Course Description/Summary:
This course is divided into two parts. PART I: Issues and Opportunities in Contemporary Cities; and PART II: Research Methods for Environmental and Urban Challenges.
Today, better research skills and methods are urgently needed to enhance research-informed decision-making for urban development. This course includes a survey of research methods in environmental design; quantitative and qualitative methods used in researching design, social/behavioral, and technical problems in urban development and cities. It deals with models of urbanisation and concepts of sustainable cities. This course is particularly suitable for students with an interest in environmental design and concepts of urbanisation.
This graduate seminar course is for mature students and is based on self-directed learning. The students will develop an understanding of issues and methods of research in environmental design. Students will work through a series of online lectures, conduct research projects and share their findings in joined online reviews. A significant part of the weekly meeting is devoted to lectures. Specifically, this course aims to address and synthesize: Investigative Skills; Research, and Innovation in Urban Development.
Students will apply methods of design research to explore the urban development of different cities and regions across the world. The seminar provides students with an understanding of the key challenges facing both mature and rapidly-developing metropolitan areas. Dealing with large-scale change in cities, students will explore research that focuses on applied methods and new knowledge that is shaping the urban world, analyzing urban sustainability projects and city policies from design, social, and environmental perspectives. There are two assignments.