Academicyear20112012

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MasterinDesignStudies:MDesSPostprofessionalDegree MartinBechthold,SanfordKwinter CoDirectorsoftheMasterinDesignStudiesdegreeprogram BarbaraElfman AdministrativeDirectorAdvancedStudiesProgram ThepostprofessionalnonstudioMDesSdegreeprogramhaslongenabledstudentswithspecialized intereststopursueadvancedstudiesinareassuchashistoryandtheory,technology,sustainability, urbanism,ecology,landscape,art,orrealestate.Theseareasofstudycomplementthetraditional elementsoftheGSDcurriculumarchitecture,landscapearchitecture,urbandesign,andurban planningandallowstudentstodesignacrossdisciplinarycourseofstudythatenablesahighlevel ofspecialization. Theprogramcurrentlyoffersthefollowingeightprimaryareasofstudy: HistoryandPhilosophyofDesign Technology SustainableDesign Urbanism,Ecology,Landscape Art,DesignandthePublicDomain RealEstate CriticalandStrategicConservation AnticipatorySpatialPractices. Studentsexploretheirintereststhroughcourseworkandindependentstudy,includingaresearch componentofanindependentthesis,finalprojectorscholarlypaperdependingontheareaofstudy. Studentsarealreadyexpectedtohaveastrongprofessionalbackgroundandbefamiliarwiththe designandplanningprofessions,and,consequently,donottakenormaldesignstudios.(Students whoseekadvancedstudiotrainingshouldexploretheMArchII,MLAII,MAUD,orMLAUDprograms.) PreparationforAdmission ApplicantstotheMDesSprogramnormallyholdaprofessionaldegreeinarchitecture,landscape architecture,orurbanplanninganddesign.Applicantswithadegreeinarelateddisciplinemayalso qualifyforadmission.Theprogramseeksapplicantswhohavedemonstratedoverallacademic and/orprofessionalachievementinthedesignfieldsandwhohavethepotentialforadvancedwork intheareaselectedforstudy. Applicantsmustspecifywhichoftheofferedareasofstudytheywishtopursue.Eachareahas specificcourserequirementsandelectives,andisundertheguidanceofanacademicarea coordinator.Theareacoordinatortypicallyservesastheacademicadvisorofstudentsinaspecific concentrationarea.PleaseseetheMDesSwebsiteatforthenamesoftheareacoordinators.The specificcourseworkiscustomizedtoeachstudentsqualificationsandacademicandprofessional

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objectivesandisconstructedbytheindividualstudentinconsultationwithhisorheracademic advisor. Residence Threetermsoffulltimestudyinresidenceisrequiredforstudentsenteringintotheprogramduring the201112academicyear.AtthediscretionoftheAdmissionsCommittee,qualifiedcandidateswith extensiveacademicorprofessionalexperiencemaybeeligibleforonetermofadvancedplacement, enablingthemtocompletetheprogramintwoterms.Requestsforadvancedplacementmustbe submittedwiththeinitialapplicationtotheprogram.Undercertaincircumstances,studentsmay receivepermissiontoreducetheircourseloadandextendtheirstudiestofourterms. RequirementsforAwardofDegree Acandidatewhoenterstheprograminacademicyear20112012willberecommendedforthe MasterinDesignStudiesdegreeuponsatisfactorycompletionof48unitsofacademicwork.Each studentistypicallyrequiredtocompleteaminimumof12unitsinhisorherareaofstudyfroman approvedlistofcoursespublishedeachtermforeachoftheprimaryareasnotedbelow.Ifdueto facultysabbaticalsorotherconstraintsarequiredcourseisnotofferedinagivenyear,thearea coordinatorwilldeterminealternatecoursesthatmeettherequirements.Certainareasofstudy havehigherunitrequirements.Eachstudentisalsorequiredtocompleteasubstantialresearch studyinhisorherarea,eitherviaathesisoranapproved4unitcoursethathasaresearch componentandculminatesineitherascholarlypaperoranequivalentprojectinvolvingindependent research.Nomorethan12unitsfromthetotalof48maybefromindependentstudycoursesandno morethan16unitsfromnonGSDcourses. Applicantsgrantedadvancedstandingonadmissionareexpectedtocomplete32units,8unitsinhis orherareafromtheapprovedlistofcoursesforthatarea,andaresearchpaperorprojectas describedabove.Nomorethan8unitsfromthetotalof32maybefromindependentstudycourses andnomorethan12unitsfromnonGSDcourses. Noneoftherequiredunitsmaybefulfilledbycoursescreditedtowardanotherdegree.Thearea coordinatormustapproveastudentscourseofstudyandcanmakeexceptionstothemaximum numberofunitsallowedthroughindependentstudyornonGSDcourses.Permissionofthearea coordinatorisrequiredtowaivearequiredcourseortomakeasubstitution.MDesSstudentsare requiredtohavetheircourseselectionapprovedbytheirareacoordinatorpriortoregistration. AREASOFSTUDY Thestudyfocus,degreerequirementsandtypicalcourseworkareoutlinedinthefollowing descriptionsoftheareasofstudy. HistoryandPhilosophyofDesign Thisareaofstudyprovidesasettingforscholarlystudy,asdistinctfromprojectdesign,withinthe areaofhistoricalstudiesanddesigntheoryastheyarerelatedtotheGSDscoreofferingsin architecture,landscapearchitectureandurbandesignandplanning.Theprogramisdirectedtowards individualsalreadyhavingsomebackgroundorinterestinthehistoryandphilosophyofdesignand thebuiltenvironmentwhowishtopursueadvancedscholarship,andtoothersinterestedin

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expandingtheirknowledgeofcontemporarytheoryandanalysis.LiketheotherareasoftheMDesS program,theprograminHistoryandPhilosophyofDesignisintentionallyinterdisciplinaryboth withintheGSDandwithotherschoolsandinstituteswithintheUniversity. Sincethisprogramofstudyissetwithinthecontextofaseriesofstrongprofessionalprogramsin architecture,landscapearchitecture,urbandesignandplanning,itseekstoexplorehistoryand theoryconcernsastheyespeciallyrelatetothesedisciplines;and,assuch,hasadifferentformand focusthantraditionalprogramsinthehistoryofartandarchitecture.Itespeciallyfocusesontherich dialogueanddiscoursethatoccursbetweenhistoryandtheorystudiesontheonehand,andthe morespeculativeconcernsoftheGSDsprofessionalprograms.Interchangescanbequitelively. Theprogramofstudyincludesseveralfoundationcoursesthatprovideanintroductiontodiscourse withinthebroadareaaswellasanexposuretofacultyteachingwithinthearea.Additionalcourses maybedrawnfromarangeoflectureandseminarcoursesthatreflectfacultyinterests.Asampling oftheseinterestsincludescoursesfromthehistoryofartandarchitecture(earlyChristian, Romanesque,ItalianRenaissance,Islamicartandothers).Otherinterestsfocusontopicssuchasthe historyofmodernarchitectureandurbanism,thehistoryofscienceandtechnologyinrelationto architecture,modernityandEuropeanlandscapearchitecture,experimentalarchitectureofthe 1970s,andmanyothers.Bytheendofthefirstsemesterstudentsareexpectedtoidentifyanareaof interestandpursueitindepth;includingthepreparationofascholarlypaperorthesisinvolving independentresearch. StudentsintheMDesSprogramwillhaveaccesstoaricharrayofresources.InadditiontoGSD offerings,studentsareabletotakecoursesintheDepartmentofHistoryofArtandArchitecturewith itsstrongofferingsinthehistoryofWesternartandarchitecture,aswellasIslamicandAsianart. Thestudyofarchitecturehasanaturalaffinitywithseveralcoursesofinstructionofferedinthe DepartmentsoftheHistoryofScience,AmericanCivilization,History,andAnthropology(among others)andmanyGSDstudentsenrollincoursesintheseareasaswell.Inadditiontostrong academicofferingsintheseandotherUniversityareas,therearemanyUniversitywidecentersthat areofinteresttothegraduatestudentintheHistoryandTheoryarea.TheMindadeGunzburg CenterforEuropeanStudies,forexample,sponsorsthestudyofEuropeanhistory,politicsand societyatHarvard,withprogramsincludingstudygroupsopentomembersoftheUniversityanda lectureserieshostingadistinguishedrosterofspeakersfromaroundtheworld.Therearemany workshops,conferencesandguestspeakereventsattheRadcliffeInstitute,theCharlesWarren CenterfortheStudyofAmericanCulture,theSchlesingerLibrary,andtheBarkerHumanitiesCenter, amongothers.Inaddition,studentsintheMDesSprogrammaytakecoursesatMIT,whichalso offersabroadrangeofhistoryandtheorycourses. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4Units4121BuildingTextsandContexts 4Units4223BuildingTextsandContexts 8UnitsElectives*

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SecondTerm 4Units4122BuildingTextsandContexts 12UnitsElectives* ThirdTerm 8Units9304IndependentThesisorScholarlypaperinoneofElectiveCourses 816UnitsElectives* *SeetheGSD4000seriesforothercourses.Studentsarealsoencouragedtoexplorerelated offeringsinHistoryofArtandArchitecturebytheFacultyofArtsandSciences(FAS),Harvard University. RealEstate Understandinghowtoimplementthebuiltenvironmentisacentralaspectofdesignandrealestate education.TheRealEstateareaattheGSDaddressesprofessionalswhowanttopursuefurther studiesonrealestatedevelopmentandinvestmentrealmsrelatedtothebuildingindustryandthe builtenvironment,startingfromconceivingthecommunitiesandbuildings,totheplanningand managingofentitlements,design,finance,construction,marketingandoperatingthebuildings.Most coursesaddressbothUSandinternationalprojectsandarebasedoncasestudies,emphasizinga handsonexperienceinrealworldsituationsrequiringjudgmentandthemakingofresponsible decisionsundermanydifferentconditions.Theprogramisgearedtostudentsfromprofessionalreal estate,finance,construction,projectmanagementandotherdiversebackgroundsaswellas designerswhowanttoenhanceorchangetheircareersandsearchforalternativepracticemodels. Theimmersionoftheprograminadesignschoolallowsthestudentstocomplementtheircourseof studywithsubjectsfromotherareastowardabroadereducation.Thecourseofstudyinthisareais significantlyenhancedbyaccesstotheRealEstateAcademicInitiativeatHarvardUniversity,the JointCenterforHousingStudies,theZofnassprogramonInfrastructureandLargeScaleSustainability andtotheindustryliaisonsofthefaculty,throughwhichstudentsconveneinworkshops,forumsand symposiawiththeworldsleadingrealestateinvestors,fundmanagers,developers,project managersandcontractors. WithintheRealEstateAreatherearefoursubareasofconcentration: RealEstateDevelopment Thissubconcentrationpreparesgraduatesforcareersinrealestateandurbandevelopment, bothprivateandpublicsector.Itemphasizesanalyticalskills,decisionmaking,development processes,political,environmental,legal,andgeneralurbancontextknowledge.Graduates pursuecareersindevelopmentofallproducttypes:land,housing,office,retail,industrial, hotel,andmixeduse. RealEstateInvestment Thissubconcentrationpreparesgraduatesforcareersinrealestateinvestmentandfinance.It combinesanalyticalskillsininvestmentandfinancewithdecisionmakingaboutdevelopment, political,legal,andurbancontextknowledge.Graduatesentercareersinfundmanagement, mortgagefinance,investmentbanking,REITs,hedgefunds,andprivateequity.

