Course Catalogue

Bachelor of Architectural Design (WARCD1)

2026

Course Structure

The course explores the concepts and theories of architectural design with a focus on developing design skills within the environmental and regional context. Theoretical, conceptual and analytical skills will be developed throughout the course underpinned with a solid foundation in architectural technology, environment and communication. The first year of this course focuses on the design principles, concept development, representation of ideas, integrating materials, site analysis and ecology in architecture while the second year focuses on integration of architectural theory and technology to how space and the built form are shaped. The final year consolidates and extends knowledge gained in the first two years of study to complex designs on challenging sites with a regional focus.

A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated. Students are required to:

complete the fourteen (14) compulsory core units
choose four specialist elective units from complimentary disciplines
take a minimum of 60 credit points of 300 level units or above
take no more than the maximum of 100 credit points from 100 level units

Unit type	Credit Points	Specific requirements
Core Units (14 units)	200cp	Compulsory core units totalling 200 credit points as detailed below: ARD101 Architectural Design 1 - Materiality (20cp) ARD102 Architectural Design 2 - Ecology (20cp) ARD161 Building Technology 1 ARD172 Environmental Building Design ARD201 Architectural Design 3 - Theory (20cp) ARD202 Architectural Design 4 - Urban (20cp) ARD221 Architecture: History, Theory and Practice 1 ARD231 Architectural Documentation ARD262 Building Technology 2 ARD301 Architectural Design 5 - Public (20cp) ARD302 Architectural Design 6 - Integration (20cp) ARD321 Architecture: History, Theory and Practice 2 ARD322 Architecture: History, Theory and Practice 3 ARD362 Building Technology 3
Specialist Electives (4 units)	40cp	Specialist Elective units totalling 40 credit points from the following: ARD280 Environmental Design: Desert Project CRA102 Art, Dance, Songs and Stories of Place CRA123 Digital Image and Photography CRA127 Collect and Connect: Fibre Art CRA200 Interdisciplinary Project CRA210 First Nations Creatives, Activists and Thinkers (title change from 2026) CRA211 Artists, Artworks and Art Movements CRA230 Structure and Surface: Sculpture ENG215 Surveying and Construction ENT103 Entrepreneurship Fundamentals (replaces ENT101 and ENT102 from 2026) ENV103 Environmental Issues HAD100 Introduction to Disasters, Humanitarian Aid and Development IAS201 Cultural Capabilities IAS205 Environmental Justice, Waste and Society (not offered 2026) IAS402 Intercultural Practice IAS403 Independent Study IAS405 Placement Experience MAN105 Introduction to Management MAN204 Project Management
	240cp	Total Credit Points

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure) (240cp)

See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2026
ENT103 Entrepreneurship Fundamentals replaces both ENT101 and ENT102 from 2026

For students transferring from WARTS2 to WARCD1 in 2025, please note the following:

ARD101 Architectural Design 1 - Materiality (20cp) (replaces IAS191 from 2025)
ARD102 Architectural Design 2 - Ecology (20cp) (replaces IAS192 from 2025)
ARD161 Building Technology 1 (replaces IAS194 from 2025)
ARD201 Architectural Design 3 - Theory (20cp) (replaces IAS291 from 2025)
ARD202 Architectural Design 4 - Urban (20cp) (replaces IAS292 from 2025)
ARD221 Architecture: History, Theory and Practice 1 (replaces IAS193 from 2025)
ARD231 Architectural Documentation (replaces IAS293 from 2025)
ARD262 Building Technology 2 (replaces IAS294 from 2025)
ARD301 Architectural Design 5 - Public (replaces IAS391 from 2025)
ARD302 Architectural Design 6 - Integration (replaces IAS392 from 2025)

Further Assistance

For further assistance please contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 (freecall) or student.central@cdu.edu.au. Student Central staff will assist you with applying for or enrolling in a course and provide assistance with timetables, fees, HELP (Higher Education Loan Program), external materials, enrolment changes and many other issues.

Unit Catalogue - provides general information about each unit including a brief description, the semester and mode offered as well as the fees for Commonwealth Supported places.
Timetables - provides information about individual class times for units offered internally. Timetables for the following academic year are published early in December each year.
Bookshop - if text books have been prescribed, recommended or ordered for units in this course, details are available by unit code through the Casuarina Campus Bookshop.