Course overview
Students will be required to undertake supervised research in one or two advanced topics, thereby developing a thorough understanding of appropriate research techniques. The outcome of this research will be submitted in the form of a thesis, substantial essay or research report including a survey of the literature relevant to the topic(s) chosen. The range of topics to be offered in any year will depend on staff availability. Topics expected to be offered from time to time include: Architectural and Landscape Architectural History; Australian Architectural and Landscape Architectural History; Australian Urban Design History and Practice; Computer-Aided Design; Computer Applications in Architecture, Landscape Architecture or Urban Design; Conservation in the Built Environment; Criticism and Architecture and Landscape Architecture; Cross-Cultural Architectural and Landscape Architectural Topics; Dryland Landscape Design; Heritage Conservation and Cultural Landscapes; Islamic Architecture and Garden Design; Issues in Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design; Plants in Design Project Management; South East Asian Architecture and Landscape Architecture; Theories in Modern Architecture and Landscape Architecture; Thermal Design of Buildings; Urban Design Histories and Theories; Urban Design in Islamic or South East Asian Places; Urban Ecology.
Course learning outcomes
- Independently locate sources of information that will assist with the understanding of a real-world problem in Architecture, Design, Landscape or Construction.
- Critically evaluate the validity, coverage and gaps in such sources of information.
- Develop a statement of a research question or hypothesis, identifying an issue of which there is incomplete understanding.
- Design and execute an investigation, experiment or theoretical study to answer the research question.
- Present the background and findings of the research investigation in a thesis, in a seminar and at poster exhibitions.
- Apply an advanced level of theoretical and technical understanding to devise solutions to complex identified problems.
- Demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively and flexibly as a member of a team, contributing to team leadership as the situation requires.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate, in writing and verbally, advanced technical concepts to both technically informed and technically uninformed audiences.
- Apply project management techniques to devise and synthesise engineering solutions to complex, open ended problems.