Teaching acoustics in architectural programs in Canada

The growing complexity of buildings requires students attending architecture schools to integrate many different specialized capabilities while still focusing on design principles and practices. First this paper reviews the breadth and depth education in acoustics among the 11 University Schools of Architecture in Canada which have been granted CACB Accreditation. The paper discusses the content and educational approaches followed in these schools. Then, the paper focuses on the recent evolution experienced at the Department of Architectural Science of Ryerson University. Teaching through project-oriented education has been recently introduced and the unique challenges of such an approach are discussed. This hands-on approach, focusing on both smartphone measurements and preliminary simulations, encourages students to develop a professional attitude for applying theoretical principles to the solution of acoustic basic problems.