A wide-ranging introduction to architecture and urban design around the world from the earliest human constructions to the mid-20th century. Students will encounter a variety of buildings and cities, and be introduced to a range of different ways of understanding and studying them. Writing assignments involve analysis of local architecture and planning. By the end of the course students will have acquired a competent knowledge of the diverse sites, structures, and issues, and an enriched awareness of what can be at stake in an architectural environment, what kinds of issues discussions of architecture may lead to, and how and why these kinds of discussions have varied in different times, places, and cultures.

No Prerequisites

5

Units

Optional

Grading

1, 2, 3

Passtime

None

Level Limit

Letters and science

College
WITTMAN R K
Richard Wittman
3.5
64 reviews
AI predicted, based on past grading trends of the course and instructor, class info, and 127 other factors

Async online instruction

Spring 2026 . Wittman R K
ON ASYNC
See All
65
3.5
ARTHIW6F . Wittman R K 4 Months Ago

DO NOT take this course for an easy online GE. Two Midterms + Final IN PERSON. Exam material is WAY too difficult for a non-architecture major. Professor Wittman is very hard to reach outside of class, and has very niche stuff from online lectures on his exams. Too much studying is required for a GE. Had to change to P/NP.

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ARTHI6F . Wittman R K 5 Months Ago

Very informed about the subject matter, seems to genuinely care about what he teaches

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ARTH6F . Wittman R K 1 Year, 8 Months Ago

Professor Wittman is nice and helpful if you can reach him (which is not easy). His lectures were often unorganized & unclear. His tests are tough, and he expects you to know everything he says in class. There was no clear grading or layout to the class, & there were many administrative errors during the semester that were crucial for your grade.

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ARTH6F . Wittman R K 1 Year, 9 Months Ago

Must go to lectures, lots of readings outside of class but not needed at all. Only a couple papers and midterms for the grade. The midterms are super memorization heavy. Lectures can be boring some days or really interesting on others, depends what he is teaching that day.

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ARTHI6F . Wittman R K 1 Year, 9 Months Ago

Only graded by two papers and midterm+final so no real homework. There are short readings outside of class but I never did a single one. The material is not easy and there is a lot of memorization, but it was really easy for me to pay attention since he's such a passionate and interesting guy. Will go out of my way to take a class with him again.

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ARTHI6F . Wittman R K 1 Year, 10 Months Ago

It was definitely one of the more difficult prereqs I've taken, but if you are prepared for lots of reading, heavy (and quick-worded) lectures, studying, and you really enjoy learning about architecture worldwide, I would recommend this course! Despite the exams being on the harder side of the scale, I learned quite a lot and had an awesome TA.

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See all 65 reviews
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