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ManagementandLeadership Thisareapreparesgraduatesforleadershippositionsinthebuildingandinfrastructure industries,withindesign,development,constructionprojectmanagement,andconsulting enterprises.Businessissuesrelatedtointegratingandmanagingthedesign&innovation processwithprojectandproductdeliveryarecombinedwithstrategic,operational,and financialskillbuilding.Prof.SpiroPollalisservesasadvisorforthisarea. SustainableRealEstate Thissubconcentrationaddressestheneedsandchallengesfacedincreasinglybyrealestate anddesignprofessionalsinrespondingtoenvironmentallysensitive,"green,"andsustainable developmentpractices.Itfocusesonconceptsandapplicationsoftechnologiesof sustainabilityatvariousscalesrangingfromurbancommunities,landscapedesign,to individualbuildings.Thecurriculumisenrichedwithcoursesofferedbyfacultymemberswho specializeindevelopment,sustainabledesign,andbuildingtechnology. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4Units5203MarketsandMarketFailures 4Units5204RealEstateDevelopmentandFinance 8UnitsElectives SecondTerm 4Units5103PublicandPrivateDevelopment 2Units5403Publicapprovalsforprivatedevelopmentprojects 2Units5431DesignTypologiesandFinancialOperationforUrbanDevelopments 8UnitsElectives ThirdTerm 16UnitsElectives* ScholarlyPapermustbecompletedinoneoftheelectedcourses *SeetheGSD5000,6000and7000seriesforelectivecourses.Studentsarealsoencouragedto explorerelatedofferingsattheBusinessandKennedySchoolsatHarvardUniversityandatMIT. SustainableDesign TheSustainableDesignconcentrationaddressesconceptsandtechnologiesatvariousscalesranging fromurbanneighborhoodsandlandscapedesigndowntoindividualbuildingsandproducts.Faced withclimatechangeandanemergingshortageofessentialresources,oursocietyincreasingly experiencestheneedtounderstandandapplysustainabledesignprinciplesatalllevelsofthebuild environment.Inordertodevelopholisticsolutionsforthesechallengesourstudentsarelearning aboutsustainabledesignconceptsandtechnologiesatvariousscales.Ourgraduatesoftenendup workinginarchitecturalpractice,academia,consulting,andpolicy. Courseswithafocusonbuildingsteachmethodsandtechnologiesthatsupportthedesignof comfortableandlessresourceintensiveenvironments.Particularareasofspecializationarelighting

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anddaylightingdesign,buildingperformancesimulation(energyandlighting),greenbuilding performancemetrics,greenroofs,automatedcontrols,occupantbehaviorandsatisfaction, acoustics,aswellaslifecycleandembodiedenergystudies.Akeyobjectiveisforourstudentsto employandfurtherdevelopdesigntoolsandmetricstoevaluatetheindoorenvironmental performanceandenergyefficiencyofbuildingsatthevariousdesignstages. Ratherthanconcentratingonhowtouseanyparticularsoftware,coursesconcentrateonthe processofwhenandhowdifferentdesigntoolscanbeusedtoeffectivelysupportkeydesign decisions.Studentsareexpectedtodevelopathoroughunderstandingoftheunderlying assumptionsandlimitationsofcurrentapproachestomodelandassessabuildingsenvironmental performance.Equippedwiththisknowledgetheyarethenencouragedtocriticallyreviewandthink beyondtheperformancemetricsthatarecurrentlypromotedbygreenbuildingratingsystemssuch astheUSGreenBuildingCouncilsLEEDsystem.Astrongemphasisisplacedontherolebuilding occupantsplayinthesuccessorfailureofanyparticulartechnology. Beyondthebuildingscalethecourseinsustainabledesignassessestheenvironmentaleffectof buildingswithintheirlargercontext,includingissuesofclimateandecologyattheurbanand