Design Research Overview

The Design Option addresses advanced design issues with emphasis on space, form, scale, context, program, materials and systems, and design theory. Within the Design Option students may focus on architectural design or conduct directed research.

The course work in this concentration focuses upon the development and completion of a research thesis that addresses issues relevant to architectural design. Appropriate directions include the investigation of design practice and processes, the investigation of environment and behavior theory, post occupancy evaluation, and the investigation of the design requirements of special populations. The student is required to develop a proposal for a research thesis, which is a one-year study conducted as an individual with the supervision of a faculty committee. The individual student (with faculty advising and approval) selects the thesis topic.