ARCH556 Religious Buildings
ARCH556 Religious Buildings
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Architecture
Nerma Omićević
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course offers a holistic perspective to relationship between architecture and religion.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
The Architects's Handbook (Edited by Pickard, Q), Blackwell Science, 2002. Brenneman, R. & Miller, B.J. Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures, Oxford University Press, 2020.
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
1
Class lectures ( instructor’s presentations), 2
Critical thinking/problem-solving oral exercises
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course | |
| 2 | Typology of religious buildings | The Architect's Handbook |
| 3 | Churches | The Architect's Handbook |
| 4 | Mosques | The Architect's Handbook |
| 5 | Synagoues | The Architect's Handbook |
| 6 | Shrines | The Architect's Handbook |
| 7 | Midterm exam | |
| 8 | Comparison of function and its origin | The Architect's Handbook |
| 9 | Comparison of forms | The Architect's Handbook |
| 10 | Analysis of chosen examples I | The Architect's Handbook |
| 11 | Analysis of chosen examples II | The Architect's Handbook |
| 12 | Religious symbols in temples | The Architect's Handbook |
| 13 | Patterns ans sculpture | The Architect's Handbook |
| 14 | Art in religious buildings | Brenneman, R. & Miller, B.J. Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures |
| 15 | Future of religious buildings | Brenneman, R. & Miller, B.J. Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Class exercises-Group
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Mid-term evaluation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
13 hours ⏳ (13 week × 1 h)
Exercises
9 hours ⏳ (3 week × 3 h)
Home research
98 hours ⏳ (14 week × 7 h)
Mid-term exam study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Final exam study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ARCH556] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ARCH556 | Religious Buildings | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nerma Omićević | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 9:30-12:00 Thursday: 9:30-12:00 |
|||||||
| nomicevic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course offers a holistic perspective to relationship between architecture and religion. | |||||||||
| Textbook | The Architects's Handbook (Edited by Pickard, Q), Blackwell Science, 2002. Brenneman, R. & Miller, B.J. Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures, Oxford University Press, 2020. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | 1. Class lectures ( instructor’s presentations), 2. Critical thinking/problem-solving oral exercises | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | |||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Typology of religious buildings | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Churches | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Mosques | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Synagoues | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Shrines | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Comparison of function and its origin | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Comparison of forms | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Analysis of chosen examples I | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Analysis of chosen examples II | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Religious symbols in temples | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Patterns ans sculpture | The Architect's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Art in religious buildings | Brenneman, R. & Miller, B.J. Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Future of religious buildings | Brenneman, R. & Miller, B.J. Building Faith: A Sociology of Religious Structures | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Class exercises-Group | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Mid-term evaluation | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 13 | 13 | Exercises | 3 | 3 | 9 | |||
| Home research | 7 | 14 | 98 | Mid-term exam study | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Final exam study | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 160 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 20/10/2025 | |||||||||