Arch 596: Introduction to Thesis
Prof. Schiler
School of Architecture
Fall 2001
Scientific and technological progress have accelerated rapidly in the past
100 years. To a large degree this is because of a certain shift in world
view. It is not that Western civilization was composed of an unusual level
of intelligence, but rather that a certain style of logical thinking was
developed. This approach may have inherent weaknesses, but it has proven
useful to the advancement of human knowledge as is related to "hard
sciences", and has even been useful in clarifying thoughts in other
areas of endeavor.
Renee Descartes provided a useful codification of the process which forms
the basis of most current research, and which allows us to attack a specifically
defined problem or issue with a certain intellectual rigor. This class
will introduce the student to the thesis process, and other research tools,
and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis as a way of increasing
knowledge in different kinds of applications. Indeed, within the fields
of Architecture and Building Science, we are often more interested in overlapping
areas, or their interaction, which makes the application of the thesis process
particularly interesting.
USC allows individualized thesis topics. This means that the student is
not confined to specific coursework after the core courses, and may look
for areas of overlap and special interest to the student. This gives the
student great freedom. It is also dangerous, in that the student can flounder.
For that reason, it is important that the student understand the thesis
process completely; the student will use it to become responsible for their
own educational goals, and whether or not those goals are achieved. Make
no mistake, this is not easier for the student nor the instructor. It requires
a great deal of individualized work. But it can be extremely rewarding.
It is the goal of the USC MBS program to educate students, and in some small
way add the knowledge base in the Building Science areas. It is the goal
of this course to introduce students (in the MBS program or not) to the
methods used in that search for knowledge.
The course will be divided into four segments:
I. Thesis process
II. Research tools
II. Thesis topics
III. Work on individual thesis development
COURSE OUTLINE
| Date | Week | Lecture Topic | Action |
| 8/29 | l. | thesis process | |
| 9/5 | 2. | sample thesis topics, research methods | prepare notes on selected paper for 10/1 |
| 9/12 | 3. | literature search tools (hardcopy) | |
| 9/19 | 4. | literature search tools (web, net) | |
| 9/26 | 5. | discussion of paper summaries | DUE: bibliographic notes |
| 10/3 | 6. | guest lecture (Pierre) | |
| 10/10 | 7. | guest lecture (library) | |
| 10/17 | 8. | guest lecture (Doug, Karen, Sandeep) | |
| 10/20 | 9. | web/library browsing results submittal of three thesis topics by next class | |
| 10/27 | 10. | class discussion of proposed topics | DUE: three thesis topics |
| 11/3 | 11. | web/library browsing results submittal of thesis proposal by next class | |
| 11/10 | 12. | discussion of thesis proposals | DUE: thesis proposal |
| 11/17 | 13. | sources and scheduling | submittal of thesis schedules by next class |
| 11/24 | 13. | discussion of sources and summer work DUE: thesis schedule | |
| 12/01 | 14. | Finals Week: |