COURSES

Creative Resources

• A 101 - Creative Problem Solving

A series of excellent exercises for enhancing personal

and professional creativity.

Textbook:

Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas,
by James L. Adams

• A 102 - History of Architecture: Western and Eastern

The origins of our architectural heritage and the

relationships between the great architectural cultures

of the world.

Textbook:

A World History of Architecture,
by Marian Moffett, et al

Media

• A 103 - Introduction to Two-Dimensional Composition

Basic exercises for developing skills and an "eye" for

composition.

Textbook:

Architecture: Form, Space, and Order,
by Frank D. K. Ching and Francis D. Ching

• A 104 - Freehand Drawing and Sketching

Anyone can learn to draw, and the author of these

textbooks has proven this for many years.

Textbooks:

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain,
by Betty Edwards

and

New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook,
by Betty Edwards

• A 105 - Introduction to Architectural Drafting

Drafting, whether by hand or by Computer-Aided

Drafting (CAD), requires a basic knowledge of

architectural conventions and standards.

Textbooks:

Architectural Graphics (chapters 1-3),
by Francis D. K. Ching

and

A Manual of Construction Documentation:
An Illustrated Guide to Preparing
Construction Drawings,
by Glen Wiggens

Building Design and Site Planning

• A 106 - Introduction to Site Analysis

Buildings start with the site, and one of the most

common causes of multiple problems in buildings

is inadequate or flawed site analysis.

Textbook:

Design with Nature,
by Ian L. McHarg

• A 107 - Basic Principles of Building Design and
      Planning

Part One

Anyone can learn to plan buildings well;

here are the basics.

Textbook:

The Natural House,
by Frank Lloyd Wright

(This book is out of print but available through used
book dealers or Amazon.com )

 

• A 108 - Basic Principles of Building Design

and Planning

Part Two

Textbook:

Form, Function, and Design,
by Paul Jacques Grillo

Construction and Engineering

• A 109 - Introduction to Building Materials

and Construction

Building materials must be carefully chosen

according to their fundamental characteristics,

values, and vulnerabilities. This course reviews

the essential data architects need to understand

the basic materials and how they're assembled.

Textbook:

Building Construction Illustrated, 3rd edition,
by Francis D. K. Ching and Cassandra Adams

• A 110 - Introduction to Structural Engineering:

How Buildings Stand Up

The calculations for structural engineering can

be tedious, but the fundamental principles are

easily grasped when clearly explained, as they

are in this course. No math is used in this course.

Textbook:

Why Buildings Stand Up:
The Strength of Architecture,
by Mario G. Salvadori

 

• A 111 - Introduction to Environmental

Engineering and Ecological Design

Many building interior environments are so

polluted, they are significant health hazards;

others actually support good health. This course

delineates the differences.

Textbook:

Big and Green:
Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century,
by David Gissen (Editor)

Management and Finance

• A 112 - Introduction to Architectural Management

and Professional Practice

Architects spend most of their time on management,

but they're usually poorly prepared for what's

required. This introduction deals with the basic

components of architectural practice and is an

excellent lead-in to more advanced studies.

Textbook:

The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice,
student edition,
by Joseph A. Demkin

COURSES

Creative Resources

• A 201 - Creative Design Process

Architects are hired for creative problem solving,

but schools don't always prepare students to fill

this role. This course explains the principles and

practices of highly creative design.

Textbook:

Creativity: Beyond the Myth of Genius,
by Robert W. Weisberg

(This book is out of print but available through used book dealers or Amazon.com)

Alternate textbook:

Creative Problem Solving: An Introduction, fourth edition,
by Donald J. Treffinger, S. Isaksen, and K. Brian

• A 202 - History of Architecture:

Renaissance to the Modern Period

A comprehensive and detailed review of the

finest buildings of the past 600 years.

Textbooks:

Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism,
by Rudolf Wittkower

and

The Sources of Modern Architecture and Design,
by Nikolaus Pevsner

Media

• A 203 - Three-Dimensional Composition

and Visualization

Architecture is a 3-D art form. The principles

of composition and proportion are not difficult

to master, and are very satisfying, once learned

and applied.

