ARCH308 Urban History
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Architecture
Mejrema Zatrić-Šahović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Introducing students to the logic and general principles behind the high points and declines of city development, from prehistory to the 20th c. Establishing a broad overview of the main historical episodes and phases in the development of the urban form, urban processes and urban culture. Raising awareness of the intricate and significant broader situation of urban planning and architectural design.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
A.E.J. Morris, History of Urban Form
Additional Literature
Provided as and when requiredTeaching Methods
The course is a lecture based course
Lectures will be supplemented by student presentations and class discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | textbook |
| 2 | The Early Cities | textbook |
| 3 | Greek City States | textbook |
| 4 | Rome and the Empire | textbook |
| 5 | Medieval Towns | textbook |
| 6 | Renaissance Cities - Italy | textbook |
| 7 | Recap | textbook |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam | |
| 9 | Renaissance Cities - Europe | |
| 10 | The 19th Century City | tbd |
| 11 | Urban USA | textbook |
| 12 | Britain and the Garden City Movement | tbd |
| 13 | The Functional City / Online! | tbd |
| 14 | The Global City | tbd |
| 15 | Recap |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH308.1 | Course | Thursday 11:00 - 12:50 | A F2.16 - Architecture Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 15:00 - 16:00 | ||
| Tuesday | 15:00 - 16:00 | ||
| Thursday | 13:00 - 16:00 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
In-term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
In-class Exercises
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
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 4 ECTS credit course corresponds to 100 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
Assignments
12 hours ⏳ (6 week × 2 h)
Home Study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
In-term Exam Study
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
Final Exam Study
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
In-class Exercises
14 hours ⏳ (14 week × 1 h)
100 Total Workload Hours
4 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 [ARCH308] 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 Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ARCH308 | Urban History | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mejrema Zatrić-Šahović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 15:00-16:00 Tuesday: 15:00-16:00 Thursday: 13:00-16:00 |
|||||||
| mzatric-sahovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Introducing students to the logic and general principles behind the high points and declines of city development, from prehistory to the 20th c. Establishing a broad overview of the main historical episodes and phases in the development of the urban form, urban processes and urban culture. Raising awareness of the intricate and significant broader situation of urban planning and architectural design. | |||||||||
| Textbook | A.E.J. Morris, History of Urban Form | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The course is a lecture based course. Lectures will be supplemented by student presentations and class discussions. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 2 | The Early Cities | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Greek City States | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Rome and the Empire | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Medieval Towns | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Renaissance Cities - Italy | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Recap | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-Term Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Renaissance Cities - Europe | |||||||||
| Week 10 | The 19th Century City | tbd | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Urban USA | textbook | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Britain and the Garden City Movement | tbd | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The Functional City / Online! | tbd | ||||||||
| Week 14 | The Global City | tbd | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Recap | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In-term Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| In-class Exercises | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 1 | 14 | 14 | Assignments | 2 | 6 | 12 | |||
| Home Study | 2 | 14 | 28 | In-term Exam Study | 12 | 1 | 12 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 10 | 2 | 20 | In-class Exercises | 1 | 14 | 14 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 100 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 4 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 24/02/2026 | |||||||||