Teaching

It’s been four weeks since I started my internship, today students have their first test. A month ago I was excited as today, I wanted to be a University professor and I still want to. Is something about knowing things and be able to communicate it to students, to guide them through a path they have chosen without detaching them from their final goal.  

Claudia 

New Curriculum

The School of Architecture of the University of Puerto Rico is changing their history curriculum. This because they have a new dean, and the NAAB accreditation board suggested some changes. I don’t know the story well, since I did not graduate from this school, but the rumor was it that history classes were taught in obsolete ways. Students were starting their first history classes late in their careers and they graduated not knowing much about modern, post- modern or contemporary architecture. As for that they now have six different courses beginning in the first semester, going from general architectural history, Ancient to Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque etc., up to Frank Gehry.

On the other hand, the NAAB Accreditation board suggested that non-western approaches were included in classes or/and specific curses were included in the curriculum.

Here I come, as my interest since the beginning of my MFA in SCAD had been non-western topics and more specifically Islamic architecture; this is a great opportunity for my formation, and also for their new curriculum. Not only because I am soon to become an Architectural History scholar, but because my personal interests fit within their new curriculum.

Claudia

Architectural History for Architect Students

As I mentioned in the previous blog I am an intern in the School of Architecture of the University of Puerto Rico. Different to how SCAD departments are organized, in Universities in Puerto Rico do a formal Architectural History Department doesn’t exist, hence, architectural history classes are taught by art history professors and architects without any official [architectural history] preparation. If I remember there are only few professors -two to be exact – within the three architecture schools in the Island that have a degree in architectural history.

Claudia

How I Got the Internship

Early in the summer I started thinking about doing a teaching internship, this one because I really want to be a professor when I finish my MFA in SCAD. Since I am back in Puerto Rico where I was born and studied my bachelor’s degree in architecture I decided to call my former school to see if I could do my teaching internship there [maybe they were to be excited to see one of their alumni would soon to be a professor], but to my surprise they never give me a call back and I waited too long for them to answer the second call.

Some weeks passed by and one day, on my way to do a research in the library of the University of the state (University of Puerto Rico) it crossed my mind why not, just stop by the architecture school before going to the library and ask to talk to the dean [wish I did not know, off course], so I did it. On my way in to the department office I found a former history professor from my old school and [to tell a long story short] ask him to introduce me to the dean because I wanted to talk him into a deal. I was introduced, and soon I ask him if he could let me do a teaching internship for my Architectural History degree. I told him that they didn’t have to pay me now, but if they like what I do during the internship I will love to lead a history class in the department. He said ok, "just talk to Prof. Jorge Lizardi and ask him if he wanted to have an intern."

I started 3 weeks ago, and so far it’s been interesting. Specially because they started reviewing their history curriculum last semester and they are open to suggestion and changes, and I am going to have the opportunity to be a part of that.

Claudia