Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Teses and Dissertations University Graduate School 3-23-2011 Te Infuence of Study and Travel Abroad on the Personal and Professional Development of Students in Architecture Design Programs Lyle D. Culver Florida International University, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida THE INFLUENCE OF STUDY AND TRAVEL ABROAD ON THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS IN ARCHITECTURE DESIGN PROGRAMS A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION in HIGHER EDUCATION by Lyle D. Culver 2011 To: Dean Delia Garcia College of Education This dissertation, written by Lyle D. Culver, and entitled The Influence of Study and Travel Abroad on the Personal and Professional Development of Students in Architecture Design Programs, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. ______________________________________ Roger Geertz-Gonzalez ______________________________________ Glenda Musoba ______________________________________ Gray Read ______________________________________ Benjamin Baez, Major Professor Date of Defense: March 23, 2011 The dissertation of Lyle D. Culver is approved. ______________________________________ Dean Delia Garcia College of Education ______________________________________ Interim Dean Kevin O'Shea University Graduate School Florida International University, 2011      ii © Copyright 2011 by Lyle D. Culver All rights reserved.     iii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to Astrid, Ari, and Jonfelix. I also dedicate this work to my parents and my grandparents who helped make my education and travel a reality. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the member of my committee Major Professor Dr. Benjamin Baez, Dr. Gray Read, Dr. Glenda Musoba, and Dr. Roger Baez for their help, support, and patience. I would like to especially thank Dr. Benjamin Baez for his inspiration in helping me to discover and to develop a topic of research that was of great personal interest. I would like to thank the participants of my study who made this dissertation possible. I would also like to thank and acknowledge the deans, associate deans, and directors of the architecture programs at the University of Miami and Florida International University for their assistance and allowing me to conduct research in their schools. Special thanks go to Denis Hector and Nathaniel Belcher. I want to thank my family, friends, and colleagues for their support. Cheers to Patricia, Don, and Ernest. Thank you to Dr. Lois Willoughby for being my auditor. Thank you also to Caprila Almeida who made certain that I submitted on time all of the paperwork necessary for this degree. v ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION THE INFLUENCE OF STUDY AND TRAVEL ABROAD ON THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS IN ARCHITECTURE DESIGN PROGRAMS by Lyle D. Culver Florida International University, 2011 Miami, Florida Professor Benjamin Baez, Major Professor International travel has significant implications on the study of architecture. This study analyzed ways in which undergraduate and graduate students benefited from the experience of international travel and study abroad. Taken from the perspective of 15 individuals who were currently or had been architecture students at the University of Miami and Florida International University or who were alumni of the University of Florida and Syracuse University, the research explored how international travel and study abroad enhanced their awareness and understanding of architecture, and how it complemented their architecture curricula. This study also addressed a more personal aspect of international travel in order to learn how the experience and exposure to foreign cultures had positively influenced the personal and professional development of the participants. Participants’ individual and two-person semi-structured interviews about study abroad experiences were electronically recorded and transcribed for analysis. A second interview was conducted with five of the participants to obtain feedback vi concerning the accuracy of the transcripts and the interpretation of the data. Sketch journals and design projects were also analyzed from five participants and used as data for the purposes of better understanding what these individuals learned and experienced as part of their study abroad. Findings indicated that study abroad experiences helped to broaden student understanding about architecture and urban development. These experiences also opened the possibilities of creative and professional expression. For many, this was the most important aspect of their education as architects because it heightened their interest in architecture. These individuals talked about how they had the opportunity to experience contemporary and ancient buildings that they had learned about in their history and design classes on their home campuses. In terms of personal and professional development, many of the participants remarked that they became more independent and self-reliant because of their study abroad experiences. They also displayed a sense of global awareness and were interested in the cultures of their host nations. The study abroad experiences also had a lasting influence on their professional development. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 Architecture Education and Curriculum ....................................................... 3 Problem Statement........................................................................................ 5 Purpose of Study .......................................................................................... 6 Significance of Study ................................................................................... 7 Research Questions ...................................................................................... 8 Assumptions and Delimitations of the Study ................................................ 9 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 10 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .................................................. 11 Diversity ..................................................................................................... 12 Globalization .............................................................................................. 15 Architecture Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Methodology .............................. 17 Implications of International Travel and Architecture ................................ 21 Travel Pedagogy and Higher Education ..................................................... 24 Experiential Learning ................................................................................. 27 Phenomenology & Architecture ................................................................. 29 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 32 III. METHODS ................................................................................................ 33 Qualitative Research ................................................................................... 33 Experiential Learning ................................................................................. 36 Role of the Researcher ................................................................................ 38 Site and Participant Selection ..................................................................... 46 Data Collection ........................................................................................... 57 Interviews ................................................................................................... 58 Data Sources ............................................................................................... 67 Sketch Journals ........................................................................................... 67 Data Organization and Analysis ................................................................. 69 Dependability and Consistency of Study .................................................... 71 Chapter Summary ....................................................................................... 73 IV. PROFILES OF THE PARTICIPANTS ...................................................... 74 The Participants .......................................................................................... 75 Guillermo ............................................................................................. 77 Aliana ................................................................................................... 81 Julia ...................................................................................................... 84 Connie .................................................................................................. 86 Leslie .................................................................................................... 91 Gloria .................................................................................................... 94 Sandy .................................................................................................... 97 Marc ..................................................................................................... 99 viii Kate .................................................................................................... 101 Lizette ................................................................................................. 103 Julian .................................................................................................. 104 Alex .................................................................................................... 105 Jaime . 107 JP ........................................................................................................ 108 Alistair ................................................................................................ 109 The Reasons for Studying Architecture .................................................... 110 Chapter Summary ..................................................................................... 116 V. THE ROLE OF TRAVEL IN ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION ............ 117 Study Abroad and the Educational Experience ......................................... 117 Study Abroad and the Architecture Curricula ........................................... 136 Study Abroad and Architecture Appreciation ........................................... 154 Study Abroad and Personal Development ................................................ 188 Study Abroad and Professional Development .......................................... 207 Chapter Summary ..................................................................................... 217 VI. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................ 218 Review of the Study ................................................................................. 218 Discussion of Primary Research Questions .............................................. 222 Primary Research Question #1 ............................................................ 223 Primary Research Question #2 ............................................................ 226 Primary Research Question #3 ............................................................ 229 Primary Research Question #4 ............................................................ 231 Limitations ............................................................................................... 235 Recommendations or Practice and Study .................................................. 237 Recommendations for Research ............................................................... 241 Summary and Final Thoughts ................................................................... 243 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................... 245 APPENDICES ..................................................................................................... 253 VITA ................................................................................................................. 259 ix