College of Art and Architecture

Asia - China Program

With a rich history and cultural heritage driven by diverse philosophies and life patterns, and massive building booms and rapid urban development shaped by recent economic growth, Asia provides unparalleled context to study people and places that are entirely different from those in North America.

The Asia /China Program strives to prepare our students to become globally competent and culturally sensitive with an expanded understanding of the multifaceted interconnectedness of today’s architecture and urban design. Through trips to cities in Singapore, Malaysia and/or China, this program offers students an intercultural learning experience by immersing them into the largest and fastest urban transformation in human history and also the most vibrant architectural market today.

The Asia /China Program includes a vertical studio and two seminars in urbanism and architecture (totally 10 credits), which serve as a platform to investigate emerging critical issues influencing our urban forms, such as walkability, streetscape, public spaces, housing, and infrastructures. Through workshops, lectures, fieldworks, discussions, and visits, the Asia /China Program also works in close partnerships with local universities, organizations, and professional practitioners in those regions to allow our students to develop a global perspective towards today’s architectural design and professional practices.

This program has a distinct focus on urban spaces, challenging students to apply theories and principles of sustainable and regenerative development to larger-scale built environment and to understand how urban spaces and infrastructures can improve our urban life and achieve an urban renaissance.