Course and Studio Scheduling Guidelines

All GSD courses and studios must start and end at officially scheduled times.

Non-studio course periods are 75 minutes, separated by a 15-minute transition period. Courses must meet for two course periods, totaling 150 minutes of instructional time.

GSD Course Periods:

  • 9-10:15
  • 10:30-11:45
  • 12-1:15
  • 1:30-2:45
  • 3-4:15
  • 4:30-5:45

Lectures are typically held as two course periods scheduled on separate days. Required lectures should ideally not meet on consecutive days. Consecutive course periods may be approved for lectures that incorporate more interaction and discussion.

Discussion-and Project-based Seminars may be scheduled as separate course periods or as two consecutive course periods with a break during class.

Core Studio schedules differ by department and term. Required course and core studio schedules are finalized in consultation with Chairs, Program Directors, associated faculty, and academic administration.

Option Studios are scheduled for two set weekdays (with the exception of Monday) from 2-6 pm. Additional scheduling guidelines are provided for option studios.

MDes Open Projects are scheduled for two set weekdays from 2-6 pm.

 

Additional Information regarding scheduling:

  • Exceptions to the above must be approved by the appropriate Chair or Advanced Studies Program Director.
  • The order of priority for scheduling is Option Studios and MDes Open Projects, core studios and required courses, courses meeting distribution requirements, then general electives.
  • Effort is made to accommodate all requests while keeping in mind space limitations and potential course conflicts for the various degree programs. The draft course schedule goes through multiple rounds of review, including by faculty, Department Chairs, Program Directors, MDes Domain Heads, as well as Student Forum representatives. Course schedules are subject to change during this review period. Rooms may be reassigned through the start of the semester.
  • Faculty must vacate classrooms promptly to allow students to arrive at their next class and to allow the next course in a classroom to begin on time. The 15-minute transition period may be used for informal conversation outside of the classroom but is not part of the official course schedule. Consecutive period courses should allow time for a break during the course.
  • Students are not required to participate in class activities outside of officially scheduled course hours. Exceptions may be approved for required courses that have mandatory discussion sections or interactive workshops. These components may be incorporated into the official course period or be in addition to set instructional time. Any exceptions to the standard course schedule must be pre-approved by the Department Chair and clearly communicated in the course descriptions and syllabi.
  • Times for discussion sections and workshops are ideally identified prior to the start of the enrollment period. However, as times are often dependent upon TF and room availability, they may be scheduled after the start of the term. The process and timeline for scheduling the required discussion sessions or workshops must be communicated in the course syllabus.
  • Schedule details for courses and studios should be included in the syllabus, which must be posted to the course Canvas site two weeks prior to the start of the enrollment period. This schedule should not change after the start of the term. Any modification to the schedule must be approved by the department chair and rescheduling must be coordinated with enrolled students.
  • Contact [email protected] with questions.


Option Studio Scheduling:
An option studio instructor is responsible for eight instruction hours a week for the length of the semester. Option studios are scheduled for two set weekdays from 2-6pm, except for Mondays. Local instructors should meet in person two days a week, typically on non-consecutive days. Instructors from out of town may offer their studio on consecutive days to account for travel and, with approval from the Department Chair, may arrange for an irregular in-person instructional schedule.

Option Studio instructors who do not teach in person every week are expected to teach in person at least half of the semester plus the final review. Those who utilize this schedule type should determine how they plan to make up in-person instructional hours on the weeks they are not in residence. The two most typical ways of doing this are as follows (could be a combination of the two):
1. When in residence, faculty may meet with students individually, at mutually agreeable times, outside of set studio hours.
2. Instruction may take place via ZOOM on remote weeks during official studio hours.

Students are not allowed to miss other classes for studio meetings. All group activities, such as group pin-ups, discussions, etc., must take place during the officially scheduled studio time. Details regarding the studio schedule—dates when the instructor will be in residence, studio site visits, how an instructor will teach the weeks they are not in residence, etc.—must be approved by the Department Chair and communicated to students prior to the start of the semester. Details should be included in the studio syllabus, which must be posted to the course canvas site two weeks prior to the start of the term. This schedule should not change after the start of the term.