Textbook:

Drawing and Designing with Confidence:
A Step-by-Step Guide,
by Mike W. Lin

• A 204 - Perspective Drawing

Computers can do perspective drawings

automatically, but it helps designers to

understand the basics of what the computer

is doing and to be able to do it themselves

quickly and competently.

Textbook:

Drawing As a Means to Architecture,
by William Kirby Lockard

(This book is out of print but available through used
book dealers or Amazon.com)

or

Freehand Perspective for Designers,
by William Kirby Lockard

 

• A 205 - Drafting in Design Development and

Construction Documents

The basics of drafting standards and methods

for creating architectural construction working

drawings.

Textbook:

Architectural Working Drawings:
Residential and Commercial Buildings,
by William P. Spence

Building Design and Site Planning

• A 206 - Site Planning and Landscaping

Site planning is a career in itself, but while

architects are responsible for many vital site

planning decisions, many such decisions

are not well informed. This course demonstrates

the best practices.

Textbook:

Site Analysis:
Linking Program and Concept in Land Planning
and Design,
by James A. LaGro

• A 207 - Building Design and Planning,

Intermediate Level

Part One

Many good architects cannot explain how they

go about designing their buildings, and their

methods remain mysterious. This course helps

remove the mystery.

Textbook:

Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses:
The Case for Organic Architecture,
by John Sergeant

• A 208 - Building Design and Planning,

Intermediate Level Part Two

Much contemporary architectural design

theory involves making philosophical and

political statements, rather than showing

how to meet fundamental human needs. This

course deals in depth with the identification

of such needs during the design process.

Includes a building design assignment, as

provided by SFIA.

Textbook:

A Pattern Language:
Towns, Buildings, Construction,
by Christopher Alexander, et al

Construction and Engineering

• A 209 - Building Materials and Construction

A technical examination of the most common

construction materials, their characteristics,

potential problems, and how to use them

most effectively.

Textbook:

The Science and Technology of Building Materials,
by Henry J. Cowan and Peter R. Smith

• A 210 - Introduction to Structural Engineering:

How Buildings Fail

Same intent as course A 110, but on a more

sophisticated and complex level.

Textbook:

Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail,
by Matthys Levy

• A 211 - Environmental Engineering and

Ecological Design: Alternative Materials

Same intent as course A 111, but on a more

elaborate level, and with greater emphasis on

ecological design.

Textbook:

Green Building Materials:
A Guide to Product Selection and Specification,
by Ross Spiegel and Dru Meadows

Management and Finance

• A 212 - Principles and Procedures of

Project Management

Most architects practice project management

all the time and learn their skills on the job.

Hence they often learn from others, who

learned a mixture of good, barely adequate,

and poor methods of practice. This course

is a guide to the best practices.

Textbook:

Managing the Building Design Process,
by Gavin Tunstall

COURSES

Creative Resources

• A 301 - Visionary Creativity

Learn visionary creativity and its sources,

from those who do it without compromise.

Textbook:

Evolutionary Architecture:
Nature as a Basis for Design,
by Eugene Tsui

• A 302 - History of Nature-Based Architecture

Nature-based, organic architecture has always

been part of architectural history and culture.

This course reviews the fundamentals of

designing with nature and the architects

who are the leaders in the field.

Textbook:

New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave,
by David Pearson

 

 Media

• A 303 - Advanced Architectural Media

and Composition

Computers are used to input and display

building designs that are first drawn by hand.

Hand drawing and rendering skills are as

highly prized as ever, and this course

demonstrates the best professional graphic

techniques.

Textbook:

Marker Magic:
The Rendering Problem Solver for Designers,
by Richard M. McGarry

 

• A 304 - Modeling and Model Building

Although much architectural presentation

drawing is now done on computer, many

architects and clients prefer to see realistic,

small-scale physical models, to better visualize

how final building projects will actually look.

This course shows the latest and best

techniques of model building.

