Architecture VS Criminology
Hello ArchiDabblers!
As many of you know, since the beginning of Archidabble we have released blog posts comparing architecture with other subjects at university. This week we have a post comparing ‘Architecture and Criminology’ both at an undergraduate level. Last time we covered architecture in relation to maths so if you’ve missed it, make sure to check it out!
Thank you to our guest for joining us on this week’s post and let us know if you are finding these comparisons insightful! :)
Q1: Briefly introduce yourself and what you study.
Sude: Hi! My name is Sude. I am a third year Architecture BA student studying at the University of Westminster.
Musaddiqah: Hey! My name is Musaddiqah and I’m also a student at the University of Westminster. I’m going into my second year of studying Criminology.
Q2: Summarise your course in 3 words and explain why.
Sude: Rewarding. Stressful. Overlooked. For the amount of sleepless nights I have witnessed amongst my friends, architecture is a stressful course. As much as I have been able to avoid all nighters, I have still had restless days on multiple occasions. However along with all this hard work, there comes a very rewarding ending. Being able to look back and see your progression in physical form isn’t something every degree has to offer. You don’t just see an increase in marks but also what is behind them that has led to that result. I also don’t think we are given enough credit for what we do. Since tests/exams aren't a popular way of assessing architecture students, since it’s a creative and practical subject, there seems to be the impression that architecture isn’t difficult. It’s only when you actually study architecture that you realise how jam-packed and hard it really is even without exams. Although, I can’t stress how much I don’t miss revising and exams.
Musaddiqah: Intense, fascinating, weighty. The topics covered in criminology vary but are consistently sensitive. I feel the word intense summarises it well as we tend to be exposed to a myriad of issues, from state crimes to violent crimes. Being a criminology student forces you - to an extent - to be desensitized to the horrifying things that happen in the world. Whilst it can be mentally taxing, it’s incredibly interesting to see how we perceive crime and the reality of how prevalent crime is in our local areas and on a global scale. Since I’ve started the course, it has broken all my previous misconceptions on crime and taught me to think critically on what we are shown via the media. Being exposed to these issues can leave you feeling helpless however, as cliche as it sounds, I believe being armed with this knowledge will allow me to make a change in the world, even if it's a small action.
Q3: What sort of careers do people who have studied your course take upon after graduating?
Sude: It’s common for people who have studied architecture, especially if it is accredited by the ARB and the RIBA, to continue with the process until they become an architect. This means either going straight into masters or gaining some experience before heading back to education or other equivalent ways. However, there are other branches in the creative field which some people venture out to like graphic design, set design, BIM professional.
Musaddiqah: As criminology is a niche subject, many people already know what career path they wish to follow. The most common route for people is to join the police service immediately after graduating. I’ve come across many people in my course who specifically wish to become detectives. I’m not sure how many people know but it’s now required to have a degree to enter the police force! Not sure how useful it is considering the training period only lasts six months… Other career paths tend to include different forms of social work or pursuing academia.
Q4: How do you feel about the subject you are currently studying?
Sude: I feel good! Since architecture isn’t a subject you come across earlier on in our education, it has been a new experience for me. It’s also really interesting to see yourself improve in a field you were more or less clueless about only a couple years ago. So much progress happens in such a short period of time so I think it’s a very rewarding course that sets you up with so many transferable skills. So many doors are opened to you by studying architecture and some of them at first thought don’t even have a direct contact with the degree. In short, I have been enlightened.
Musaddiqah: I do enjoy studying it as it opens up my eyes to the reality of crime in the world. We all have preconceived notions of crime such as how prevalent it is and who commits the most crime. However, all of my assumptions are constantly being proven wrong which is very refreshing! Criminology has taught me to be critical of the information presented in our daily lives which has truly changed my outlook on all media I consume. On the other hand, it has taken a toll on my mental health. I can’t say the same for my peers but this course has taught me to take care of myself so I’m not constantly thinking of all the atrocities we are told about. Studying such sensitive topics week in and week out can be draining, so prioritising self care has been a major lesson I have learnt.
