Master of Science in Architectural Engineering
The Master of Science in Architectural Engineering program is 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.
There are two degree options: coursework-based (no research or thesis required) and thesis-based (coursework coupled with research and thesis required).
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.
Curriculum
Degree Options
The Master of Science in Architectural Engineering program has two degree options:
- Coursework-based: For students who wish to prepare for professional practice in architectural engineering, all credit hour requirements are fulfilled by coursework. No research or thesis is required.
- Thesis-based: For students who wish to prepare for professional practice and/or a research-based career in architectural engineering, credit hour requirements are fulfilled by a combination of coursework and research and thesis credits (CAE 591) earned for conducting mentored research and completing a master's thesis and oral thesis defense.
For both degree options, up to 12 credit hours of 400-level courses can be applied to the program.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | (6) | |
| CAE 513 | Building Science 1 | 3 |
| CAE 526 | Energy Conservation in Buildings | 3 |
| Statistics/Data Analysis Requirement | (3) | |
| CAE 523 | Statistical Analysis of Engineering Data | 3 |
| 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 | |
| Major Electives | (12) | |
| Select a minimum of 12 credit hours from the followiing: | 12 | |
| Plumbing and Fire Protection Design | 3 | |
| Building Electrical/Lighting Systems Design | 3 | |
| Lighting Systems Design | 3 | |
| Introduction to Building Information Modeling | 3 | |
or CAE 515 | Building Information Modeling Applications for Building Performance | |
or CAE 573 | Construction Management with Building Information Modeling | |
or ARCH 437 | BIM Revit | |
| Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Engineering 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 405 | Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Engineering | |
| Building Envelope Rehabilitation | 3 | |
| HVAC Systems Design 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 464 | HVAC Systems Design | |
| Structural Forensic Engineering | 3 | |
| Building Enclosure Design 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 463 | Building Enclosure Design | |
| Control of Building Environmental Systems 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 438 | Control of Building Environmental Systems | |
| Applied Building Energy Modeling | 3 | |
| Introduction to Sustainable Building Design 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 462 | Introduction to Sustainable Building Design | |
| Measurement and Instrumentation in Architectural Engineering | 3 | |
| Building Commissioning 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 454 | Building Commissioning | |
| Net Zero Energy Building Design I 3 | 3 | |
| Net Zero Energy Building Design II 3 | 3 | |
| Construction Methods, Cost Estimating, and Project Budgeting 2 | 3 | |
or CAE 470 | Construction Methods and Cost Estimating | |
| Special Problems | 0-4 | |
| Renewable Energy Technologies | 3 | |
| Energy, Environment, and Economics | 3 | |
| Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety 2 | 3 | |
or ENVE 403 | Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety | |
| Global Environmental Change and Sustainability Analysis 2 | 3 | |
or ENVE 422 | Global Environmental Change and Sustainability Analysis | |
| Indoor Air Pollution | 3 | |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 | |
| Nuclear, Fossil-Fuel, and Sustainable Energy Systems | 3 | |
| General Electives | (3) | |
| Select 3 credit hours of general electives 4 | 3 | |
| Additional Electives or Thesis Research Credits | (6) | |
| Select 6 credit hours from the following depending on degree option: | 6 | |
Coursework-based: | ||
Select additional 6 credit hours of major or general electives 4 | 6 | |
Thesis-based: | ||
| Research and Thesis for M.S. Degree | 6 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 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 12 credit 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
On-campus students should prioritize taking CAE 556 and 557, and CAE 556 and CAE 557 should be taken sequentially.
- 4
General electives are 400- or 500-level courses in CAE, ENVE, ARCH, CHE, CHEM, CS, ECE, MATH, MMAE, SAM or other disciplines with advisor approval.
