Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Record 2005-2006 
    
Graduate Record 2005-2006 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

American Urbanism Certificate


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The Program of Advanced Studies in American Urbanism provides opportunities for the masters degree candidates to examine the fundamental, symbolic, and pragmatic values underlying American urban landscapes. Urban design has become an increasingly complex multi-disciplinary endeavor. Design at this scale requires an individual who has acquired a knowledge of urban history, the process(es) of urban development, design skills derived from an understanding of the theories and practices of both architecture and landscape architecture, and most importantly a coherent set of principles with which to discern, steward, and enhance the social, cultural and political values of embodied in urban form. The program’s curriculum emphasizes the development of multi-disciplinary design and analytic skills to enable a student to creatively engage the problems of the contemporary urban environment.

Admission


The program is open to students who have been admitted to one of the graduate degree programs in the School of Architecture and to practitioners who seek to expand their understanding of urban form and processes. Candidates should submit a letter of intent to the director, describing their interest in the program and relevant experience. Candidates in fields other than Architecture and Landscape Architecture may be required to submit a portfolio for review. Admission to the Program of Advanced Studies in American Urbanism requires the approval of the director and the candidate’s department chair. Students who complete the required 24 credits of coursework receive a Certificate in American Urbanism in addition to their masters degree. Students will normally be able to complete the coursework during the same period required for completion of their program. Inquiries should be addressed: Director, American Urbanism Program, School of Architecture, P.O. Box 400122, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4122.

Requirements


The curriculum for the Certificate Program in American Urbanism includes required core courses and elective coursework. Required course(s) supplement the studio curriculum providing insight into the history, and theory of the development of urban form. Elective courses allow students to pursue individual interests in greater detail and offer the possibility to benefit from the breadth of expertise found within the School of Architecture and the University. The program director will review the course selection of all certificate candidates.

The core curriculum includes three courses (15 credits) that offer an introduction and overview to the principles and practices of urban design, and their application. All candidates will be required to successfully complete the required core curriculum: Theories and Practices of Urban Design, 3 credits; Urbanism Studio, 6 credits; Studio (to be determined in consultation with the director), 6 credits.

The remaining 9 credits will be made up of some appropriate combination of research and coursework, which will reflect the background and interests of the candidates and is determined in consultation with the program’s director.

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