• Description

  The Architecture: History, Theory and Practice study abroad program in Berlin, Germany is especially suited for students majoring in architecture, design, engineering, urban planning and/or landscape studies with interests in Germany and studio-based project work that requires creativity, problem solving, teamwork and close attention to detail.

  Academic Program
  Through the collaboration with Universitat der Kunste Berlin, CIEE students are provided the opportunity to rigorously study German architectural history and general architectural theory while improving their practical design skills through hands-on project assignments undertaken in the studio portion of their academic instruction. Frequent site visits and excursions in the city of Berlin are used as a rich source for immediate architectural examples and impactful teaching moments.

  The CIEE Architecture Studio joins ten other current architecture studios at the UdK each led by a full professor. The CIEE Studio is specifically aimed at meeting the needs of CIEE students studying architecture in Berlin and is led by Professor Gengnagel and Assistant Professor Ralf Wilkening.

  Academic Culture
  Teaching and learning on the CIEE Architecture program is project-centered and focused on current architectural design challenges. Like other studios at UdK, the CIEE Studio addresses real-world design challenges. The work of the studio is sometimes entered into design contests. Lectures, discussion, site visits, architectural case studies, workshops, group and individual studio projects, and student presentations with constructive peer- and instructor-critique and other pedagogical approaches are employed to foster student learning. The German Architectural History and Theory course and Architecture Studio course do not exceed 24 students while German language classes do not exceed 12 students.

• Highlights

  * Learn key architectural concepts and study the urban development history of Berlin
  * Sharpen your applied skills through work on assignments in the CIEE Architecture Studio
  * Enhance your knowledge of the German architectural tradition
  * Learn important fundamental skills that apply the principals of design thinking and practical problem solving.

Culture
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
Throughout the semester frequent site visits to important Berlin locations inform the teaching and learning. Woven through the curriculum are important buildings and sites that students are asked to study and incorporate into their understanding of German architectural history, theory, and practical considerations when working on classroom and studio assignments. Drawing and sketching is an important part of site visits as a way of visually understanding spaces and structures and powerfully linking the eye, hand, and mind in the learning process.

Overnight Excursions
Two, longer, over night excursions expose students to other Berlin-Brandenburg influences and styles. A trip to other German cities such as Hamburg, Dresden, and Munich illuminate the diversity of regional styles and histories. A second trip to an architecturally significant European city may also be taken.