A majority of human beings spend virtually all of their lives within the built environment, yet few people develop the knowledge to analyze architecture thoughtfully and confidently. The Certificate in Architecture and Society will provide Architecture majors and students in other disciplines an opportunity to explore the technological and formal innovations of architecture and infrastructure within their socio-political and cultural contexts. They will learn about buildings’ technical systems, including their material, structural, and climatic performance. Students will also learn about the buildings’ formal order, siting, use, funding/patronage, relation to nature or the city, decoration, and multiple interpretive contexts (philosophical, political, religious, civic, literary, etc.)

The Certificate In Architecture + Society is intended to deep Architecture majors’ knowledge of the historical traditions, theoretical formulations, and critical assessments of architecture by allowing them to cluster several of their elective courses in an intellectually coherent, focused way. For non-majors, it offers an opportunity to gain expertise and build confidence in the analysis of architecture by learning how to articulate, contextualize, and critique architectural concepts of the past and present. Skills in description, analysis, and interpretation, not only offer pleasure in the understanding and experience of many kinds of architecture, but also support informed, engaged citizen decision-making about the built environment. Students learn to think critically about the aspirations, constraints, tools, and choices involved in all architectural design, past and present.

Two REQUIRED Courses

Architecture Majors: 

Non-Architecture Majors:

Two Elective Courses from the list below - required for ALL students:

Buildings are the world’s largest consumer of energy and a major contributor to greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions and waste streams. The Certificate in Sustainable Architecture provides Architecture majors the opportunity to specialize in design and technical innovations that will increase building energy performance, reduce emissions, use eco-friendly materials, and thereby increase the durable societal value of the built environment. The design and retrofit of energy efficient buildings, better material choices, and improved occupant comfort are the primary skills acquired at the intermediate level through this certificate. Students will understand the foundations of sustainability and learn the skills to apply sustainability ratings, as well as understand the operational role of building systems and the social value of building form and space. Students will also acquire the tools to simulate, measure, and increase sustainability at the building and the urban scale.

The Certificate in Sustainable Architecture is currently available to Architecture majors only.

Three REQUIRED Courses:

One Elective Course from the list below:

* Courses with prerequisites

The Certificate in Computational Design prepares students to develop a skill set in computeraided design and fabrication, built upon an integrated application of design research, architectural geometry, digital theory, and digital design technologies in contemporary architectural practice and research. In addition to addressing computational proficiency, which has become important to the practice of architecture, the certificate also focuses on intellectual concepts that are relevant to the discourse of architectural practice.

The prerequisite courses in Media and Modeling introduce intermediate and advanced approaches to two and three dimensional modeling and representation in architecture, using both manual and digital media and techniques. Students pursing the Certificate in Computational Design take courses in advanced topics of computational design theories and methods.

The Certificate in Sustainable Architecture is currently available to Architecture majors only.

Two REQUIRED Courses:

Four Elective Courses from the list below:

Juniors and seniors from any Georgia Tech bachelor's program are eligible for the interdisciplinary, professional Construction Management certificate. 

Students in this program are permitted to participate in Building Construction’s annual Career Fair and related career and networking events, and increases your potential for internships in building construction-related positions. Students in this program may also apply to the Master of Science in Building Construction and Facility Management degree in the School of Building Construction without a GRE.

The 12 credit-hour certificate curriculum includes two required courses -- Integrated Design Construction & Development and Construction Management Project -- and two elective courses from an approved list.

Two REQUIRED Courses:

Four Elective Courses from the list below: