Academics

Academic Program

All students are required to follow a full-time academic program while studying overseas (9 credits for graduate students, 12 credits for undergraduate students). Spring 2008 offers an academic program consisting of four courses:

Architecture Design Studio (6 credits, pass/no pass)
The architectural design project will be an urban building in the historic center of Macerata, challenging students to design a new structure in a strong historical context. Examination of precedents and involvement in site analysis will encourage exploration of the physical environment of the city. The studio project will require students to explore design responses to a specific place, considering spatial structure, site issues of climate and topography, and building tectonics. Evaluations will be in the form of desk critiques, studio pin-ups, mid-term and final reviews.

Town Form (4 credits, pass/no pass or graded)
This course uses Macerata as a laboratory to uncover principles of the spatial structure of hill towns. Through discussions, reading and field excursions in Macerata, students will explore a set of concepts common to many hill towns. Students will also work in groups to expand their understanding of these concepts by doing independent spatial analyses of several small towns within an easy bus commute of Macerata. Each student will keep a media sketchbook to record observations of the environment through writing and drawing. The sketchbook is intended to enhance observation skills, critical thinking and creativity and to improve the student’s ability for visual note-taking, free quick-hand sketching and making analytic drawings.

Italian Architectural History (4 credits, pass/no pass or graded)
This course will focus on key architectural works that will be visited during excursions and will meet the Department of Architecture’s requirement for history courses in Group II – Renaissance.

Italian Language and Culture (2 credits, pass/no pass or graded)
This course, taught by a professor from Macerata, will include practical language skills and conversation in order to facilitate a quick transition to life in Macerata and to gain better access to Italian culture. A broad range of cultural activities, such as watching Italian films, theater and sporting events, will augment basic language instruction.

Classes generally meet four days a week with excursions on Fridays. Excursions are an integral and required component of the academic experience in Macerata. Students will have one four-day weekend for more extended travel after the excursion to Rome.

Registration and Credits

Students participating in this program will be registered at the University of Oregon and will receive UO credits for courses taken in Rome.

Academic standards in Macerata are consistent with standards for the Department of Architecture and the University of Oregon. Students are evaluated in the same way as they are for on-campus courses and are expected to perform accordingly.

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