landscapelevel.Sustainabilitystudiesonthisscalepursueabroadrangeoftopicsthatmayinclude theimpactofurbanandlandscapedesignonlocalclimacticconditions(heat,humidity,windflows etc.),theinvestigationanddesignofwatermanagementtechniques,trafficandinfrastructure studies,strategiesforbrownfieldsandotherdisturbedsites,questionsoflandscapeecology,and manyothers.Researchtopicsvarydependentonfacultyandstudentinterests. StudentsareaarefurtherencouragedtoalsoincludecoursesatotherHarvardSchools(forexample, SchoolofPublicHealth)intheircurriculum,aswellasconsideringrelevantcoursesatMIT. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4Units6428UrbanModeling 12UnitsElectives SecondTerm 4Units6430FormsofEnergy 4Units6333DayLighting 8UnitsElectives ThirdTerm 8UnitsGSD9304IndependentThesis 8UnitsElectives Technology Thisstudyareapositionstechnologyasfundamentaltodesigninquiry.Studiesofferedinthisbroad areaincludethosedirectedtowardsdesigncomputationandanunderstandingofthespecific propertiesandcharacteristicsofthematerialsandsystemsthatmakeupthebasicfabricsof buildingsandlandscapes;andstudiesthatspecificallyaddressdesign,simulation,manufacturingand

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fabricationtechnologies;andimplementationprocedures,processesandtools.Coursesopento MDesSstudentsoccurwithinthebroadcontextoftechnologyinitiativesofferedattheGSDasa whole.ThemeareasaddressedwithintheMDesSprogramincludeadvancedmaterialsandsystems (structural,environmental);designcomputation;digitaldesignandmanufacturing;construction automationandrobotics;andproductdevelopmentissues.Theemphasisintheprogram,however, isonhowinnovationresultswhendevelopmentsineachoftheseprimaryareasintersectand interactwithoneanother. BuildingTechnologyStudies Coursesinadvancedmaterialsandsystemsaddressinnovativedevelopmentsinhighperformance materials(composites,laminates,other)andintheemergingsmartmaterialsfield.TheGSDhaslong hadaninvolvementwithdevelopingapplicationsofthesenewmaterialsandtechnologiestothe architecturalfield.Inadditiontofacilitiesforloadtestingmaterials,theGSDsMaterialsCollection alsohousessamplesofdifferenthighperformanceandsmartmaterialsthatcanbeaccessedby students.Coursesinadvancedstructuralsystemsaddressinnovativedevelopmentsinseveralareas. Specialemphasisisplacedonstructuralsurfaces(membraneandshellstructures)andinnovations thatresultfromtheadoptionofhighperformanceandsmartmaterials(selfhealing,solar), fabricationtechnologies(CAD/CAM),anddesigncomputationmethods(formfinding).Avarietyof structuralanalysisprogramsareavailableforstudentstouseinbothformfindingandinsimulation studies.Othercoursesaremorepracticebasedandexploretheintersectionbetweenstructural innovationandarchitectureasitoccursintheofficesofleadingstructuralengineers. Coursesindigitaldesignandmanufacturing(CAD/CAM)reflectoneofthecorestrengthsoftheGSDs programinbuildingtechnologies.Theyaddressarchitecturalfabricationaswellasproductdesign. CAD/CAMtechniqueshaveliterallyrevolutionizeddesignandproductionpracticesinmanyfields, andareincreasinglyimpactingarchitectureaswell.Thesenewdesignandproductiontechniquesand methodsallowarchitectsanddesignerstomovebeyondconventionaldesignparadigms.Students areintroducedtotheprinciplesofadvancedparametricdigitalmodeling(e.g.,digitalenvironments suchasCatiaorSolidworks),theoperationanduseofnumericallycontrolledmachines(CNC technologies),andbasicmanufacturingprocesses.Strategiesforprototypingareexploredaswell. ThisthematicareaofstudymakesextensiveuseoftheGSDsextensiveCAD/CAMfacilitiesdescribed