INTEGRATING CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION INTO MASTER'S DEGREE COURSE IN ARCHITECTURE

The paper investigates integrating climate change education into curricula, focusing on innovative pedagogical methods and experiential learning in Urban Planning and Environmental Design in a master’s degree course in Architecture. Based on this, the study demonstrates how incorporating climate change themes into teaching and thesis work promotes a thorough awareness of environmental concerns and urban sustainability. Embarking on the contents of the courses in Urban Planning and Environmental Design, the authors will delve into the methodological approach of the theses, a pivotal moment in synthesizing the skills developed by the students. The comparison between the two disciplines is particularly intriguing due to the profound and interdisciplinary nature of the approaches, which is crucial in addressing the complexity of environmental issues related to ecological transformation, especially in degraded contexts. Students should combine the methodologies of the two courses to achieve optimal results. During the five years of their studies, they learn different approaches, and in the final thesis, they should integrate urban and technological design methodologies. The courses prepare students for resilient urban solutions by requiring them to identify and solve functional-environmental concerns using strategic approaches. This educational Approach promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, all of which are necessary for dealing with the challenges of climate change. The link between theoretical analysis and practical intervention tactics is highlighted, demonstrating how these elements are integrated into the curriculum and thesis projects. Concentrating on the relationship between climate change and urban design education, this study adds to the larger discussion of sustainable development and higher education's role in developing environmentally responsible professionals. The process design phase, which includes problem identification and hypothesis creation for solutions, is critical to developing effective strategies and solutions. This phase is addressed using detailed study cases throughout the course, curricular teaching, and thesis work, emphasizing the relationship between analysis and intervention strategies. Additionally, the paper includes an international experience in integrating climate change into Urban Planning and Environmental Design. It details the combined methodologies in the thesis in another country, demonstrating the practical application and effectiveness of this integrated approach.