About

Housed in the Department of Art History at the University of Toronto, this new initiative offers undergraduate courses, experiential learning, and internships in the field of the architecture and landscapes of Canada. Beyond formal studies, we aim to spread knowledge and enthusiasm for the built environment in Canada to the wider community through research seminars, conferences, and more. This project is led by Professor Christy Anderson and Professor Joseph L. Clarke, along with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Jessica Mace.

Course offerings

The Department of Art History, by partnering with Geography, Canadian Studies, Indigenous Studies, Urban Studies, the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, and the School of Cities, will engage students in all these units in a series of courses from first-year foundations seminars, gateway courses, and upper-level research seminars.

The pedagogical approach will be through project-based and experiential learning. Students at all levels will engage directly with projects based in the city of Toronto and with broader questions in Canada. Course offerings will be coordinated with experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to develop experience and professional contacts with groups and organizations in Toronto and beyond.

An updated list of 2022/2023 course offerings is now available!

Internships

Working with the Arts & Science Experiential Learning Outreach Support Office, this initiative will create learning opportunities by forging new partnerships with local heritage organizations, architecture firms, and professional groups. These organizations can offer opportunities to link classroom work with current applications and provide much-needed opportunities for students in the humanities to gain research experience through community engagement with current issues relating to the built environment.

We seek to develop connections with private firms, heritage organizations, and professional groups, helping students gain real-world applications and chart their career paths. In partnership with ELOS, we aim to secure placement agreements with community partners, arrange appropriate insurance for students, assist students with preparing for their placement experiences, and facilitate reflection on them afterwards.

For more information about internships, click here.

Events

We aim to develop a community of university teachers and students interested in the topic, meeting through regular seminar events, including our Canada Constructed Conversations series; public roundtables and talks on a variety of topics relating to the built environment in Canada.

For more information and updates, check out our blog, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!