MCCCD Program Description

Construction and Culture

Course: CON101

First Term: 2018 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: The cultural context of construction, emphasizing the evolution and expansion of constructed environments as expressions of ethical and historical value systems.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Trace the evolution of civilization and culture. (I) 2. Describe a profile of The Builder. (II) 3. Describe significant successes and failures in human-constructed environments, analyzing both natural and man-made causes. (III, IV) 4. Define false work, and describe structural forces that affect it. (V, VI) 5. Describe factors that control the interior environment. (VII) 6. Trace the historical origins of the construction worker. (VIII) 7. Describe the evolution of transportation and its changing impact on construction. (IX) 8. Identify major buildings that have impacted the construction industry through the years. (X) 9. Describe contemporary construction and its direction towards globalization (i.e., building the world). (XI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Evolution of civilization and culture A. The birth of civilization B. Overview of the major civilizations of the past C. Intellectual advancement D. Relationship to the evolution of building E. The urban revolution F. The spread of civilization II. Profile of The Builder A. In the beginning 1. Intuition 2. Innovation 3. Creativity, inventiveness, and ingenuity B. Profile of The Builder 1. Origins of architects 2. Master builder C. Emergence of the specialists D. Design-build procurement concept E. Designer-builder relationship F. Responsibility of The Builder G. Builder`s knowledge H. Other`s responsibilities III. Learning from the built environment A. Documentation B. Learning from nature IV. Learning from failures: Natural and man-made causes A. Building code B. Natural causes of failures C. Failures due to human causes V. Falsework A. Scaffolding B. Formwork C. Centering D. Shoring VI. Structural forces A. Review of the major builders of the past B. Types of structural forces C. Origin of the forces VII. Controlling the interior environment A. The beginning B. Past examples of ventilation and illumination C. What does the future have in store for us VIII. The origin and culture of construction worker A. The origin of an organized work force B. The culture of the construction worker C. Craft roles and responsibilities D. The Arizona Builders Alliance IX. Transportation A. Human carriers B. Transport over land C. Bridges D. Transport by water X. Major buildings that have affected the construction industry A. Cathedrals (case study) B. Pyramids of Egypt C. Methods of finding true north XI. Globalization in twenty-first century A. Building the world B. Issues and concerns affecting global construction C. Construction relationship D. Changes in the procurement process

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: May 1, 2018

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.