Architectural Computing - 3267

The focus of the Bachelor of Architectural Computing program is on the thoughtful and creative application of digital technologies to enhance the design professions and improve the quality of the built environment. While specialising in this computing field, students will be immersed in the culture and philosophy of the built environment disciplines.

Through specialised studios and projects, the program expands and deepens skills and understanding in the technical, analytical and conceptual application of technology to the design of various environments. The ability to apply this technical expertise with understanding of the practice of designing the multi-disciplinary landscape of the Built Environment flavours all work produced throughout the degree. Research projects and industry linkage round out an education geared at leading a range of industries and processes into the future.

Students are prepared for a leadership role in the thoughtful application of computer technology, informed by a solid understanding of design computing theory, and in that way, positioned to guide the built environment professions in the use of leading edge technologies to address the diverse imperatives of current design practice.

Students become immersed in the current culture of architectural computing, encouraged to test out emerging ideas and developments and look for novel ways to apply new technologies to the design of the built environment. As such, the Program is essentially design-based and idea-driven: students are not simply skilled up in the use of computers, but are encouraged to become technology innovators who are able to tackle complex issues by drawing on their integrated expertise across the full range of available digital technologies. They use this expertise to take the developing and semi-formed ideas of our industry, then explore and actualise them in both realistic and abstract ways.

Graduates will have expertise in a wide range of design tools, but more importantly, they will be leading the adaptation and application of the ever-changing digital technology landscape. Some of the technologies currently addressed include: building information modelling and management; visualisation & animation; multimedia, web and graphic design; interactive virtual environments; application extension and development; database management; analysis tools and ubiquitous computing.

It is recommended that students choose electives that will expand their knowledge in ways that will reinforce, extend or complement their Architectural Computing studies. This list shows examples of the courses that could be used to fulfil this role:

Semester 1 Electives

Semester 2 Electives

*Note: The 12UOC of Interdisciplinary Learning Courses can be undertaken at any stage from the end of Year 2 to the end of Year 4 including summer sessions.

Additionally, students are not required to undertake the other elective and general educaton requirements in the exact order as indicated in the above program structure. This structure provides a suggested order for the completion of these elective and general education requirements, however a student can choose to do them in a different sequence. For example, a student may choose to complete a General Education course in S2 of Yr 2 and undertake the 6 UOC of open elective in S1 of Yr 3.

A list of 2014 Interdisciplinary Learning Courses is below:

Summer Semester

Semester 1

Semester 2

Students are required to choose 2 courses from the suite of Built Environment Interdisciplinary courses to complete a minimum of 12 UoC of BEIL courses.

The Bachelor of Architectural Computing degree may be awarded with Honours after the successful completion of a two-semester Honours program following the completion of the BArchComp program, and in accordance with current Faculty regulations. Honours are Class 1 or Class 2 Division 1 or Class 2 Division 2.

The Honours program allows students to further extend the breadth and depth of their capability within the Architectural Computing discipline. The research elements prepare students for specialisation in a particular element of this field and further academic study.

Students must qualify by achieving a minimum Credit average during the first three years of study before being admitted to the Honours year.

Students completing the 3 year Bachelor of Architectural Computing program, who are not proceeding to the Honours year may graduate with Distinction if they achieve an overall WAM of 75.

1. The degree of Bachelor of Architectural Computing is awarded at Pass level after the successful completion of a minimum of 144 units of credit.

2. To fulfil these requirements, students must complete:

3. The degree of Bachelor of Architectural Computing is awarded at Honours level after the successful completion of a minimum of 192 units of credit including 48 units in an approved Honours program.

4. The standard duration of the program is 3 years consisting of 6 semesters of full-time study (24 units of credit per semester). This is extended by 1 year (or 2 semesters), if the Honours program is attempted. Students taking less than the standard full-time load will be extending the duration their program and will need to note that many courses are only offered in one of the two main semesters.

5. General Education courses may not be taken before a student enters Year 2 of the Program.

6. Students are not able to enrol in two design studios concurrently.

Open electives can be chosen from any courses offered by any Faculty at UNSW for which the student meets pre-requisite or other enrolment requirements. The exceptions are those specific General Education GEN prefix courses which cannot be counted as open electives. Open electives do not need to be taken outside the Faculty, students can choose FBE electives as open electives.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

The Faculty provides its students with secure, 24 hour access to computer labs with the hardware and software required to complete the program. Students specialising in Architectural Computing will find advantage in having a laptop computer capable of running the software used through the degree. For details on what sort of hardware and applications would be most suitable, please contact the Faculty.