11247 Architectural History and Theory: Current Events and Debates

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 11222 Architectural History and Theory: Critique
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 11235 Architecture and Urban Projects

Description

This subject examines how broad societal debates inform and reconstruct contemporary architectural discourse and action. Current events and debates are framed within an expanded historical and theoretical context to link contemporary disciplinary discourse with historical and theoretical knowledge presented in previous subjects.

The subject is intended to specifically prepare students for entry into the Master of Architecture program and generally prepare them for an investigative-led academic writing practice. It introduces students to basic research methods which encompass scholarly writing and the organisation of related visual material.

The subject centres on the topics presented in a weekly lecture series. These lecture topics present a selected set of events and debates within a theoretical and practice-based framework. These topics also set the agenda for the seminar discussions. Ultimately, these topics are selected to encourage students to debate, interrogate and critique their own work in reference to a larger intellectual and political context.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1.	Understand the significance of current debates and their impact on the ongoing reconfiguration of the bases of the discipline.
2.	Understand the theoretical and historical contexts that inform current events and debates.
3.	Formulate a position that presents a critical historical, theoretical, or practise-based perspective on a selected theme or subject.
4.	Learn how to clearly develop and state an argument throughout a paper or presentation.
5.	Carry out research and analysis that meets the subject’s objectives.
6.	Express ideas clearly in writing using academic conventions.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

Establish and develop an informed and ethical position towards social, technical and environmental issues and practices (A.1)
Work cooperatively and professionally as part of a team (C.1)
Communicate ideas professionally and effectively through a variety of mediums: oral, written, visual, physical and digital (C.2)
Creatively use architectural media, technologies and materials (I.2)
Position work within an extended and critically reasoned context through the identification, evaluation and application of relevant academic references and architectural case studies (R.1)
Independently analyse, synthesise and formulate complex ideas, arguments and rationales and use initiative to explore alternatives (R.3)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:

C = communication and groupwork

A = attitudes and values

P = practical and professional

R = research and critique

I = innovation and creativity

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc).

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject is delivered typically on a weekly basis with learning activities structured around a 90 minute to 2 hour lecture series and a one-hour tutorial session. The lectures use an interactive mode of delivery to present the key ideas and concepts behind the selected contemporary topics raised in this subject. They will be led by the subject coordinator or invited guests to speak on topics that will contextualise global, national and local events within a framework political, social and architectural debates.

The tutorials will be utilised as a platform for discussion and interrogation of assigned pre-lecture readings which supplement the lecture content and allow for focused debate between students. The tutorials also facilitate the guided development of research topics, research methods and academic writing.

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING // UTS staff believe that collaboration between peers enhances learning. Outside this formal mechanism, we support peer learning by encouraging students to work in clusters throughout the whole semester. These clusters should aim to develop a mutual understanding of key references and define questions for the participatory forums running throughout the teaching session.

ONLINE COURSEWORK // There are a number of online resources used to support the learning objectives of this subject. There is an annotated online reader of essential and recommended readings. All documents are accessible from UTS Canvas and the UTS Library

FEEDBACK // The subject provides a range of formative feedback strategies.

1. All assessment items will be graded in ReView in conjunction with the ongoing formative feedback received in each seminar session, to progressively develop all assessment items.

2. The subject is designed around the progressive development of two assessment items. The weekly seminar sessions are vital in the progressive development of work required for these submissions. Students can only receive useful formative feedback if they complete the preparatory work detailed in the Subject Outline.

Content (topics)

Of necessity, the range of topic options offered in any one year will depend on what is considered to be current and of interest for the discipline and practice of architecture, relative also to the research interests of teaching staff.

An example of the offerings for one year might be:

architecture after 9/11
the digital and the post-digital
architecture as social advocacy
the rise of a sustainability agenda

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Debating current events

Intent:

This assessment asks students to present a well-researched argument on a selected current event in class. Refer to detailed assignment sheet.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 4 and 5

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1, C.1, C.2 and I.2

Type:

Presentation

Groupwork:

Group, individually assessed

Weight:

40%

Length:

5 minute presentation.

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Ability to undertake independent research that connects disciplinary concerns to current events.	30	5	I.2
Construction of a sophisticated argument that draws on research, visual material and the set readings.	40	4	C.2
Work cooperatively as part of a team	10	1	C.1
Weekly lecture notes	20	2	A.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: The Agency of Architecture/Architecture of Agency

Intent:

This assessments asks students to write a critical essay based on the topics covered in the lectures. Refer to detailed assignment sheet.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2, 3, 4 and 6

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1, C.2, R.1 and R.3

Type:

Essay

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

60%

Length:

Essay should be no more than 2000 words

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Quality of written expression	20	6	C.2
Capacity to employ research in support of an argument.	20	3	R.1
Ability to develop a rigorous and coherent argument in an extended piece of writing.	30	4	R.3
Demonstrate proper use of academic conventions including proper referencing of sources.	20	6	C.2
Weekly reading summaries	10	2	A.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.

Required texts

Texts will be posted on the UTS Canvas and UTS Library Reading Lists.