Image source: archdaily.net
Thanks to the increasing popularity of massive open online courses — or MOOCs as they’re commonly referred to — learning has never been easier (or more convenient). Sites like Coursera and edX offer free classes online from accredited and well-known universities across the globe, including Harvard, MIT and the University of Hong Kong. While some classes are more structured and include a set lesson plan, homework assignments, quizzes and the option to receive a certificate at the end, others can be set at your own pace and approached more independently.
Following our wildly popular article on Four Ways to Learn About Architecture for Free, we’ve compiled a list of upcoming online classes related to architecture, engineering, urbanism and design. So whether you’re looking to embark on a new topic or dive deeper into an already familiar subject, take a look at these free online courses after the break.
Coursera: An online platform that partners with top universities and organizations across the globe, Coursera offers architecture and design courses in several different languages, including Chinese, Spanish and French. An optional Verified Certificate is available following completion of the class. Below are descriptions of some of the upcoming architecture and design classes.
Re-Enchanting the City-Designing the Human Habitat (April 2015- June 7th 2015): This eight-week course is taught by professors from the University of New South (UNSW) Australia. The class looks at the “interdisciplinary nature of city making,” seeking to answer the question: How do we make hyper-dense cities of the future green, livable and poetic? Specifically, the class looks at the development of Central Park in Sydney as a case study. The course materials include a series of interviews by lead academics and designers, interactive activities, and case studies.
L’art des structures 1 : Câbles et arcs (The art of structures 1: Cable and arcs) September 12, 2015- November 21, 2015: Taught in French (with English subtitles) by professors from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, this course looks at the design principles behind cables and arches. It will be followed by a course on lattice structures, beams and frames later in the year.
For Chinese speakers, the National University of Taiwan has a CAD /BIM Technology and Application Specialization program on Coursera, which includes several courses:
- CAD 3D computer graphics (June 1, 2015 – July 24, 2015)
- BIM project information management application (June 2015 – November 2015)
- CAD 2D computer graphics (June 2015 – July 29, 2015)
edX: Started as a non-profit initiative between Harvard and MIT, edX offers classes from top universities and institutions. Classes can be audited or taken to earn a Certificate of Achievement, and some courses are offered in Spanish and Chinese. Below are descriptions of two of the classes beginning this month.
The Search for Vernacular Architecture of Asia, Part 1 (starts March, 14): Offered through the University of Hong Kong, the five-week class seeks to explore vernacular architecture – “the subject and study of everyday buildings, landscapes and sites which are not designed by professional architects.” The class will look at native building materials as well as the relationship between vernacular architecture and culture and traditions across Asia. Part 2 will be offered during the summer.
Introduction to Metrics for Smart Cities (starts March, 23): Organized through IEE, a technological innovation professional organization, the class seeks to both understand what components make up a “Smart City” and how to use “metrics to measure its performance.” Although open to anyone, the class is recommend for students in their last year of urbanism, architecture or information technologies.
Other upcoming classes on edX include:
- Liderando el Desarrollo Sosentible de las Ciudades (Leading Sustainable Development in Cities) starts March 17, 2015
- Future Cities (Starts April, 1)
- Urban Water – Innovations for Environmental Sustainability ( starts May, 5)
Iversity: A European-based site, Iversity features classes from universities across Europe in both English and German. The site offers the option to audit the class for free or pay a fee to receive a certificate. Although only one architecture-related course is set to begin in the next couple of months, keep an eye out for future classes in the second half of the year as past classes have included Contemporary Architecture and Designing Resilient Schools.
Architecture 101 – Part III, From Space to Architecture (begins April 27, 2015): Although part of an ongoing three part introductory class, participation in the first two parts is not required. The class is taught by teachers from the Academia di Belle Arti Abadir and course materials include videos, reading and design assignments.
Canvas: Developed and supported by learning technology company Instructure, the site offers classes from professors around the world. Below is an upcoming design class being offered in March.
Biomimicry: A Sustainable Design Methodology (March 23, 2015 – April 20, 2015): This online class looks at how to effectively apply biological information to design, providing an introduction to the tools and principles of biomimicry. Taught by a professor from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the class will focus on a different biomimicry design concept each week, taking participants outside to explore the concept firsthand and to develop their own biomimetic design.
For classes from Open Online Education, Delft University of Technology OpenCourseWare and MIT OpenCourseWare, make sure you check out our previous article Four Ways to Learn About Architecture for Free.
I am William B. Lauder, a freelance architect based in New York City. Follow me on Twitter for more links to articles about architecture.
