Master of Science in Architectural Engineering

The Master of Science in Architectural Engineering is a research and thesis-based graduate degree program oriented toward students who wish to develop more knowledge about the design, construction, and operation of buildings and their systems, including heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, facades and enclosures, and electrical, lighting, fire protection, and plumbing systems. The degree program is intended for preparation for both engineering practice and research rooted in the principles of building science, indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Students are expected to conduct research at a rigorous level beyond the coursework-only Master of Engineering in Architectural Engineering degree program. The program also serves as a foundation for students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree.

Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are eligible to apply for the program, including those with undergraduate degrees in engineering disciplines (e.g., architectural, civil, mechanical, or environmental engineering) and non-engineering disciplines (e.g., architecture, construction management, or environmental design). All admitted students are expected to have passed thermodynamics and fluid mechanics in their undergraduate studies. If students have not passed these courses, they may be required to take proficiency courses in their first year of study or in the summer before their first year of study. Each applicant will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis during the application review process to determine any proficiency course requirements. 

Students in the program must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours in total, with 6 to 8 hours of thesis credits (CAE 591) awarded for successful completion of master’s thesis milestones. Up to 12 credit hours of 400-level undergraduate coursework may be included in the program with adviser approval.

Curriculum

Degree candidates in the master of science program must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours, six to eight of which must be research and thesis credits. Up to 12 credit hours of 400-level undergraduate coursework may be included in the program with prior adviser approval. An oral defense of the thesis constitutes the comprehensive examination, and no additional written comprehensive examination is required.

Curriculum

Required Courses (6)
CAE 513Building Science 13
CAE 526Energy Conservation in Buildings 23
or CAE 465 Energy Conservation in Buildings
Statistics/Data Analysis Requirement (3)
CAE 523Statistical Analysis of Engineering Data3
or MATH 474 Probability and Statistics
or MATH 564 Regression
or MMAE 500 Data Driven Modeling
or BME 533 Biostatistics
or STAT 514 Applied Computational Statistics for Analytics
Thesis Research (6-8)
CAE 591Research and Thesis for M.S. Degree6-8
Architectural Engineering Elective Courses (12)
Select a minimum of 12 credit hours from the followiing:12
Plumbing and Fire Protection Design3
Building Electrical/Lighting Systems Design3
Lighting Systems Design3
Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Engineering 23
Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Engineering
Building Envelope Rehabilitation3
Building Energy Modeling3
Introduction to Building Information Modeling
HVAC Systems Design 23
HVAC Systems Design
Structural Forensic Engineering3
Building Enclosure Design 23
Building Enclosure Design
Control of Building Environmental Systems 23
Control of Building Environmental Systems
Applied Building Energy Modeling3
Introduction to Sustainable Building Design3
Introduction to Sustainable Building Design
Measurement and Instrumentation in Architectural Engineering3
Building Commissioning 23
Building Commissioning
Net Zero Energy Building Design I3
Net Zero Energy Building Design II3
Construction Methods, Cost Estimating, and Project Budgeting 23
Construction Methods and Cost Estimating
Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety 23
Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety
Global Environmental Change and Sustainability Analysis3
Global Environmental Change and Sustainability Analysis
Indoor Air Pollution3
Computational Fluid Dynamics3
General Elective Courses (3-5)
Select up to five credit hours of general electives 33-5

 Minimum degree credits required: 32

1

Students who have previously passed an equivalent course in their prior degree programs may substitute another course for CAE 513 with adviser approval. 

2

Up to 9-hours of 400-level courses can be applied to the program. For courses that are cross-listed with both graduate and undergraduate sections, students in the program should prioritize taking the graduate (500-level) section. Accelerated master's students can take either section that best fits their plan of study.

3

General electives can be taken in CAE, ENVE, ARCH, CHE, CHEM, EG, MMAE, SAM or other disciplines with advisor approval. If 6 hours of thesis credits (591) are taken, then a total of 5 hours of general elective coursework is required; if 8 hours of thesis credits (591) are taken, then a total of 3 hours of general elective coursework is required.