Architectural Engineering

Major: Architectural Engineering
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering (BSAE)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 190.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.0401
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2199

About the Program

The architectural engineering major prepares graduates for professional work in the analysis, design, construction, and operation of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings. The program develops engineers familiar with all aspects of safe and economical construction. Students study the principles of structural support and external cladding, building environmental systems, and project management and develop depth in at least one area.

The program integrates building disciplines, including coordination with architects, construction managers, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, and others. Students use computer-aided design tools to understand system interactions, perform analysis, design, scheduling, and cost analysis, and present their work.

The first two years of the curriculum cover fundamentals necessary for all engineers. The pre-junior and junior years emphasize building systems and the principles governing their performance. In addition to the core engineering and science, students learn architectural approaches through studio design. Seniors focus on either structural or building environmental systems design, or develop skills in digital building and construction management, as well as a full-year realistic design project. The academic program is complemented by exposure to professional practice in the co-op experience.

A special feature of the major is senior design. A group of students works with a faculty advisor to develop a significant design project selected by the group. All architectural engineering students participate in a design project.

Mission Statement

The civil and architectural engineering faculty are responsible for delivering an outstanding curriculum that equips our graduates with the broad technical knowledge, design proficiency, professionalism, and communications skills required for them to make substantial contributions to society and to enjoy rewarding careers.  

Program Educational Objectives

Architectural engineering graduates will become responsible professionals who analyze, design, construct, manage, or operate various types of buildings and their systems, and/or advance knowledge of the field.

Student Outcomes

The department’s student outcomes reflect the skills and abilities that the curriculum is designed to provide to students by the time they graduate. These are:  

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of the engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Concentration Options

Mechanical Concentration (HVAC)

Students who choose the mechanical concentration (HVAC) prepare for careers dealing with the building environment. As co-ops and graduates, they will be involved in the many design aspects of building environmental control, including:

• building load definitions
• equipment selection and design
• distribution system design
• control systems design
• energy analysis and system optimization
• building operation for safety, economy and maximum performance

Structural Concentration

Students who choose the structural concentration prepare for careers dealing with the building structure. As co-ops and graduates, they will be involved in the design of the many aspects of building structure including:

• building load definitions
• structural system design
• foundation system design

Digital Building Concentration

Students who choose the digital building concentration prepare for careers dealing with the role of computer technology in building design, construction and operation. As co-ops and graduates, they will be involved in:

• development and use of Building Information Models (BIM) and databases
• configuration and operation of building sensor and actuator networks and monitoring systems
• developing and maintaining construction schedules, databases and monitoring systems

Additional Information

The Architectural Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

For more information about this major, contact the program head:
Simi Hoque, PhD
Professor
Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering
sth55@drexel.edu

Degree Requirements

*

General Education Requirements.

**

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

BS Architectural Engineering, Building Systems Concentration

4 year, 1 co-op

*

CHEM Sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

 See degree requirements.

BS Architectural Engineering, Building Systems Concentration

5 year, 3 co-op

*

CHEM Sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

Co-op cycles  may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 101 in place of COOP 101.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

 See degree requirements.

BS Architectural Engineering, Structural Concentration

4 year, 1 co-op

*

CHEM Sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

See degree requirements.

BS Architectural Engineering, Structural Concentration

5 year, 3 co-ops

*

CHEM Sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

 See degree requirements.

BS Architectural Engineering, Digital Building Concentration

4 year, one co-op

*

CHEM Sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

 See degree requirements.

‡

Students are asked to speak with their program advisor before registering for the INFO elective.

5 YR UG Co-op Digital Building Concentration

5 year, 3 co-ops

*

CHEM Sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

**

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

***

MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

†

 See degree requirements.

‡

Students are asked to speak with their program advisor before registering for the INFO elective.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

The major in architectural engineering prepares students for professional work in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial building systems, in cooperation with architects and other engineers.

Sample Co-op Experiences

When students complete their co-op jobs, they are asked to write an overview of their experiences. These brief quotes are taken from some recent student reports:

Project technician, major university: “Studied and surveyed existing buildings and facilities for: their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, heating and air conditioning equipment sizing, electrical loads, and their planning and usage of space. Designed improvements from the field surveys taken, and developed construction drawings. Worked closely with the workforce in implementing these changes.”

CAD technician, private engineering firm: “Prepared computer generated construction plans for various water and sewer reconstruction projects...Was able to expand my knowledge of Auto CAD to include Advanced Design Modules."

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Dual/Accelerated Degree

The Accelerated Programs of the College of Engineering provides opportunities for highly talented and strongly motivated students to progress toward their educational goals essentially at their own pace. Primarily through advanced placement, credit by examination, flexibility of scheduling, and independent study, the program makes it possible to complete the undergraduate curriculum and initiate graduate study in less than the five years required by the standard curriculum. Programs include: Architectural Engineering BS - Building Systems Concentration / Architectural Engineering MS and Architectural Engineering BS - Structural Concentration / Civil Engineering MS -Structural Track.

Dual Degree Bachelor’s Programs

A student completing the Bachelor of Science degree program in architectural engineering may complete additional courses (specified by the department) to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. (The reverse is difficult because of prerequisites in the sequence of architectural studio design courses, which begins in the sophomore year.)

Bachelor's/Master's Accelerated Degree Program

Exceptional students can also pursue a Master of Science degree in the same period as the Bachelor of Science. For more information about this program, visit the Department's BS/MS Dual Degree Program page.

Facilities

The Department is well equipped with state-of-the-art facilities:

• The department computer labs are in operation: a computer-assisted design (CAD) and computerized instructional lab; and a graduate-level lab (advanced undergraduates can become involved in graduate-level work).
• External labs are used for surveying, building diagnostics, and surface and ground-water measurements.

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty

Emeritus Faculty