elsewhere(seehttp://www.gsd.harvard.edu/inside/cadcam/).Arecentextensionofthestudiesin digitaldesignandmanufacturingareconstructionautomationandtheuseofroboticsinthe fabricationofarchitecturalcomponents. DesignComputation Thisthematicareafocusesondesigncomputationaltechniquesinarchitecture,landscape architectureandurbandesignandplanningastheyspecificallyrelatetodesignandsimulation processesandprocedures.Thearrayoftopicsaddressedincludescomputationalmethodsassociated withformgeneration,scripting,interactivespaces,geographicinformationsystems,physical computingandothers. Theareabroadlycoversdigitalmodeling,scripting,andvisualization,butfocusesalsoonadvanced topicsthatreflectfacultyinterests.Theseinterestsincluderecenttheoriesofforminarchitecture thatemploycomputationalmethodsfordefinition,description,andmanipulation.Fromalgorithmic designtoopensourceandfromvirtualrealitytorobotics,manydesignersareseekingnewtoolsto exploreformalandfunctionalpropertiesassourcesoforderingsystems.Relatedproceduresinclude developingalgorithmsandcomputationalmethodsthatencapsulatetheprocessesthatleadtothe

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generationofmeaningfularchitecturalform.Otherinterestsincludetheexplorationofmotionin architecture,aswellas,theuseandpotentialofinteractivespaces.Parametricdesignandrelated issuesareexploredinavarietyofways,butquitedirectlyinrelationtotheGSDsstrongpresencein theCAD/CAMfieldnotedpreviously.Alsoexploredaretheuseofcomputerbasedtechniquesfor connectingdistantusersinthedesignprocessthroughintegratedprojectmodels,andcreating informationlinkagesbetweenparticipantsinthespectrumofdesignmanufacturingandconstruction processesviaBuildingInformationModels.AnoverviewofBuildingTechnologycanbefoundat http://projects.gsd.harvard.edu/buildtech. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4Units6317CAD/CAM 4Units6338ComputationalDesign:NumericalDescriptionsasDesignTools 8UnitsElectives* SecondTerm 4Units2314ResponsiveEnvironments** 12UnitsElectives* ThirdTerm 8Units9304IndependentThesis 8UnitsElectives* *SeetheGSD6000and7000seriesforelectivecourses Urbanism,Landscape,Ecology Overthepastdecade,longstandingdisciplinarydividesbetweentheurbanandtheecological havegivenwaytomorefluid,polyvalent,andpotentiallymoreproductiverelations.The challengesofthebuiltenvironmenthaverarely,atanytime,correspondedtotraditional disciplinaryorprofessionalboundaries.Today,contemporarypracticesofurbanismare shapedbythinkingfromsubjectsasdiverseaslandscapearchitecture,geography,and economics,whileincreasinglybeinginformedbysensibilitiesandstoresofknowledgebroadly associatedwiththestudyofthenaturalworld.Inthismilieu,theMDesSPrograminvites candidatestoexaminecontemporarypracticesofdesignandmodesofproductionasthey informandmanifesturbanism.Asmodelandmetaphorontheonehand,andasapplied scienceontheother,urbanandarchitecturalpracticesandhabitsofthoughtareincreasingly engagedwithecologicalthinking.Inthisspaceofintellectualinquiryandadvancementofthe designarts,theMDesSProgramaspirestobealeadingvenueforpostprofessionalstudiesof contemporaryurbanpractice.MDesScandidatesintheUrbanism,Landscape,Ecology concentrationpursueadvancedstudiesintopicsrelatedtocontemporaryurbanism, landscape,geography,orterritorywithinthebroadercontextsoftheglobal,social,and naturalenvironment.Candidatesareinvitedtoconstructtheirownprogramofstudyfrom amongthecourseofferingsattheGSD,acrosstheHarvardUniversitycampus,andatthe MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.