Q5: What excites you the most about studying architecture/criminology?
Sude: I think creative freedom is what makes architecture an attractive course to study. When coming up with design ideas, as long as you have a valid justification you are able to explore with countless forms, materials and scales. It’s a visually stimulating subject that really gets you to engage with the world of design. I don’t think I could compare it to previous creative subjects that I have studied in the past because it’s so different. It’s unpredictable what the end result will be after all the experimentation, analysis and research you do, so the creative lead up to the project is what excites me the most.
Musaddiqah: As an avid crime documentary watcher, it’s super interesting to learn the psychology behind why criminals behave the way they do and the patterns in criminal behaviour. Whilst learning the theoretical side of crime, we also delve into the effects of crime quite often. Victimology was one of my favourite topics as it revolved around what we perceive ideal victims to be and how that bias affects who we decide is a victim. Having an understanding on how crime works and its patterns gives you a better idea on how to solve it, which is what excites me the most about criminology.
Q6: How have you dealt with studying during a pandemic?
Sude: To simply put it, it sucked. Regardless of all coping methods, knowing the nature of the architecture course and how much it has to offer it was extremely hard to adapt to online teaching. For me, it was just a matter of accepting the situation and making the most of all the tutorials. This meant producing as much work as possible before each tutorial so I could get as much feedback as possible and coming to tutorials prepared with any questions I wanted to ask. Also, I know that it was common for students to record their tutorials in order to look back on when responding to feedback. Speaking to friends around me about each other’s projects and asking for advice helped motivate me to continue working because there was definitely a feeling of disconnection between students and what everyone was producing. I also think seeing how everyone was in the same boat made me realise that it was normal to be reacting this way to studying a practical course over a zoom/teams call.
Musaddiqah: This being my first year of university, learning online was a total disappointment. I feel like I was robbed of my freshers experience! I do believe it was easier as a first year to adapt as I knew no different but it still was quite difficult to adjust. Only being able to contact my peers and lecturers online felt strange and impersonal but thankfully I made the best of the situation and still was able to build those relationships. When it came to classes it was very difficult to engage with my peers as no one could quite build up the courage to put their microphone or cameras on but on the off chance they did it really helped further my learning in class. Outside of classes getting my work done was quite difficult for me as I have a short attention span and would find literally anything to distract me from just buckling down and getting tasks done.
Q7: How are you usually assessed and how has it differed due to COVID-19?
Sude: The way we were assessed didn’t really change. The platform in which we submitted is what changed. Usually, the majority of our portfolio format submissions would be printed at a desired paper size and handed in manually. Due to COVID-19, all submissions were submitted online through Blackboard as PDFs. Our crits for the first semester took place in studios but the rest were through zoom/microsoft teams video calls.
Musaddiqah: My course consists mainly of coursework and some group projects throughout the year so it’s been pretty much what I expected, everything is completed online and handed in via Blackboard. The few exams I’ve had have been online and thankfully my lecturers had put together plenty of resources for us to comfortably prepare for the exams.
Q8: What extracurricular activities do you do outside of your degree?
Sude: Architecture students aren’t really known for having a lot of spare time but I have been trying to commit some time to attending events set up by our Korean Culture Society. This is actually how I met Musaddiqah! I have also been cycling regularly to escape from all the archi-stress and simultaneously fit in some exercise. Over the summer break is when I have the time to do my non-architecture related hobbies like language studies, meeting friends and taking photographs. Online courses are something that I like doing during the longer breaks in the year too.
Musaddiqah: From the get-go I knew I wanted to try and join as many societies as possible to guarantee I was getting a proper university experience so before officially starting my first year at Westminster, I’d asked some alumni I knew which societies were best to join. I was told the MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) Society was very welcoming and had great events and they’d also told me not to overthink it and just join whatever appealed to me. As a result I joined the Korean Culture Society, the Photography Society and the Islamic Society. I’m now on the committee of the ISOC (Islamic Society) as a part of the graphic design and marketing team which is great fun! I’m quite happy with the role I have on the committee as my hobbies include photography and videography. This year I’ve found that basic arts and crafts helps relieve my stress.
