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Unit of study_
ARCH4007: Critical Thinking in Architecture
2025 unit information
Critical Thinking in Architecture introduces students to the important role of criticality in architecture. Impelled by a series of lectures and seminal readings, students study the relationship between architectural design and architectural theory. They become familiar with key contemporary movements, ideas and protagonists, and come to understand the ways in which ideas that emerged in other areas of culture have been absorbed into architectural discourse. They become conversant with the underlying principles and foundational skills of scholarly research, including locating and critically evaluating sources, constructing arguments, and communicating ideas using graphic, spoken and written means of expression. Through exploration of the characteristics and concerns of differing written media, including books, articles, reports and essays, they recognise writing as a practice that is in part conditioned by every author's own circumstances and interests, opening up questions of objectivity and judgement. By critiquing contemporary architectural discourse in light of its historical, political, aesthetic, ethical and cultural circumstances, students develop capacities that make them capable of both understanding and challenging prevailing positions and practices in architecture.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Architecture |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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BDES2028 |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. consider, challenge, and elucidate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner using a scholarly argument and consistent referencing
- LO2. integrate knowledge and methods from related disciplines into creative work
- LO3. develop and apply a level of information literacy that allows for the articulation of particular contemporary theoretical standpoints, and demonstrate the ability to refine research and writing skills through independent research and critique of a particular aspect of architectural theory
- LO4. inform action through knowledge of architectural design theory with particular emphasis on the specific cultural and philosophical contexts in which the theories arose, and how they were represented within the domain of architecture
- LO5. think abstractly, conceptually, and critically about architecture, and through different architectural and philosophical ideas, and demonstrate the principles of particular central theories with an understanding of relevant terms and references
- LO6. engage oral, written, visual, and other forms of communication to express ideas.
Unit availability
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The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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