Political Economy of Design (Masters)

Subject ABPL90083 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 1 x 2 hour lecture per week, 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Entry into the Melbourne School of Design or approval from the subject coordinator.
Corequisites: None specified
Recommended Background Knowledge: None specified
Non Allowed Subjects: 702446 (ABPL40014) - Political Economy of Design
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Environments and Design Student Centre
Ground Floor, Baldwin Spencer (building 113)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Website: http://www.msd.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: This subject seeks to position and discuss architecture in relation to the world of production, economic interests and community benefits, at a local and global scale. The discussion has a strong comparative bent, and is coloured by the notion of innovation - what it means from a social, technical and cultural point of view, and how it enters and affects different building markets. Attention is directed at understanding the distinction between innovation on one side and invention and technological change on the other. In this context, architecture's connection with planning and building disciplines is examined and criticised in the attempt to formulate a strategic framework for its use as an environmental policy instrument. The research component seeks to apply the elements of this framework to specific situations chosen by the students in collaboration with the subject coordinator and in relation to their individual curriculum.
Objectives: None specified
Assessment:
  • Class participation (10%);
  • Gathering of research-specific data (30%);
  • Essay to the equivalent of not more than 3500 words (60%).
Prescribed Texts: None specified
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Generic skills obtained:

  • Ability to peruse large project archives;
  • Ability to undertake ideal-type analysis;
  • Understanding of the type of industrial data required in socio-technical studies;
  • Ability to identify and use building industry's databases;
  • Ability to derive theoretical positions from empirical work;
  • Ability to prepare and conduct technical interviews with industry representatives;
  • Ability to combine data from primary and secondary sources for the development of a scholarly argument;
  • Ability to translate these data into a cohesive piece of original research.
Links to further information: http://www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/coursework/
Related Course(s): Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Master of Design (Urban Design)
Master of Urban Design
Master of Urban Planning
Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Design

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