WORLD ARCHITECTURE
HP 403/603
AB 102
Spring, 2014 ---- 2:30 – 3:45 T TH
COURSE SYLLABUS
This course is a survey of world architecture. The objective of the course is to familiarize students with
world architectural styles, technologies, cultural traditions, and historical connections. The course
perspective derives from anthropology and history, as well as architecture and art history.
Instructor:
Carolyn White
Office Hours:
TR 2:30-4:00 PM & W 12:30 – 1:30 PM/Appointment
Office Phone:
Anthropology Department Office: 775.784. 6704, Email: clwhite@unr.edu
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Marian Moffett, Michael Fazio, and Lawrence Wodehouse. Buildings Across Time: An Introduction to World
Architecture. Third Edition. 2014. McGraw Hill Higher Education, New York.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe in detail the foundations of architectural history, in discussion and written work
2. Document the trends in architectural styles in the United States and across the globe through written
assignments and class activities
3. Compare and contrast shape and space concepts in different trends in world architecture
4. Explore the relationship between architectural styles, their constructive logic, their technology, and their
ideological intentions in relation to the artistic, intellectual and socio-political context in which they
originated
5. Articulate and evaluate connections among local, national, and international trends and movements in the
built environment
Silver Core Objectives
This course satisfies CO13: Integration and Synthesis. This objective is satisfied by the Core Capstone
course. Capstones combine knowledge gained in other Core courses with knowledge gained in the major.
Courses satisfying CO13 are required to synthesize information in order to analyze an open-ended
question or complex issue. This objective is met by SLOs 1, 3, 4 and 5, which require the student to: detail
the foundations of architectural history; document trends in architectural styles in the U.S. and across the
globe; elucidate in detailed fashion the relationship between architectural styles, and the broader artistic,
intellectual and sociopolitical context, and to evaluate the connections between the built environment
and local, national, and international trends and movements.
Courses satisfying CO13 are also required to integrate knowledge and skills gained from two Core
Objectives from Objectives 1, 2 and 3 as well as from at least one of Core Objectives 9-12. HP 403
integrates CO 1: Effective Composition and Communication (students will be able to effectively
compose written, oral, and multimedia texts for a variety of scholarly, professional, and creative
purposes) by requiring extensive written work in a final written paper and three essay based exams, and
a final project. It also integrates CO 3: Critical Analysis and Use of Information (Students will be
critical consumers of information, able to engage in systematic research processes, frame questions, read
critically, and apply observational and experimental approaches to obtain information) by requiring
considerable comparison, evaluation and synthesis of multiple and oftentimes conflicting lines of
evidence in argumentative and rhetorically sound essays). Finally, the course integrates CO11, Global
Contexts (students will be able to apply modes of academic inquiry, creative expression, and results of
research to problems in historical and contemporary global contexts. Students will understand the
connections among local, national, and international contexts and evaluate the ways that historical and
contemporary global influences affect their current local situation by: (1) examining in multiple ways the
relationship between local, national, and international trends and movements in architecture; (2)
examining how trends in the built environment across regions and through time reflect the broader
social, political and technological political, and artistic contexts in which they were developed).
Synthesizing these various viewpoints across the global contexts is at the heart of all aspects of this
course.
100 points possible in class: Plusses and minus will be given to delineate performance within gross A, B, C and D
grade categories (see below). The following table describes this in more detail:
93-100 A
90-92 A-
88-89 B+
83-87 B
80-82 B-
78-79 C+
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
59 and below F
73-77 C
STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE AND EVALUATION OF STUDENT KNOWLEDGE
Students will have requirements that encourage study and participation, and assist them and the
instructor in evaluating what they have learned about world architecture. These requirements include
three exams, a final project done in small groups (including a physical model of a building), and written
“reflections,” or responses to films, site visits, and guest speaker presentations. Written responses to the
questions/student reflections need be only one paragraph.
