COURSE RATIONALE

ARCH 1311: Introduction to Architecture is offered through the Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design Department of Austin Community College.  This course uses an online distance learning format delivered through Blackboard, ACC’s learning management system.  This course is offered to those interested in architecture generally or as an initial step toward the Associate of Science (AS) in Architecture or the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design, Architectural Specialization.  The course designation ARCH 1311 uses the Texas Common Course Numbering (TCCN) System to facilitate transfer to a Texas public university..

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introduction to the elements of the architectural profession. 

Semester Credit Hours: 3

Class Contact Hours per week: 3

PREREQUISITES

No departmental prerequisites are required for this course. 

IMPORTANT DATES

First Day of the Semester Monday, August 26th              

Online Class Information Meetings         TBD week 1 of class

Last Day to Withdraw from the Course Thursday, Nov. 21st     

Final Day to Submit Work Thursday, Dec. 12th                      

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY

This course is taught fully online in a distance learning format. Students will use the Blackboard learning management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, and collaboration.  The lecture material will be posted via Blackboard each week on Mondays at 11am, beginning in the first week of class.  Online lecture material will include the introduction and review of course concepts, and these will be assessed through weekly quizzes, weekly class assignments, a midterm examination, and a final semester examination. Quizzes and other assignments will be posted each Monday at 11am and must be completed by 11am on the following Monday or other deadlines as stated in the Blackboard course materials.  Communication with the instructor can be conducted via email, Google Meet, and Blackboard discussions.  

Materials:

Internet connection required for all online course content.

ACC EMAIL

All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACC email account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion.  You are expected to check your email daily (more often is better) for updates, corrections to course materials, and general information – especially if you missed class. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college-related emergencies using this account. Students should expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account unless other arrangements have been made. Likewise, students should use their ACC email account when communicating with instructors and staff. Instructions for activating an ACC email account can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.

BLACKBOARD (Bb)

Blackboard will be used for all portions of this course to include but not limited to:

• Instructional Materials including Lecture Videos
• Distribution of handouts, readings and other online lecture materials
• Student submission of assignments, quizzes, tests and activities
• Grading

As instructed by your professor, students are required to access instructional materials via Blackboard on a weekly basis.  For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, contact a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.

Policy on Late or Missing Work

The Instructor may impose a late penalty on work that is submitted after the assigned due date, unless an agreement has been made in writing ahead of the due date.  The penalty may increase corresponding to the number of days work is late.  This applies to Incomplete work as well.

GRADING POLICIES FOR STUDENTS

ACC Withdrawal Policy

The College defines withdrawals as occurring after the official reporting date of the semester, typically the 12th class day.  In addition, the Legislature has mandated the Rule of Six (see below).  There may also be financial aid issues.

“It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the rolls should they decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is recorded before the Final Withdrawal Date.  The Final Withdrawal Date for this semester is March 22nd.  The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.

ACC Incomplete Policy

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant.  The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not.  The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an “I” (Incomplete) grade. 

1.      Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date.  This meeting can occur virtually or in person.  The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

2.     The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student.  The student will then complete his/her section, sign (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement.  A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.   

3.      The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above.  This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent long semester.  

4.      Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course section materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.  

5.      When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit an electronic Grade Change Form to change the student’s performance grade from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F. 

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F.”  Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.”

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process.  Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements, and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources.  Further information is available at https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process

Sharing a drawing file of a class project with another student, or representing another student’s drawing file as your own work, is a violation of the A&E CAD department’s Scholastic Dishonesty policy. Reproduction, transmission or sharing of A&E CAD Departmental Check Prints in any manner is also a violation of the A&E CAD department’s Scholastic Dishonesty policy.

Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course, the assignment being replaced with a different project with a reduced maximum grade, and/or expulsion from the college.

In consultation with the department chair, the instructor may resolve the matter in one or more of the following ways:

• Dismissing the allegation;
• Issuing a written warning that further violations may result in additional penalties;
• Requiring the student to revise or replace the work in which the violation occurred – including a reduced maximum grade;
• A reduction in the grade on the work in question;
• A failing grade on the work in question;
• A failing grade or other denial of credit in the course;
• Recommending disciplinary sanctions to the Dean of Student Services.

Within 5 (five) business days of the meeting with the student, the instructor shall provide written notification of the resolution to the student, the department chair, the instructional dean, for informational purposes, and to the Dean of Student Services, for possible disciplinary action.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS & COURSE MATERIALS

Required Textbooks:

• Architecture: Form, Space, and Order, 4th Edition* by Francis D.K. Ching; John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2015.   ISBN: 978-1-118-74508-3.  *Paperback or e-book format.

• Think Like An Architect* by Hal Box; University of Texas Press, 2007.  ISBN: 978-0-292-71636-0. *Paperback or e-book format.

Supplemental Texts:

• Between Silence and Light* by John Lobell; Shambhala Press, 1979.  ISBN: 978-1-57062-582-4. 

*Paperback or E-book format.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

An introduction to the elements of the architectural profession through the lens of architectural experience and design thinking.

This course is intended to fulfill all or part of the following National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Student Performance Criteria:

• A.8 Cultural Diversity and Social Equity:

Understanding of the diverse needs, values, behavioral norms, physical abilities, and social and spatial patterns that characterize different cultures and individuals and the responsibility of the architect to ensure equity of access to sites, buildings, and structures.

• D.1 Stakeholder Roles in Architecture:

Understanding of the relationships among key stakeholders in the design process—client, contractor, architect, user groups, local community—and the architect’s role to reconcile stakeholder needs.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Course Level Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the relationship of human behavior and the built environment. 
2. Understand relevant processes of architectural education and professional practice and licensure.
3. Develop observational skills aimed at understanding and evaluating the physical and spatial qualities in architecture. 
4. Understand the tools and techniques associated with architectural and other architecture-related design practices.
5. Understand the importance of architectural traditions, concepts, theories, history, and technology. 
6. Understand the importance and role of architecture in relation to ecological and environmental contexts. 
7. Be aware of the formal, spatial, and experiential qualities and principles of architecture.
8. Appreciate the inter-relationship of architecture and allied professions (including but not limited to interior design, landscape architecture, construction, and fine arts).

PROGRAM-LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Program Level Outcomes (PSLO’s) - This course is a required component of the following degree plans:  The Associate of Science (AS) in Architecture and the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) – Architectural CAD Specialization.

At the completion of the Associate of Science (AS) degree in Architecture, the student will be able to:

1. Write and speak effectively and use representational media appropriate for both writing and speaking within the architectural profession and with the general public (Professional Communication Skills).
2. Raise clear and precise questions, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider diverse points of view, reach well-reasoned conclusions, and test alternative outcomes against relevant criteria and standards (Design Thinking Skills).
3. Identify and effectively use basic formal, organizational and environmental principles and the capacity of each to inform two- and three-dimensional design (Architectural Design Skills).
4. Identify and apply the fundamentals of both natural and formal ordering systems and the capacity of each to inform two- and three-dimensional design (Ordering Systems).

At the completion of the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree – Architectural CAD Specialization, the student will be able to:

1. Operate AEC (Architecture/Engineering/Construction) software including computer aided drafting (CAD), building information modeling (BIM), and 3D modeling applications to plan and prepare construction documents and technical graphics appropriate to the architecture and construction industries.
2. Utilize various architectural drawing types and determine their appropriate uses in architectural projects to demonstrate knowledge of building systems and familiarity with building codes. 
3. Demonstrate knowledge of architectural concepts of foundational architecture courses as outlined in the 2014 Student Performance Criteria (SPC) established by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).