Textbook:

Architectural Models: Construction Techniques,
by Wolfgang Knoll and Martin Hechinger

• A 305 - Construction Documents:

Coordinated Drawings and Specifications

Old systems of creating construction documents

are highly disorganized and inefficient. This

course shows the latest and best techniques

for planning, organizing, and creating working

drawings and specifications.

Textbook:

Working Drawing Format Handbook,
by Fred Stitt

Building Design and Site Planning

• A 306 - Urban Ecology, Bioremediation,

and Plantscaping

Cities are like very big buildings with

very big problems to solve. This course

reviews the ecological approach to urban

design.

Textbook:

Sustainable Urban Design:
An Environmental Approach,
by Randall Thomas

• A 307 - Building Design and Planning,

Advanced Level Part One

Poorly trained designers try to design

buildings before they fully understand

the needs of the people they're designing

for -- and they sometimes present solutions

before understanding the problems. This

course reviews the essential points of design

problem seeking, analysis, and solution.

Includes a building design assignment

as provided by SFIA.

Textbook:

Problem Seeking:
An Architectural Programming Primer,
by William Pena and Steven Parshall

• A 308 - Building Design and Planning,

Advanced Level

Part Two

To design a building means to meet the need

of building users, owner, and administrator.

This course shows how to identify and document

all such needs as the prelude to successful

building design. Includes a building design

assignment as provided by SFIA.

Textbook:

Architectural Programming:
Creative Techniques for Design Professionals,
by Robert R. Kumlin

Construction and Engineering

• A 309 - Alternative Materials and Construction

The pallette of standard building materials is

now being vastly enriched with the addition

of materials used for green building. This

course shows how to use the many new

choices.

Textbook:

Alternative Construction:
Contemporary Natural Building Methods,
by Lynne Elizabeth

• A 310 - Alternative Structural Systems

There will be radical changes in building

construction and engineering in the years

to come. Here's how to understand the

thinking behind these changes.

Textbook:

Buckminster Fuller's Universe:
His Life and Work,
by Lloyd Steven Sieden

• A 311 - Environmental and Ecological Design:

Regional Planning

Oddly enough, ecological issues didn't used to be a

part of regional planning education. They are now,

however, and this course reviews the best systems for

landscape and ecological regional analysis.

Textbook:

Ecological Planning:
A Comparative and Historical Synthesis,
by Forster Ndubisi

Management and Finance

• A 312 - Real Estate Development and Finance

"Form follows finance." Architecture is largely shaped

by the requirements of real estate development.

This course explains how development works, what's

most on clients' minds, and why.

Textbook:

Architect as Developer,
by John Portman

(This book is out of print but available through used book dealers or Amazon.com)

or:

Green Development:
Integrating Ecology and Real Estate,
by Rocky Mountain Institute

Plus:

• A 320 - Student-Initiated Independent

Study and Thesis Project

(Required, 6 units.)

A design or research project created by the

student, to study any specialized area of

architecture of personal interest. Can be a

building design, a documented construction

project, or an extensive report on any new

development(s) in any aspect of architectural

design or practice.

Copy the form below, fill in the required information, and E-mail, fax, or mail it, or call the Information Office to enroll (see below).

Date of enrollment:

Please enroll me in the course(s) I've listed below
($350 U.S. per course):

Name:

Street address:

City:

State:

Zip:

E-mail address:

Daytime Land Phone:

Evening Land Phone:

Cell Phone:

Fax number:

__ I am paying by check or money order (payable to SFIA).

__ I am wiring funds (international student); please E-mail
wiring instructions.

__ I am paying by Visa or MasterCard:

Card number:

Expiration date:

Cardholder's full name:

__ New student

__ Current/previous student

Degree Candidate for:

__ Associate of Arts Degree and Technical Certificate in Architecture (36 units)

__ Bachelor of Science in Architecture Degree (72 units)

__ Master of Architecture Degree (114 units)

__ I'm not a degree candidate at this time.

Note: Students can change candidacy at any time.

See "Eco Design Distance Learning" at www.sfia.net for unit requirements for eco design degree programs.