PD Primer - PennDesign - University of Pennsylvania

survival guide
Phd ARChitECtURE
on thE
BooKS
If you are reading this you either: a) want to teach architecture,
b) want to know something about those of
us who do, or c) have too much time on your hands.
First, for those of you who are curious about those
of us in the PhD program in architecture: We come
from a wide range of backgrounds and locations and
the majority of us have studio-based architectural
training and/or professional experience within the
practice of architecture.
You may meet some of us through your classes or as
teaching assistants, but we are all approachable and
you should ask us when you have questions about
your seminars or if you want a desk crit from someone
outside your studio. Remember that we are here
because we want to help students develop as designers
through our intended career of teaching and scholarship.
We would welcome the chance to be engaged
in what you are learning. There is also a good chance
that we have worked through any issues you are currently
facing and we hope that you will see the PhD
students as one of the resources that Penn offers
in your education.
For those of you who are joining the PhD program,
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Phd ARChitECtURE
welcome. If you are like many of us in the program,
this is your first serious shift from design studios and
professional practice to full-time scholarship and
research. Most people find that this shift in kind of
work also requires a shift in working schedules and
tolerance for distraction. If you become depressed
when you realize that you have become a morning
person, you won’t be alone. There are carrels in the
library, and some people can work there—others
use them as book storage. Some people work in the
PhD lounge or the grad center, which has free coffee–though
you should leave a donation sometimes
because we all know nothing is really free.
When you are looking for an apartment, it is a good
idea to find a place that will fit your working style
and schedule. You should also think about carrying
100 books or more back and forth between your
apartment and the library each semester when deciding
where to live.
The PhD program and the department in general are
quite flexible, and that is something to take advantage
of. In addition to the classes that are of interest within
the School of Design, there are several other departments
such as philosophy and comparative literature
which offer interesting and valuable seminars. There
is also the option of using independent studies to fulfill
class requirements while undertaking work which
may feed more directly into your dissertation than is
available through an existing course.
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