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Candidatesareinvitedtoproposeresearchtopicsrelatedtothedescriptionofcontemporary urbanforms;theempiricalobservationofurbanorenvironmentalsubjects;the representationofecologicalorurbansitesandsystems;cartographicorprojective representationsofurban,regional,orglobalorders;ecologicalordersasdeterminantsof urban,regional,orterritorialspatialorganization;thehistoriesandtheoriesoflandscapeas elementsofurbanorregionalorder;infrastructure,logistics,andmaterialeconomies associatedwithurbanorregionalform;emergenteconomicordersandtheirimpactonurban form;energyproductionandconsumptioninrelationtourbanism;agriculturalproduction andconsumptioninrelationtourbanism;waterandwastenetworksinrelationtourbanism; largescaleandultrarapiddevelopmentandemergentformsofmodernizationandtheir ecologicalandeconomicimpactsandpossibilities;aswellasadvancedstudiesinlandscape urbanism,ecologicalurbanism,andweakurbanism. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4units3581ResearchMethodsforULE 4units3241TheoriesofLandscapeasUrbanism 8unitsElective SecondTerm 4units4359TheHistoryofUrbanForm 12unitsElective ThirdTerm 16unitElectives RequiredScholarlyPaper*** ***Candidatesmaysubstituteindependentthesiswithapprovalofareacoordinator Art,DesignandthePublicDomain Amongtheremarkabledevelopmentsincontemporaryculturehasbeentheconvergenceof practicesthatonceunambiguouslybelongedtoartordesignbutwhichtodayhappilyshare methods,meansandconcerns.Ofparticularimportancearepracticesthatseektoengage withthepublicandsocialrealmphysicalorvirtualwithaviewtoshapingandtransforming humanactionandhistoricalexperience.Thephrase"spatialpractice"onceatermof idiosyncrasythatappliedtothemarginsofarchitecturalactivismhasbecomeaconfident andwidelyusedtermtodescribeavarietyofarchitecturalandartisticengagementswiththe cityandsocietyandwithaestheticpracticeingeneral.Inmanywaysitdefinesthenewand movingboundaryofthedesigndiscipline. TheMDesSconcentrationin"Art,DesignandthePublicDomain"seekscreativeand ambitiousindividualsfromallbackgroundsandacademicdisciplineswithakeeninterestin contemporaryissuesofurban,historical,aesthetic,andtechnologicalcultureandwitha predilectionforintervention,exhibition,andpublicwork.Thisprogramalsoseekspracticing architects,artists,filmmakers,andculturalproducerswishingto'switchgears'anddevelopa practiceofcreativeandimaginativespeculation,orartrelatedwork,withanemphasison

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sophisticatedthinking,advancedfabricationmethodologiesandtechniques,andsocialand aestheticengagement.ThisprogramisdesignedtobothaccommodategraduatedMFAsas wellastoserveinlieuofatraditionalMFAprograminanorthodoxartacademy.The GraduateSchoolofDesignhasawidevarietyofassetsinculturaltheory,applied computation,fabrication,artrelatedpracticeandspeculativedesign.TheGSDshares excellentlinkswithVisualandEnvironmentalStudies,film,andliteraturedepartments,and innovativenewcollaborationswithinternationalprogramsinthepoliticalandexperimental arts.Theprogramstronglywelcomesunconventionalproposalsforstudythataddress emergingissuesin(thehistoryof)technology,science,performance,industrialdesign, typography,andallaspectsofthechangingsocialandculturalenvironment. