Course syllabus for Master's thesis preparation: Design approaches and narratives

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameFörberedelse för examensarbete: gestaltning och narrativ
  • CodeACE425
  • Credits10 Credits
  • OwnerMPARC
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 7.5 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 05136
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Written and oral assignments 10 c
Grading: UG		10 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

At least 30 c, including at least one design studio, in the master’s programme Architecture and urban design (MPARC) or the master's programme Architecture and planning beyond sustainability (MPDSD), or the equivalent.

Aim

The aim of the course is to prepare the students for their master's thesis and to train their ability to use theories, analysis, and design methods as a basis for formulating a design problem and a research query. Within the course, the students explore theories and methods for spatial analysis and architectural and/or urban design approaches associated with a particular trajectory of architecture and/or urban design.

The course focuses on conducting spatial analysis and developing design processes that include testing design scenarios and evaluating them to be able to reach conclusions about the process as a research method for the master thesis. The students develop their capacity to use analytically architectural references by breaking them down to grasp the relationship between design elements, their articulation and the main ideas and concepts of the project

The interplay between theoretical studies, spatial analysis and design interventions is emphasized, for the student to establish how research and design are related, how the thesis question is developed to start defining the overall narrative of the thesis through such interplay.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding
  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding about specific design methodologies relevant for the student's master thesis process.
Competence and skills
  • formulate a design problem and a research query based on theory, spatial analysis, design methods and design interventions.
  • test and apply design media (i.e. specific types of drawings, models, diagrams, software, etc.) related to a specific design narrative relevant for the student's master thesis process.
  • communicate by using a wide repertoire of architectural media and methods connected to the student's design narrative and present the reasoning and the conclusions.
Judgement and approach
  • relate the own design work to scientific knowledge and other architectural and/or urban reference projects, to value-based arguments and to sustainability development.
  • constructively evaluate the students own work as well as other students work and give constructive feedback.

Content

This course focuses on developing spatial analysis, design approaches and design narratives for the master thesis. The course runs in parallel with the course Master's thesis preparation: Academic approaches and general structure and have some activities connected to that course. The main part of this course is carried out within different thematic groups (profiles), related to the different directions for the master thesis.

The course consists of lectures, seminars, and individual supervision sessions. There are both general lectures in the course, introducing the field in which a given thematic group operates and preparing the students for planned learning activities, and lectures focusing on theories and design approaches specific for the thematic group. Seminars aid students in mapping and critically reading precedents and/or source texts, and aid students in defining the context for their master thesis. Furthermore, the students are preparing for the master thesis by conducting spatial analysis and developing design approaches for the master thesis. The interplay between theoretical studies, spatial analysis and design interventions is emphasised, based on the theoretical concepts Research by design, Research for design and Research on design. With the aid of these activities, and in dialogue with the examiners and supervisors within the different profiles, students develop material to an exhibition. The course also trains the students to present their work with different media representations such as drawings, models, texts, and verbal presentations.

Organisation

The course runs in parallel with the course Master's thesis preparation: Academic approaches and general structure. If the courses are taken together the material from each course will be connected. Students are divided into groups based on assigned master's thesis examiner(s) and supervisor(s). The brief and its context are introduced in an introductory presentation. Learning is structured around assignments and/or feedback provided in desk crit sessions. Students work individually or in pairs, depending on how they are planning on pursuing their thesis.

Literature

A list of compulsory and reference literature/study material will be presented at the start of the course. Literature can differ between the different thematic groups.

Examination including compulsory elements

To obtain a pass in this course the following requirements must be fulfilled.
  • Presence at scheduled activities - 80 % at the minimum.
  • Active participation in seminars
  • Submission of course assignment in accordance with assigned criteria

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.