Design studio
1–2Design studio trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
A architecture curriculum is a sequence, not a shopping list. Early courses build shared vocabulary; middle years introduce methods; the final stretch demands a project that can fail in public.
Elective freedom varies: some systems lock professional accreditation hours; others allow wide minors. The courses below are the common spine, not every university's catalogue.
Core courses
History of architecture
1–2History of architecture trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Structures
1–2Structures trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Building technology
2–3Building technology trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Urban design
2–3Urban design trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Environmental systems
2–3Environmental systems trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Professional practice
3–4Professional practice trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Representation
3–4Representation trains the habits architecture depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Common tracks
Building design
A building design emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside architecture.
Urbanism
A urbanism emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside architecture.
Conservation
A conservation emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside architecture.
Computational design
A computational design emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside architecture.
Skill map
Studio design96
Drawing/modelling94
Critique culture88
Technical coordination82
Client presentation84
Code literacy78
Studio design
Studio design is practised weekly in architecture programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Drawing/modelling
Drawing/modelling is practised weekly in architecture programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Critique culture
Critique culture is practised weekly in architecture programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Technical coordination
Technical coordination is practised weekly in architecture programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Client presentation
Client presentation is practised weekly in architecture programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Code literacy
Code literacy is practised weekly in architecture programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
How you learn
Lectures & readings
Large-group framing plus primary texts or problem sets that define the week's vocabulary.
Labs / studios / clinics
Supervised practice where mistakes are expected and feedback is specific.
Seminars
Small-group argument; silence is expensive because the group notices.
Capstone / thesis
A public synthesis — defence, exhibition, clinic portfolio or engineered prototype.
Treat the catalogue as a map of practised skills, not a brand promise. The department that grades hard and returns work fast usually teaches more than the one that advertises prestige alone.
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