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4Units2482Art,DesignandthePublicDomain 4Units4131Film,ModernityandVisualCulture 8units:electives SecondTerm 16Units:electives ThirdTerm 8Unitsindependentthesis,FinalProject9304/9305 8Unitselectives CriticalandStrategicConservation CriticalandStrategicConservationusestheparticularreasoningandmethodsofdesigntoextendthe social,economic,andculturalusefulnessofbuildings,landscapes,andcities.Whileitisrelatedto historicpreservationandsharesthatpracticesconcernsforthebuiltenvironment,Criticaland StrategicConservationisdistinctinsofarasitconstruesthecontextsforanalysisverybroadly, includingtheculturalandsocialhistoriesofaplace,andattemptstoconsiderawiderangeof possiblestrategiesforintervention.Itunderstandsbuildingsandlandscapesasmaterialobjectsthat carryculturalmemoriesandideologies;itseescitiesaskineticsystemsandusesconservationto advocateforchange.Itstheoriesareprogressiveandexpansive;inpractice,itisnimbleanddynamic. Initscompassareissuesofmaterialculture,socialstructure,tourism,sitenarratives,programming ofalternativeusesandusesthatchangeovertime,extremeurbanism,conservationofminority cultures,intangibleheritage,andothers. Theoreticalinquiryandcasestudiesofcontemporaryconservationpracticesenablecandidatesin thisprogramtoexploreconservationissuesatthescaleofbuildings,cities,andlandscapes.Thisis notastudiobasedprogram.MDesScandidatesintheCriticalandStrategicConservation concentrationwillpursueadvancedstudiesinthehistoryandtheoryofarchitecture,landscape,and urbanism,buildingandlandscapetechnologies,materialsandconstruction,propertyrightsand justice,andanthropologicalperspectivesonarchitecturalconflicts.Studentsmaychooseto emphasizethehistorical,sociopolitical,ortechnologicaldimensionsofconservation,constructing theirownprogramofstudyfromcourseofferingsattheGSDaswellasfromHistoryofArtand

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Architecture,Anthropology,EngineeringandAppliedSciences,orotherdepartmentsinthe University.Applicantsareinvitedtoproposeresearchareasthatmayincludeissuesofmaterial culture,extremeurbanisms(especiallyinAsiaandAfrica),sustainableconservation,conservationof minoritycultures,intangibleheritage,culturallandscapes,andothers. CourseRequirements FirstTerm 2Units4474CriticalMemoryandtheExperienceofHistory 2Units3474ConservationCanonsandInstitutions 4Units3333ConservationandDesign:CreatingtheConversation 8UnitsElectives SecondTerm 2Units4475CaseStudiesinCriticalConservation:Architecture 2Units4476CriticalConservation:UrbanDesign 12UnitsElectives ThirdTerm 2Units4478CaseStudiesinCriticalConservation:Landscapes 2Units3477CriticalConservation:FrameworkforPractice 8Units9304/9305IndependentThesis,FinalProject 4UnitsElectives AnticipatorySpatialPractices Inthefaceofrapidurbanization,humansettlementsincreasinglyconfrontthethreatofdisastersand abruptenvironmentalandsocialchange.TheprograminAnticipatorySpatialPracticeaddressesa centralfactofthisvolatilenewreality:unpredictable,largescaleshockstothebuiltandnatural environmentareinevitable.Thecertaintyofcatastrophicdisruptions,whetherduetoearthquakes andfloodsorradicalsocialrupturessuchasconflictandwardemandsanticipatoryplansand practicesthatprovidepeopleandsocietieswiththetoolstoeffectivelypreparefor,copewith,and managerapidchange.Attheheartoftheprogramisarecognitionthatstandardapproachesto crisisintheformofshorttermandposthocfixesnolongersufficeandthatforwardlooking, anticipatoryviewsarerequiredifwearetobuildrobustsocial,institutionalandecologicalsystems abletosurvivecataclysmicchange.Theprogramwillprovidestudentswiththeintellectualskillsto developpreemptive,anticipatorypracticesintheareasofdesign,analysis,urbanandterritorial management,anddevelopment.Examplesofresearchtopicsincludemanagementpracticesin rapidlydevelopingeconomies,institutionaleffectivenessunderextremesocialconditions,riskand hazardassessment,andadvocacypractices.Studentsconstructtheirownprogramofstudyfrom courseofferingsattheGSDaswellasfromEngineeringandAppliedSciences,orotherdepartments intheUniversity.

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CourseRequirements FirstTerm 4Units5342CreatingResilientCitiesClimateAdaptiveandAnticipatoryPractices 12UnitsElectives SecondTerm 4Units6322FundamentalsofGIS 4Units5343DisasterFieldLab 8UnitsElectives ThirdTerm 8Units9304IndependentThesis 8UnitsElectives