Political Economy of Design (Masters)

Subject ABPL90083 (2013)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2013.

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

This subject is not offered in 2013.

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
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects:

702446 (ABPL40014) Political Economy of Design

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://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
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Melbourne School of Design multidisciplinary elective subjects (without prerequisites)

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