Courses

The PABD curriculum is comprised of two types of courses: design projects and support courses. The design projects are modeled after realistic building challenges and are comprehensive in scope, working towards maximum proficiency at each of the four levels. The accompanying support courses help develop the skills and knowledge needed to complete the respective design project.

Support Courses
A variety of technical knowledge- and skills-based subjects are covered in the support courses. In order to achieve the learning outcomes for each course, numerous practice exercises are included within each lesson module. Solutions to the assignments can be found in the videos, but students may also choose to meet online with their instructor for additional tutorials and assistance. (If there is more than one instructor teaching a particular course, students may opt to attend any of the online tutorial sessions offered—not just the ones scheduled by their instructor.) In contrast to the typical 16-week semester, PABD structures its courses to be more streamlined and efficient. Depending on a student’s individual capability, support courses need not fill an entire four-month term—some may take only a few weeks to complete.

Design Project
Each of the four design projects focuses on a specific building typology: small residential, small commercial, large residential, and large commercial. Each level also has a different theme: creative, technical, humanistic, and professional. Students are expected to apply the skills and knowledge acquired through the support courses to design all aspects of the project. Because each project dives deep into the design process, students will achieve a high degree of proficiency at each level of the curriculum.

Instead of standard grading, the deliverables from the completed design project will be assessed by a panel of design professionals and instructors for competency and readiness to progress to the next level. In this way, students can be assured that their capabilities are commensurate with the expectations and demands of the design industry

Exam Preparation Workshops
In addition to the standard course curriculum, intensive 1-day workshops are offered for the NCIDQ, ARE, and LEED GA exams by request. These are typically scheduled for the weekend and can be held in-person at the office or workplace. Topics covered in the workshops include: how to qualify and register for an exam, how the exams are structured and graded, content and study materials for the exams, practice exercises, exam strategies, and what to do on the day of the exam. (See Enrollment page for more details.)

Courses (Interior Design):

FOUNDATION                           

LEVEL I                                       

LEVEL II                                       

LEVEL III                                     

LEVEL IV                                     

CAPSTONE                                  

ELECTIVES                                

Courses [Architecture]:              

Foundation
F-010      Design Methods
F-020     Visual Communication
F-030     Drawing Literacy

Level I
L-100      Alpha Design Project (small residential)
L-110       SR Programming/Space Planning
L-120a    Site Planning & Design
L-130a    Structure I
L-140      AutoCAD I
L-150      Sketchup I

Level II
L-200     Beta Design Project (small commercial)
L-210      SC Programming/Space Planning
L-220a   Building Materials
L-230a   Structure II
L-240     AutoCAD II
L-260     Presentation I: Visual
L-270     Building Systems I
L-280     Sustainability I

Level III
L-300     Gamma Design Project (large residential)
L-310      LR Programming/Space Planning
L-320a   Building Systems Integration II
L-330a   Environmental Systems Performance
L-340     Revit I
L-360     Presentation II: Narrative
L-380     Design History & Futures
L-390     Design Documentation I

Level IV
L-400    Delta Design Project (large commercial)
L-410     LC Programming/Space Planning
L-420    Project Management I
L-490    Construction Documentation II

Capstone
C-010    Portfolio Development
C-020   Professional Preparation & Credentialing
C-030   Project Management II

Courses

The PABD curriculum is comprised of two types of courses: design projects and support courses. The design projects are modeled after realistic building challenges and are comprehensive in scope, working towards maximum proficiency at each of the four levels. The accompanying support courses help develop the skills and knowledge needed to complete the respective design project.

Support Courses
A variety of technical knowledge- and skills-based subjects are covered in the support courses. In order to achieve the learning outcomes for each course, numerous practice exercises are included within each lesson module. Solutions to the assignments can be found in the videos, but students may also choose to meet online with their instructor for additional tutorials and assistance. (If there is more than one instructor teaching a particular course, students may opt to attend any of the online tutorial sessions offered—not just the ones scheduled by their instructor.) In contrast to the typical 16-week semester, PABD structures its courses to be more streamlined and efficient. Depending on a student’s individual capability, support courses need not fill an entire four-month term—some may take only a few weeks to complete.

Design Project
Each of the four design projects focuses on a specific building typology: small residential, small commercial, large residential, and large commercial. Each level also has a different theme: creative, technical, humanistic, and professional. Students are expected to apply the skills and knowledge acquired through the support courses to design all aspects of the project. Because each project dives deep into the design process, students will achieve a high degree of proficiency at each level of the curriculum.

Instead of standard grading, the deliverables from the completed design project will be assessed by a panel of design professionals and instructors for competency and readiness to progress to the next level. In this way, students can be assured that their capabilities are commensurate with the expectations and demands of the design industry.

Exam Preparation Workshops
In addition to the standard course curriculum, intensive 1-day workshops are offered for the NCIDQ, ARE, and LEED GA exams by request. These are typically scheduled for the weekend and can be held in-person at the office or workplace. Topics covered in the workshops include: how to qualify and register for an exam, how the exams are structured and graded, content and study materials for the exams, practice exercises, exam strategies, and what to do on the day of the exam. (See Enrollment page for more details.)

Courses (Interior Design):

FOUNDATION

LEVEL I

LEVEL II

LEVEL III

LEVEL IV

CAPSTONE

ELECTIVES

Courses [Architecture]:            

Foundation
F-010     Design Methods
F-020     Visual Communication
F-030     Drawing Literacy

Level I
L-100      Alpha Design Project (small residential)
L-110       SR Programming/Space Planning
L-120a    Site Planning & Design
L-130a    Structure I
L-140      AutoCAD I
L-150      Sketchup I

Level II
L-200     Beta Design Project (small commercial)
L-210      SC Programming/Space Planning
L-220a   Building Materials
L-230a   Structure II
L-240     AutoCAD II
L-260     Presentation I: Visual
L-270     Building Systems I
L-280     Sustainability I

Level III
L-300     Gamma Design Project (large residential)
L-310      LR Programming/Space Planning
L-320a   Building Systems Integration II
L-330a   Environmental Systems Performance
L-340    Revit I
L-360    Presentation II: Narrative
L-380    Design History & Futures
L-390    Design Documentation I

Level IV
L-400   Delta Design Project (large commercial)
L-410    LC Programming/Space Planning
L-420   Project Management I
L-490   Construction Documentation II

Capstone
C-010   Portfolio Development
C-020  Professional Preparation & Credentialing
C-030  Project Management II