Q9: Has your previous studies (A-levels, GCSES, etc) helped you with your university degree? If so, how?
Sude: Studying GCSE Art & Design and A-level Fine Art did equip me with a good foundation of creative thinking. Although, like I mentioned previously, the actual subject that you are designing and producing is very different. I think the types of media that you get to experiment with in previous art subjects can help with opting for more creative methods of visualising architecture besides the 3D model that has been rendered and then processed. Other than the creative subjects, I think A-level Sociology has helped me with understanding people and occupants in a different perspective. It has caused me to become more interested in spaces and how it may affect people and their actions on a societal scale. Combining my interests in architecture and sociology I think the two subjects together have sparked a possible dissertation topic. Those have been the two main subjects which have had a significant link to architecture.
Musaddiqah: I took a BTEC in Public Services which revolved around policing and law enforcement. Many people who take public services have the intention of joining the police and/or furthering their education by completing a bachelor's degree in Criminology. The entirety of my class bar three people wished to go into the police so my teachers orientated our learning around the police service. Modules in the BTEC course included government and policies; crime and its effects on society and planning and management of major incidents. All of the modules I studied were very relevant to my current degree. It essentially gave me a basic understanding of the current modules I study. You could say it’s like actually doing the assigned background reading before starting this course!
Q10: How much of your free time do you find yourself dedicating towards university work?
Sude: Pretty much all of it. Architecture is an iterative process so I am constantly generating new possibilities and ways of going about finalising a project. This happens throughout the year outside the timetabled lectures and studio days. Since the course is 100% practical and coursework, we need to be pumping out work from start to finish. Something you will hear often from tutors is that there is always room for improvement in a project so you will constantly be experimenting with different options until you are satisfied with one and usually you will never be completely satisfied because there’s always more to do but not enough time.
Musaddiqah: I would say approximately 70% of my free time would be spent on my work. I take detailed notes of my lectures so it is quite time consuming. Weekly writing tasks would not take me too long to complete however I find the readings are particularly difficult as I struggle to concentrate for prolonged periods of time. Around the time that assignments are due I tend to spend all of my time completing them. The way I managed my time was not sustainable and to be completely honest I am dreading the workload for this year. Hopefully I can prepare myself in the upcoming weeks and not overwhelm myself!
Q11: Do you have any extra credits to spend on modules of your choice?
Sude: Nope. All the modules for Architecture BA at the University of Westminster use up 120 credits meaning we do not have any extra credits to dedicate for optional courses. We do, however, have the chance to do a polylang course which we have to pay for since it goes over the 120 credit limit. Other than that, there are no options.
Musaddiqah: Yes, I do! My first year I had 20 extra credits so you can choose out of two criminology modules or a polylang or an elective. In both first and second year, a polylang and elective is always an option. For my first year I chose the psychology module as it was something I really wanted to study. This year we only have 3 core modules so we have the chance to choose 3 other modules. There are four criminology and two history modules you can choose between. The history modules include the history of modern Ireland and the myth, reality and popular history of Jack the Ripper. Both are very interesting options!
Q12: Is there anything you wish you had known before starting your degree?
Sude: I wish I had known how much of the software skillset is actually self-taught whilst studying architecture. The architectural education system focuses more on how to be better designers in response to different design factors but not how to produce the cool visuals you see. The level of your software skills are solely based on the time and effort you put into learning them in your free time. This is something that I was completely oblivious to before starting my degree. If I had known this, I would have dedicated more time to improving my graphics skills and familiarising myself with modelling programs like Rhino.
