Preparation of MAUD/MLAUD Design Thesis

The Urban Design Thesis Prep research seminar is intended for Urban Design candidates who have elected to develop a thesis in their final year of study. The course defines the parameters of an Urban Design Thesis while assisting students in the pursuit of their individual projects. Course meetings combine input from faculty, group discussions, and individual progress updates. The course will include a midterm and final review of students’ proposals, to be attended by faculty and critics.

Urban Design Theses are developed through a variety of methodologies, media, and processes. Methodologies utilized include those associated with the sciences and humanities but specifically rely on the process and products of knowledge through design. The theses are delivered in two final forms: a presentation and an archived document. A variety of media may be utilized to realize both forms. There are several frameworks in which a thesis is developed that oscillate between the planning and execution of research.

An Urban Design Thesis is a proposition that is relevant to its context and situated within the discipline. Urban Design Theses’ propositions take a variety of forms, including but not limited to spatial interventions, system alternations, technological innovations, and disciplinary critiques. The proposition is pursued through an analytical process that includes robust evidence and fills a gap in existing knowledge.