GROUP FINAL PROJECTS
Tuesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 8 student groups of 3 or more will bring to class a model of an
existing architectural style, region, period/time or community, village or settlement layout (details about
possible materials that can be used for the model will be discussed in class) and will explain to the class
what they have created, and how their “example” fits into the historical, social and cultural context of
world architecture. Students will evaluate each group’s model and presentation according to criteria
distributed by the instructor. Final project topics and types of materials to be used for construction,
model, etc. will be due Thursday, March 27. Architectural models will be displayed in either the
Knowledge Center, or the Anthropology Department Office Display/Exhibit cases.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance and participation are critical. Students should be prepared by doing the assigned readings
before each class. Students may miss a total of five (5) classes a semester without a written excuse. Roll
will be taken each class session. After five (5) missed classes, a student must submit a copy of a doctor’s,
medical, accident, emergency, conference or other appropriate written excuse that the instructor can
keep for her records. After five (5) absences, if there is no written excuse submitted, grades will go down
one-third (from an “A” to an “A-“ for instance) for every additional class missed without a written excuse.
Students should arrive on time and stay for the full duration of class. If you have an obligation that
precludes this, you must discuss it with the instructor.
As mentioned, students are expected to come to class prepared for discussion, and to participate in class.
Students are also expected to be respectful of their fellow students.
CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS, OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN CLASS
Students who use computers to take class notes must sit in the front rows of the class. I prefer that
students use paper and pen or pencil to take notes, rather than a laptop/computer or other electronic
device.
Cell phone texting and voice use is disruptive. Do not make phone calls or do texting during class. You
will be asked to leave class (during class, in front of your peers) if you make or receive calls or texts, or
use your phone, iPad, laptop, or any other electronic device for anything other than taking class notes, or
other permitted class uses.
FILMS
Films are used as supplemental “texts” during several class sessions. Students will receive a handout to
use as a guide and to keep notes while viewing videos and DVDs. These will be valuable study tools to
prepare for the exams and other classroom requirements. It is, therefore, as important to attend class
during “film sessions” as during lecture and presentation sessions.
EMAIL and WEB CAMPUS
It is essential that students check their email (UNR related) and Web Campus daily, Monday through
Friday, and Sunday night. It is particularly important to check email and Web Campus an hour or two
before each class session. These are the main tools that the instructor and the University have to
communicate with students and the class. Updates, assignments, drop boxes and other course related
resources, announcements and requirements are posted on email and Web Campus.
GRADING POLICY
Grades for the course will be based on 100 points that can be accumulated from scores on:
(1) 3 exams (15 points for each exam for a total of 45 points)
(2) group presentations & architectural models (20 points)
(3) attendance and participation (15 points)
(4) Q & A “reflections” (handed out in class prior to the presentations and films) for guest presenters,
and films (5 for all)
(5) Responses to questions about, and architectural descriptions of: three (3) separate sites. Sites will
include a home/residence, the Fleishmann Planetarium, and the Washoe County Courthouse. (5 points
each, for a total of 15 points)
Student point totals will be used to assign letter grades according to the following scale:
A 100-92, A- 92-90, B+ 89-97, B 86-83, B- 82-80, C+ 79-77, C 76-73, C-72-70, D+ 69-67, D
66-63, D- 62-60, F 59 or less
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Historic Preservation Program and Anthropology Department are committed to equal opportunity in
education for all students, including those with documented physical disabilities, documented learning
disabilities and documented psychological disabilities. If you have a documented disability, please come
see me as soon as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations to ensure equity in grading,
classroom experiences, and outside assignments. The instructor will meet with the student and the staff
of the Student Services Center to formulate a written plan for appropriate accommodations.
Statement on Audio and Video Recording: Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or
unauthorized audio recording of class is prohibited by law and by UNR Board of Regents policy. This class
may be videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to
accommodate students with disabilities, some students may be given permission to record class lectures
and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments during class may be
recorded.
Plagiarism. Plagiarism includes knowingly “representing, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the
published or unpublished work of another person as one’s own in any academic exercise or activity
without full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared
by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials” (Utah
State University Code of Policies and Procedures for Students, Article V, Section 3A.1). Penalties for
plagiarism may include warning or reprimand and grade adjustment. Other penalties may be imposed at
the Dean’s discretion and include probation, suspension, expulsion from the university, withholding of
transcripts, denial or revocation of degrees and other disciplinary actions (again, see here for UNR
disciplinary actions: http://www.unr.edu/student-conduct/policies/student-code-of-conduct/sectioniii.) The solution to avoiding all these problems? Simple: never, never, never plagiarize. If, for example,
you work with a friend and turn in substantially similar work, I will notice, and will take strong and
immediate action in accordance with UNR policy. For more information on plagiarism, please see the
very useful information in this link: http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/vwein/documenting.pdf.
