Over the last decade, online learning has grown tremendously. Online courses are affordable, flexible and convenient, and more and more people are choosing to sign up to them. Online learning has become more centric in the life of people since the outbreak of COVID-19. With the pandemic pushing schools and universities to remote teaching, online learning has exploded more than before for now.
Online courses will continue to grow in the field of architecture and construction. If you’re looking for your next project or want to learn more about a specific course you take in your various degree programs, here's a list of online architecture courses we compiled on a range of topics.
1. The Architectural Imagination
Created by: Harvard University
Language: English
Subject
This digital course in architecture offers students the ability to interpret architecture as a cultural phenomenon and scientific achievement. You will learn more about architects and historians’ work through in depth examination of distinguished buildings and through hands on exercises in drawing and modeling. With the study of some of the most important historical buildings, this in depth study of architecture will allow you to gain an understanding of the principle keys needed for an academic or professional career in this field.
It also makes clear that groundbreaking technology can propound new aesthetic experiences. Additionally, the course confronts the multigraphical ties between architecture and its social and historical contexts, its audiences, and its achievements and goals. That will give you some sense of the power of the architecture to represent and to produce collective meaning and memory.
2. Zero-Energy Design: An Approach To Make Your Building Sustainable
Created by: DelftX
Language: English
Subject
Currently, a key task for architects is integrating sustainability into their design.
A way to do this is by reducing energy consumption. The zero energy design module in this online architecture course will teach you a knowledgable and stepped approach to design a zero energy climate concept for existing buildings like homes, offices etc. An integrated approach that includes both passive measures like shading and active measures like the heat pump will give you the best results, which I’ll show you in the online course. To do so, you will walk through an overview of some of the possible measures and then go through some of the case studies of zero energy buildings, and other case study that include other climates.
3. Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs
Created by: The University of British Columbia
Language: English
Subject
If you’ve often caught yourself wishing that you could redesign your city or where you live, then this might be an architectural course for you. Ecodesign is defined as ‘the integration, planning, urban design and conservation of natural systems with a view to producing a sustainable built and natural environment’. You'll get to see how eco design has been implemented in places like Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm, and False Creek North in Vancouver, in this online architecture course. The conceptual framework for eco design will be learnt along with the tools, processes and techniques used at policy and implementation levels.
4. Sustainability in Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Introduction
Created by: UPValenciaX
Language: English
Subject
As architects, sustainability should always be top of mind. The aspiration of this online architecture course is to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the question of sustainability in architecture. You will get familiar with basic elements and trends that are now defining Architecture. This course teaches how to build conceptual models from architectural elements of buildings, how to optimize performance, and the basics of introducing energy and measuring how that energy could impact climate change. More coursework has to be covered there while it conforms to an interdisciplinary approach accompanied by performance assessment and urban policies.
5. Develop Parametric Architecture with Grasshopper
Created by: Stefan Boeykens
Language: English
Subject
In this online course, students will learn to model freeform 3D Parametric Approach. The difference with this course is that, instead of exploring and designing one or two design models for a project, you will learn to develop an interactive adapting model driven by several design parameters that can spawn a family of design variants. You will be able to define how an efficient and powerful system of interconnected components, which create geometry, and apply geometric and mathematical operations, can be used.
6. Home Automation For Beginners: Create Your Own Smart Home
Created by: Gerard ODriscoll
Language: English
Subject
There are a lot of benefits of smart home automation can improve your life. For example, with a text and an email able to reach on your phone, if an intruder has gotten into your house or if there is smoke in the kitchen. Running your smart home can often be a confusing and expensive process. Here on this online course we'll be walking you through it. You’ll learn the A – Z of Smart Home automation to help cut down on your energy use, and create a cozy family environment, and maybe even save you and your house from a lot of confusion and ( possibly intruders ).
7. Fundamentals of Structural Analysis
Created by: Dr. Sean Carroll
Language: English
Subject
This online architectural course was intended to help students understand the essential terms and techniques in static structural analysis. The basics of forces, moments and how to apply the principle of static equilibrium are things you will explore. You’ll go into detail on joint resolution method and method of sections. The course is designed to meet the main themes that are usually covered by students when they first start studying structural mechanics. Where students tend to struggle when they start, it will cover those areas. The course also connects theory to practice by examining how the structural behavior models map on to the reality of the world.
8. Structural Steel Design: Learn the Principles of Design
Created by: Adam Brittan
Language: English
Subject
With this online course, students will learn the foundations and be able to design a laterally steel element in a snap. The online course is aimed at introducing you to the basics of steel design and is ideal if you’re looking for an introduction or refresher on:
- When to use steel
- How it fails
- Different loading conditions
- Lateral Restraint
- Stress/Strain and yield strengths
- Bending, Axial and Shear Resistance (includes an example of each)
- Combined Axial and Bending Resistance (includes an example)
The online course is in metric units and will often reference the Eurocode
9. Fundamentals of Bridge Design-Concept of design and modeling
Created by: Ayman Kandeel
Language: English
Subject
In this online course students will study the basic concepts and methods involved in the design of bridges. The course covers the basics like the definition of the bridge, different types of it and what is the statically system of each type of the bridge. Topics such as bridge components, type of design codes, and different type loads are addressed. It takes the areas students struggle with when getting into it. A lot of emphasis is placed on putting theory into practice.
10. Learn To Read Structural Drawings: With Real Site Videos
Created by: Gokul Saud
Language: English
Subject
This online course teaches engineering students exactly what four years of university won’t. What knowledge is required to do the work at the site. Not only will the course help you read structural drawings but will also help you understand how reinforcement actually gets placed on site. Once you have completed this course you will have learned on how you will be able to prepare a bar bending schedule, give cutting length to the workers, prepare running bill and final bill.
11. How A Building Is Designed And Built
Created by: Matthew Morris
Language: English
Subject
In this online course, Students will learn the materials and systems associated with a building. What you learn about is how to identify the Numerous Components, Materials and Systems in a Commercial Building, to evaluate key constraints and to select all of the appropriate major systems and materials in a building. The idea is to get you up to speed with a basic knowledge of the terminology so you can learn what they want to teach you.
This course is designed for anyone who is interested in or professional in the field of building materials and systems. Are you a contractor, specialty contractor, architect, engineer, building owner, construction manager, real estate developer and manager, facility operator and manager or an engineering student etc.
12. Circular Economy for a Sustainable Built Environment
Created by: TUDelft
Language: English
Subject
In terms of generation of waste, building construction is one of the highest contributors. The main reason behind this is that various stages in the life of buildings throughout construction up to end of life contribute substantially to the environmental impact, like energy use, waste production and direct and indirect green emissions. This course, available online, is about the Circular Economy and principles of how they can be applied in the built environment. Guidelines and principles for the Circular Economy model support more sustainable construction of building and reduce the impact on environment.
The course is intended to allow the students becoming familiar with circularity as a systemic, multi‐disciplinary approach to work with different scales from material, product, building, city up to the regional scale. Moreover, you will be also taught how the principles of Circular Economy can be adapted with architecture and urban design and how to make the construction processes more environmentally friendly. Case studies will also show you how this new theory can be used to incorporate in the design, construction, and operation of the built environment by companies which are already profitably.