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