COURSE OUTLINE and SCHEDULE
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Week I
January 21 & 23
Reading: Chapter 1
Introduction to the Course, Details of Requirements, including
Exams, Group Presentations, Overview of Final Projects and
Peer Review/Project Evaluations
The Beginnings of Architecture (pp. 1 - 14)
What is Architecture? (pp. 16 – 21)
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Week 2
January 28 & 30
Reading: Chapter 1
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt (pp. 22 - 33)
Guest Speaker, Architect, Brad Van Woert, from Van Woert
Bigotti Architecture Firm, Reno (1/ 30)
Question(s) for “reflection” and comments on speaker
[Reading for next week will be handed out in class]
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Week 3
February 4 & 6
Reno Architecture: Guest Speaker-Mella Harmon (2/4)
Question(s) for “reflection” and comments on speaker
Readings from Handout
Introduction to Local Architecture, and Discussion of
Guidelines for Student Presentations/Final Projects, and Topic
Examples. Description of requirements for three architectural
site documentation
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Week 4
February 11 & 13
Reading: Chapter 2
The Aegean World and Ancient Greece
[Film: 2/13], Verla Jackson will monitor
Question/reflection topic film handed out in class
NOTE: Extra knowledge/Extra Credit at Nevada Museum of Art
Film Presentations--ABC’s of Architecture, Archiculture, If
you Build It, 2/13, 6 pm. (It may be possible to view these
films in the Nevada Museum of Art Library at a separate time)
Question/reflection on Museum films given by instructor
$5.00 entrance fee for the 2/13 film is a special rate for this
class, instructor will cover fee if necessary
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Week 5
February 18 & 20
Reading: Chapter 5
The Roman World
Reading: Chapter 6
Early Christian & Byzantine
Reflections on in class film, NV. Museum of Art films (if
student views them), and speakers: van Woert, and
Harmon DUE
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Week 6
February 25 & 27
Reading: Chapters 3-4
The Asian World
Feb. 27
EXAM I (in groups, in class, with notes & book)
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Week 7
March 4 & 6
Reading: Chapters 7-8
Islamic & Early Medieval & Romanesque
Site I-Fleishmann Planetarium Description DUE (3/4)
March 6, Visit to Nevada Museum of Art
Question(s) for “reflection” and comments on Museum
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Week 8
March 11 & 13
Reading: Chapters 9, 11, 12 Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque
[Reading for Week 10 will be handed out in class]
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Week 9
March 18 & 20
SPRING BREAK
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Week 10
March 25 & 27
Reading: from class handout
Vernacular Architecture (3/25)
Site II: Home/Residence Description DUE
Guest Speaker, Steve Davis (3/27)
Question(s) for “reflection” and comments on speaker
March 27
FINAL PROJECT TOPIC and STRATEGY (materials for
building model, etc) DUE
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Week 11
April 1 & 3
EXAM 2 (in groups, in class, with notes and book) (4/1)
April 3
Discussion of Projects, including models
Reflections on NV Art Museum visit, and Davis DUE
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Week 12
April 8 & 10
Reading: Chapters 13, 14
18th & 19th Centuries
[Film, 4/10], Verla Jackson, Monitor
Question/reflection topic film handed out in class
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Week 13
April 15 & 17
Reading: Chapter 15, 16
20th Century, 21st Century
Site III: Washoe County Courthouse Description Due
Reflection about 4/10 film DUE
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Week 14
April 22 & 24
Reading: Chapter 10
Indigenous Architecture
[Speaker: Mercedes de la Garza, Archictect, 4/24]
Question(s) for “reflection” and comments on speaker
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Week 15
April 28 & May 1 Review & EXAM 3 (in groups, in class, with notes and book) (ExamReflections on de la Garza DUE (5/1)
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Week 16
May 6 & 8
Student Presentations (including building models) DUE
May 8 – meet 12:30 – 2:30 for Final Exam Period