Dec 26, 2024  
2023 - 2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023 - 2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Architectural Engineering, B.S.


ET 242 A. P. Torrence Hall
Telephone: 615-963-5421

Faculty: C. Armwood, K. Du, L. Li, A. Gardiner, R. Parthasarathy, and W. Wu

General Statement

The Architectural Engineering program prepares the student to execute, evaluate and complete the engineering analysis, planning, design and construction management of various types of buildings. The four-year curriculum provides a program that emphasizes the fundamentals and design of building systems including structural design, mechanical and electrical systems design, construction management, and architectural design. Using these fundamentals, the student applies engineering science principles to the design of building infrastructure. This provides the student with an understanding of the design process from planning through construction.

The Program Educational Objectives for the Architectural Engineering program represent the expectations of graduates some 4-6 years after graduation.

  1. Will perform with capabilities to function successfully as a proprietor professional or in interdisciplinary teams by utilizing acquired and learned problem-solving and communication skills.
  2. Will continue to advance their knowledge through attainment of licensure, pursuit of graduate studies, and professional development activities.
  3. Will execute ethics principled professional leadership within their workplace, including engineering societies and civic organizations while performing responsibilities of increasing professional and societal complexity.

Student outcomes of the programs require that the student upon graduation demonstrate the following:

  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 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 objective.
  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.

Engineering Design Experience

Throughout the Architectural Engineering program curriculum students are afforded design experiences ranging from architectural rudiments to advanced structural, mechanical lighting/power design principles and practices fundamental to engineered buildings and building systems; all students at the freshman level are required to apply building design techniques and methods. Extraordinary opportunities are available through close contact with other engineering courses and research programs offered by the College of Engineering. The Architectural Engineering curriculum integrates technical resources with social and cultural needs.

The Engineering Design Experience provides the Architectural Engineering student with the training that enables him/her to develop the ability to systematically apply Engineering Sciences Fundamentals to the design of engineered buildings, components, and systems. The Architectural Engineering program has in place a series of required engineering design courses which are integrated throughout its curriculum.

Graduates of the Architectural Engineering program may find many career opportunities in consulting engineering firms or governmental agencies, construction and management agencies, or continue their education in related graduate programs.

Prior to the senior year, students must declare a major emphasis of study and take six credit hours of technical electives in that option.

The minimum number of semester hours required for a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering is 128 credit hours.

Suggested Four-Year Plan:


Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


Junior Year


Senior Year


Elective Group 1


(1) Two Technical Electives must be chosen from the following options.

Elective Group 2


(2) Social-Behavioral Science and Humanities Elective courses must be chosen from a list of general education courses approved by the University.

Elective Group 3


(3) Each student of Architectural Engineering is required to participate in an active practicum over an 8 week period one semester with an operational and functional engineering, construction, or architectural firm or company prior to graduation.