Learning to Look at Western Architecture



Overview

Architecture shapes how we experience the world, often without us even realising it. From grand cathedrals to everyday buildings, the styles and structures around us reflect centuries of artistic, cultural and practical decisions. 

This course offers an accessible introduction to the major architectural styles of the Western world. You’ll learn how to ‘read’ buildings more critically, recognising key features, understanding how and why they were built, and exploring the ideas that influenced their design. 

Far from being created in isolation, architecture is part of an ongoing conversation with the past. You’ll see how architects have drawn on, and reinterpreted, earlier styles to shape the built environment we live in today. By the end of the course, you’ll have a stronger sense of how buildings communicate meaning, and a new lens through which to view the spaces that surround us. 

This course has no live sessions. You will study structured materials at your own pace each week. Find out more about how our short online courses are taught.

Programme details

The course is broken down into 10 units over 10 weeks, each requiring approximately 10 hours of study time. The following topics are covered:

1. Classical Architecture, Principles and Foundations

2. Gothic Architecture: styles and interpretations

3. Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque

4. Case study (1): the English Baroque

5. The classical revival

6. Case Study (2): English Palladianism

7. Nineteenth-century eclecticism

8. The Victorian city

9. The modern movement

10. Today and tomorrow: the contemporary built environment

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Textbooks

To participate in this course you will need to have regular access to the Internet and you will need access to the following textbook:

Watkin, David. A History of Western Architecture. Seventh edition. London: Laurence King Publishing, 2023.

Please ensure you are able to access copies of any required textbooks prior to enrolling on a course but please keep in mind that courses with insufficient students enrolled will be cancelled. The Department accepts no responsibility for books bought in anticipation of a course running.

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework. All those enrolled on an online courses are registered for credit and will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

See more information on CATS points

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £415.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr David Morgan

David Morgan has taught art and architectural history for the Department since 2004. He has also taught courses for Birkbeck College, University of London, and for the WEA. His recent publications have centred upon the history of British visual satire.

Course aims

This course aims to introduce students to the broad stylistic history of western architecture by guiding them through selected contemporary and historical readings and helping them to recognise the salient features of the western architectural tradition, as manifested within the contemporary built environment.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will be able to understand:

  • the overall chronological and stylistic progressions within the western architectural tradition;
  • the historical origins of the styles and forms of contemporary architecture;
  • that the architecture of any period results from a complex dialogue between the needs of the present and the styles and forms of the past.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

 

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses.

Level and demands

FHEQ level 4, 10 weeks, approx 10 hours per week, therefore a total of about 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information visit our regarding English language requirements webpage. 

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate you must to be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support