The class will undertake a number of readings related to philosophical and social underpinnings of contemporary ethics and will examine current thinking about ethics through the literature and case studies. The legal aspects of architectural practice, including the rights and obligation of architects, their professional engineering consultants, owners, contractors, subcontractors, material men and suppliers, to one another and to third persons. The course includes specific topics such as professional registration, professional liability insurance, contract information, conditions of construction contracts, claims normally encountered and methods of dispute resolutions, lien rights and copyrights. The general subject matter of this course forms part of state licensing examinations, and is essential for practicing architects. Taking a moderate, albeit speculative approach, this course focuses on the manifold internal and external contexts that inform architectural practice and education.
Material supplementing other professional concerns courses is presented as well.
Finally the course concludes with a significant case studies component, where those firms that exhibit a particular 'typology' of practice are analyzed in light of the issues addressed over the course of the term.