Elective courses
The elective courses aim to examine the field of architectural practice from a sociological perspective and to introduce students to sociological approaches. They are structured around two focal areas: first, the systematic reading and discussion of theoretical texts; second, the empirical investigation of case studies that illuminate social processes and situations associated with architectural projects. A broad array of qualitative social-research methods is employed (including various forms of interviewing, field observation, and visual and text analysis). This approach enables students to gain first-hand experience through engagement with diverse actors and constellations of actors in the societal context of building, and to become acquainted with the perspectives and perceptions of different stakeholders.
The thematic foci of the elective courses are guided by current sociological debates on architecture, planning and construction and are, accordingly, variable.
