources for design decisions., and investigated various building structural systems. Studied braced frames, rigid frames, shear walled systems, tubes and bundled tubes. Reviewed innovations in digital technology and simulation programs, and their impact on the efficient integration of building systems. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A landscape/environment course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics detailed studies of design/build and existing systems available to meet needs of the built environment. Studied future possibilities of systems that meet the demands of a rapidly changing environment. Surveyed historical evolution of building systems, while emphasizing methodology of development and implementation. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A structures/construction course.

Introduces the fundamentals of statics and strength of materials. Provides a theoretical and scientific basis for understanding how various structural systems and structural materials work and withstand loading. Investigates the concepts introduced during the course with qualitative methods, as well as quantitative analysis. The course's scope is limited to examining simple structural elements, such as trusses, beams, and columns.

A structures/construction course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics reviewed theory and practice of building with stressed fabric membranes, and explored principles of cable structures, nets, tension membranes, and air-supported and inflated membranes. Also examined minimal surfaces, curved surfaces, materials, joints, and details along with design development, production, erection, and performance in use. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A majors-only senior capstone studio course.

Theme is comprehensive design. Uses comprehensive architectural projects to address the complexity of the discipline-site conditions, construction technology, programming, research methods, life safety and accessibility, codes and standards, building systems, representation, documentation, and comprehensive design. Examines the values and ideologies architects bring forward in their work.

A majors-only undergraduate research and creative activity studio course.

An undergraduate research and creative activity studio. Locations vary annually.In the past, undergraduate students have participated in architecture design studios taught in Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and other international locations as organized by the Department of Architecture. Other in-house study abroad programs will be offered on an ad-hoc basis by the Department of Architecture, based upon faculty and student interest. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A technics course.

Introduces advanced concepts and current research trends in computer-aided design, rendering, animation, and advanced virtual-reality Web publishing. Addresses ways in which advanced computer techniques can be used in support of architectural design and presentation. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A society/culture course.

Examines recent approaches to the study of color in relation to space, surface, and representation through the lenses of expanding and overlapping practices. Students study color in painting, literature, film, consumer media, installation and architecture to develop an understanding of its cultural impact. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A technics course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics examined theoretical and practical approaches of computing technologies in the design process through CAAD systems, drafting, graphic modeling, and rendering, with particular emphasis on architecture. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A structures/construction course.

A structures/construction course. Emphasizes details of construction. Examines interfaces of materials and systems: foundation/wall, wall/window, wall/roof, floor/wall, etc. Investigates the effect of materials and processes on appearance and life of building components. Studies interior and exterior finishes, joints, fire protection, and specification.

A technics course.

Topics vary annually. In the past, observed and quantitatively and/or qualitatively predicted the behavior of materials: metals, polymers, ceramics, glass, wood, composites, paints, and preservatives. Explored and challenged the properties, social context, and methods of fabrication for the most common materials found in architecture. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A structures/construction course.

Begins by emphasizing the investigation of reinforced concrete structures and continues by studying various types of foundation systems, such as footings, and retaining and bearing walls. Also includes a general overview of indeterminate structures and the behavior of continuous beams. Concludes with the study of lateral forces and dynamic loading, and their impact on the design of seismic and wind-resistant structures. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A society/culture course.

Overview of major goals and approaches for design and planning for life-span needs, with special attention to older and disabled individuals. Students pursue selected research projects or work together on a class project. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

An urban design course.

Explores the current practice of urban design in the context of the United States. Examines new opportunities and constraints in environmental assessment, and management structure in local government; mechanisms for land-use controls or incentives; public investment strategy; and case studies assessing major development strategies used in today's practice. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A landscape/environment course.

Introduces issues, awareness, and understanding of climate as a determinant of urban design, site design, site/building interface, and building. Studies global scale climatic zones to general/regional zones. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A landscape/environment course.

Active systems of climate control in buildings and their relation to energy management. Evaluation and selection of mechanical equipment systems, their cost implications, and effectiveness. Design considerations in integrating various systems. Introduces sanitation, fire protection, and vertical transportation systems.

A landscape/environment course.

Introduces the discipline and criteria of landscape design. The art of site planning, including analysis in relation to physical factors, such as topography, soil structure, climate, and behavior. The ecological basis for site planning and use of vegetation. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A management/finance course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics examined the financial framework within which the building industry operates, and its impact on design decisions. Course developed analytical skills necessary to evaluate financial and economic viability of project proposals. Taught estimation of project development and operating costs, methods of finance, and market forces as components of feasibility studies. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A history/theory course.

Topics vary annually. Past topics addressed issues in architecture and design theory. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. Past topics addressed issues in architecture, planning, and design. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed issues in architecture history and design. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed issues in architecture and design.