COURSE IN DEPTH
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Built Environment Technology 1
20 credits
This module introduces, for all of the built environment professions, a range of concepts relating to the technology of construction. It provides you with an understanding of modern and sustainable methods of construction. We use the example of low rise residential construction as it is relatively straightforward and allows us to introduce and explore these issues appropriately.
Integrated Digital Design: Residential
20 credits
Digital construction is an integral component of contemporary design, development and maintenance of modern residential development. Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is at the forefront of the progressive movement towards total digitalisation of the built environment.
Against this backdrop, this module aims to provide a foundation for you to successfully execute the BIM process, facilitate its adoption and achieve interdisciplinary integration on a single project that simulates a residential project.
Professional Environmental and Materials Science
20 credits
Environmental and materials science is an important area of study for all disciplines involved with the design, planning, developing and management of the built environment. This module encourages you to consider how the properties, structures and performance of materials influence why buildings and structures function. You will be encouraged to consider how these properties impact construction from a design and practical use perspective. This module will therefore enable you to develop innovative solutions for more robust, resilient, safe and sustainable buildings and structures. It also gives you the opportunity to produce a professional cv and related documents which you will share with industry on your assessment day.
Introduction to the Built Environment
20 credits
This module explores how key ‘actors’, including professional bodies, landowners, developers, investors, politicians, members of the public, and the state, etc. influence the development of the built and natural environment.
Law
20 credits
This module is delivered to all of the undergraduate programmes in the built environment disciplines and provides you with the basic legal concepts and principles you will need throughout your professional career.
It introduces you to the structure and processes of the English legal system. This is the essential foundation to the legal skills necessary for the provision of sound advice to your clients/colleagues later in your professional career; and this underpins all of the built environment professions. The module also helps all the undergraduate built environment students to understand the importance of and provides an overview of the duties of all persons involved in construction projects with regard to health, safety and wellbeing.
Design and Surveying Skills
20 credits
This module will support the Architectural Technology and Building Surveying courses and aims to:
- Provide you with a broad based study of Architectural Technology together with the personal qualities of observation, analysis, judgement and communication appropriate for the profession.
- Provide you with a clear understanding of how their decisions regarding technology, materials and design impact on the environment.
- Provide you with the ability to communicate effectively using appropriate technical language and drawings associated with the practice of Building Surveying.
- Provide you with an understanding of the whole life structure and fabric of the built environment.
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Built Environment Technology 2
20 credits
This module builds on your foundation of knowledge gained around residential technology in the Built Environment Technology 1 module at Level 4 (or any other accepted prior learning) and develops your understanding of commercial construction techniques and methods, it will also provide you with an understanding of modern and sustainable methods of commercial construction. Relevant Building Regulation, Health Safety and Welfare legislation will also be reviewed concurrently.
In particular, you will be introduced to everyday materials, construction methods and building services. You will gain an insight into the properties of materials and the basic scientific principles that apply to them.
Integrated Digital Design: Commercial
20 credits
The benefits of automation and digitalisation have steered government reforms globally towards embedding digitalization throughout architecture, engineering, construction and operations sectors. For example, the UK government’s strategy ‘Digital Built Britain 2025’ is an ambitious plan to digitise these sectors. This strategic vision has similarly been enacted via the BIM Level 2 mandate to extend digitized design, construction and asset handover for commercial developments.
BIM and Facilities Management
20 credits
This module will develop your intellectual appreciation of the theory and practice of Facilities Management and Building Information Modelling (BIM) and how these subjects contribute to the successful design, specification and management of existing buildings.
You will develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving to make well informed decisions at both design and operational stages within the commercial built environment.
The module seeks to deliver a range of knowledge relating to the day-to-day operational issues of management of buildings.
Design Practice
20 credits
This module develops your ability to assess the needs of clients. It provides a broad based study of Architectural Technology (AT) and Building Surveying (BS); combining the personal qualities of observation, analysis, judgement and their ability to communicate effectively using appropriate technical language and drawings associated with professional practice.
You will develop an understanding of how decisions regarding technology, materials and design impact on the environment and the whole life cycle of a building. This will include an examination of design solutions for new build projects and for the alteration, adaptation, and extension of an existing building, and the project procurement process (administration of contracts, cost and quality control).
Building Pathology
20 credits
The module covers the basic requirements for property professionals engaged with the existing built environment to appreciate varying needs to clients in relation to property, to identify methods of construction, appraise the condition of a building, and make recommendations to achieve client’s aims. The module is designed to give you the opportunity for practical application of your learning to a relevant case study.
Advanced Design and Surveying Skills
20 credits
This module supports the Architectural Technologists’ and Building Surveyors’ need for specialisms and will see you focus on specialist professional development and allow you to build on the Level 4 Design and Surveying Skills module (or other approved study) to extend both your specialist CAD skills of computer aided drawing and contextualisation, and to develop further your building design and presentation skills.
The module introduces advanced applications to develop and explore sustainability, urban streetscapes and building forms. It will also allow you to engage with current image creation/transformation software to create advanced display material. You will be provided an opportunity to implement professional skills appropriate to design and surveying, particularly sustainable design and then implement design decisions and focus on professional display using 2D and 3D formats.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Commercial Building Pathology and Surveying
20 credits
The module is designed to enhance your existing skills in the core technical competencies of building surveying: building pathology, inspection, & legal and regulatory compliance as applied to commercial and industrial buildings.
The identification, analysis and formulation of solutions are key to the pathological aspects of the module whilst identification and employment of the most appropriate survey methods as well as analysis of the legal implication in the condition and use of the building for the property owner allow for a coherent approach to providing clients with professional advice.
Professionalism and Citizenship
40 credits
This module will focus on extending and providing appropriate evidence of your professional skills and development. Within an applied socially responsive framework, you will examine a range of issues related to the client, the site, planning, financial/development appraisal, design technology, legal and regulatory, health and safety etc. These will be covered in conjunction with other professional courses or your own discipline as appropriate, given that all built environment professions and recent reports such as the Farrell Review place increasing stress on interdisciplinary understanding and working.
Urban Design Practice in Context
20 credits
This is a design-led module, allowing you to implement and practice advanced design skills in response to a small-scale design project. This module is underpinned by a series of lectures relating to the history and theory of urban and architectural form and design; and time is also devoted to studio-based and lab work that helps develop and enhance your design enquiry and creative drawing / model-making skills. The module also encourages you to explore the wider role of, and connections between, design theory & practice, governance, planning and how innovative design strategies might be used to resolve complex issues associated with contemporary urban challenges.
Individual Honours Project
40 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
At this level, you will be expected to work independently but you will receive additional one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will be familiar with your chosen topic area. As you progress on the module, extra support will be available and this may take the form of group seminars, workshops and online materials that will help to develop your project.
Building Surveying Professional Skills
20 credits
This module is designed to prepare students for employment and to commence the RICS Assessment of professional competence (APC) professional training programme. This module will draw together aspects of professional practice, legal and regulatory compliance, design, specification and costing.