Musaddiqah: The workload! I knew university was not a walk in the park but the jump from a very relaxed college environment to constantly having to get tasks done in time for seminars was a lot to get used to. At lower levels of education you can afford to be relaxed and not care as much about getting work done but at university the stakes are higher. You feel much more responsible as you yourself have made the decision to pursue higher education in comparison to the years prior being told that education was an obligation.
Q13: What do you do in your free time to support your studies?
Sude: I mentioned earlier that software skills aren't effectively taught in architectural education. Therefore, when I do find a significant amount of free time during the year I try my best to improve my Rhino and Photoshop skills. Rather than knowing a load of different softwares at a basic level it’s better to master only a few. I have also spent some of my time work experience over the summer break at a small architectural office. This is the best way to get some insight into the real world of architecture and see what specific parts of the industry you enjoy and could pursue in the future. Moreover, the blog! Archidabble has helped so much with networking with everyone else in the social media archi-community. I have become more aware of current issues and achievements in the architecture industry by being more immersed in the community. This is also thanks to you guys and your support <3
Musaddiqah: Can I include watching crime documentaries?.. If so then that’s pretty much it at the moment. I know I should be preparing for my second year more but in all honesty I’ve spent most of my summer relaxing and spending time with my family before we all get carried away with our busy lives. I feel like I have the luxury at the moment to do so as I’ve just finished my first year. My first year took a lot out of me so I’ve been taking care of my mental health and enjoying the last peaceful summer break I’m going to get!
Q14: Are there any field trips, exchange studies or hostel stays during your undergraduate?
Sude: There are countless number of field trips during all 3 years of the architecture degree. Most of which are to survey our sites and collect data. When it comes to exchange, the University of Westminster gives the opportunity to architecture students to study abroad during the second semester of the second year. There are various universities across the world that the university is partnered with that you can choose from depending on the availability of the home university. The second semester in the second year for some design studios also has some short abroad trips planned like Barcelona for example.
Musaddiqah: This was one thing that really appealed to me about my course! My course offers a year abroad in different states in the US and a few other countries such as Canada and Australia. In our final year we have the opportunity to complete a module in a prison alongside prisoners which appeals to many students. This opportunity however is only available to students achieving high grades so it’s a good incentive for us. If I’m not mistaken there is also a field trip available in our final year to either Amsterdam or Berlin. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 we have not been on site but we have been told that when things are back to normal we will have the chance to visit places such as theatres, prisons and the High Courts of Justice.
Q15: Any advice for current or future architecture/criminology students?
Sude: Enjoy it! I definitely think you could make some realistic decisions when designing but it’s during architecture school when you can experiment the most, unless you become the new Fosters. So, that is why I would recommend students to experiment with different materials, forms and projects. Try and discover what architecture you actually like designing so you have a clear idea of what you want to do in the future. As much as you may hear how stressful and tiring studying architecture is, it’s 100% worth it!
Musaddiqah: Firstly, don’t buy the books they tell you to. Everything is always available online or at the library. I made the mistake of spending £70 on books when the relevant chapters are released every week via Blackboard. Secondly, do the background reading! It really prepares you well for the content and gives you a little head start and an insight as to what the content will include. Thirdly, as I previously mentioned, this course can be quite graphic and burdensome if you are not prepared for it. I would advise future and current students to ensure they can handle the topics and that they have a good support system in place for help at any time. And finally, choose this subject if you are passionate about it, that's the only thing that will get you through your course! And if that isn't reason enough for you, why waste so much money on something you are not enjoying?
Thank you so much to Musaddiqah for sparing her time to give us an insight on studying criminology. It was really educating to hear about another subject which focuses on society and people but questions behaviour in a completely different way. As architecture students, we tend to focus on the physical structures around people and how they both interact whereas criminology students also look at the psychological and the societal reasons behind types of behaviour.
She also shared with us her impression on architecture students over on our Instagram @archidabble, which you can check out under our highlight reel. Make sure to check her out on Instagram @_mbutt too.
Be back next week on Friday at 6:00pm for another blog post!
