Overview
The Temporary Environments minor is offered through Parsons School of Design.
This minor introduces undergraduate students to hands-on research on and design and fabrication of ephemeral constructions for shelters, markets, and events. Through processes and methods for design research and material applications, students learn how
physical limitations can be quickly framed, transcended, reformed, and dissolved. There is an emphasis on tangible solutions that can be tested in prototyping and field implementation, so that students can develop projects beyond pure concepts. Across
topics ranging from the interim conditions for disaster relief to transportable shelters used in camping, from the ephemeral constructions used for public events and markets to exhibitions, temporality and relevant technologies will be used to bring
a sense of place to temporary environments.
The Temporary Environments minor requires successful completion of 18 credits across four subject areas, as outlined in the chart below. Please note that PLSD 2003, History and Theory of Temporary Environments, is required for all students intending to
complete this minor.
Course availability may vary from semester to semester. Some courses may be in development and offered at a later time. Students seeking to pursue alternative coursework to fulfill the minor should consult with their advisors.
Curriculum
*Students who have introductory-level studio skills/experience should instead select 6 credits of coursework in the subject areas Skills-Focused Studio/Seminar and/or Project-Based Studio/Seminar.
Learning Outcomes
A student who has completed this minor should be able to demonstrate
- Knowledge of the historical role of temporary structures and environments as social innovations
- Competence in the creation of drawings, diagrams, and models to represent, develop, and test concepts
- An understanding and functional knowledge of production elements such as project planning, installation procedures, project management, and specification of materials and equipment
- An understanding of the language and importance of the simple concepts of scale, tectonics, systems, mechanics, and space making for temporary environments that include shelters, markets, or events
- Strength in working on individual projects, in working as a member of a team, and in integrating effective communication with community stakeholders involved in the design process and/or field research
Eligibility
Minors are available to undergraduate students across The New School. For questions regarding this minor's curriculum, including requests for course substitutions, please contact Mike Verbos, assistant professor of product design, at [email protected].
How to Declare or Change a Minor
General guidelines for declaring a minor are available here. Current students can declare or change a minor by logging in to my.newschool.edu, clicking on the Academics tab,
and then clicking on the link to Major/Minor Declarations.