Architectural Engineering - Undergraduate Program
Educational and Professional Career Paths
Architectural engineering is interdisciplinary, requiring expertise in structural engineering and architecture. An Architectural Engineer can be responsible for the individual design of each of a building’s systems: structural, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, lighting and electrical, plumbing, and fire protection. An Architectural Engineer can be responsible for the coordinated design of all these systems and, then, for the construction of the entire building with the goal of a safe, economical, and sustainable building system that satisfies the use requirements and provides a secure and comfortable environment for its occupants.
This degree program is designed to provide a strong foundation in science, mathematics, and engineering science; technical competence in the structural engineering area of civil engineering; and an understanding of the importance of ethics, safety, professionalism, and socioeconomic concerns in resolving technical problems through synthesis, planning, and design. Elements of design are introduced at the freshman level. This is followed by an analysis and design component in professional program courses, culminating in a comprehensive design experience.
Architectural engineering graduates are prepared for advanced graduate degrees and a wide range of career paths with consulting firms, industry and governmental agencies.
The Civil Engineering Department will seek accreditation by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org . ABET is recognized by the U. S. Department of Education as the sole agency responsible for accreditation of education programs leading to degrees in engineering. Graduation from an ABET accredited program is an important factor in attaining registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and other states. The Architectural Engineering program is housed in the Civil Engineering Department.
Architectural Engineering: BS Degree at UT Arlington
Initially, the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering will emphasize the building structures area. The remaining three areas of Architectural Engineering (building mechanical systems, building electrical systems, and construction / construction management) will be included at various levels but with less emphasis. As resources are added to the program and additional courses can be added, all four areas will become available as the major area.
Advising
Students entering directly from high school with no more than 24 hours of transferable credit are advised initially in the University Advising Center of University College. Students are transitioned to advising in the College of Engineering as they progress successfully in their degree programs.
Transfer students with 24 or more hours of transferable credit, registering for the first time, must be advised prior to the beginning of the semester they enroll in courses. They should contact a department undergraduate advisor to set up an appointment as soon after admission as possible, but certainly prior to registration.
Architectural engineering majors are required to be advised by an assigned undergraduate advisor during a specified period each semester. Students are responsible for meeting with their advisors during the advising period. Continuing students will receive instructions prior to each advising period. Students who do not meet with their advisors during the regular advising period may have fewer alternatives when selecting courses.
Architectural engineering students must register only for courses approved by their faculty advisor and must obtain their advisor's written authorization to add a course. Students must follow the current prerequisite sequence rules when enrolling in courses. Failure to follow advising rules may be grounds for dismissal from the architectural engineering program.
Transfer Students and Transfer Credit
When a student transfers, a loss of credit can occur and his/her academic plans may have to be changed. Courses that appear to be similar may be different in either content or level of difficulty and, as a result, cannot be used for degree credit. When a student's record indicates weakness in certain areas of study, he/she will be required to retake courses or to take additional courses. Transfer students should contact the Department of Civil Engineering after admission and prior to registration.
Prior to advising, a transfer student should present to an undergraduate advisor a transcript (official or copy) from each school previously attended. A freshman or sophomore level course will be accepted in transfer toward a degree in architectural engineering when it has determined to be equivalent to a required course. To be accepted in transfer, a junior or senior level course must be determined to be equivalent to a required course and must be from a program with the same accreditation.
A continuing student in the Department of Civil Engineering at UT Arlington who wishes to enroll in courses at another college or university for transfer credit toward a degree in architectural engineering should, first, consult with a civil engineering undergraduate advisor to verify that the course can be used in the student's AREN degree plan and to obtain written permission.
Educational Objectives of the Undergraduate Program
Most alumni of the AREN program will attain the following Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) within a few years after graduation:
- Obtain professional position and practice architectural engineering, or pursue graduate studies.
- Be involved in continuing education and professional development activities.
- Obtain PE licensure or other professional certification.
Student Outcomes of the Undergraduate Program
In order to produce graduates who will achieve the Program Educational Objectives a few years after graduation, it is expected that the undergraduate students will attain the following Student Outcomes by the time of graduation:
- an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- an ability to design and conduct experiments
- an ability to analyze and interpret data
- an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
- an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- an ability to communicate effectively
- the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
- a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
- a knowledge of contemporary issues
- an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Engineering
| Courses Fulfilling the University General Core Requirements (minimum 42 hours required) | 46 | |
| Communication (minimum 6 hours required) | ||
| RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I 1 | ||
| PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 1, 2 | ||
| Creative Arts (minimum 3 hours required) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN 1 | ||
| Government/Political Science (minimum 6 hours required) | ||
| GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | ||
| STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ||
| Language, Philosophy & Culture (minimum 3 hours required) | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY | ||
| Mathematics (minimum 6 hours required) | ||
| CALCULUS I 1,3 | ||
| CALCULUS II 1 | ||
| Life & Physical Sciences (minimum 6 hours required) | ||
| GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS I 1 | ||
| GENERAL TECHNICAL PHYSICS II 1 | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (minimum 3 hours required) | ||
| ECONOMICS FOR ENGINEERS 1 | ||
| US History (minimum 6 hours required) | ||
| HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | ||
| HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | ||
| Foundational Component Area Option (minimum 3 hours required) | ||
| CALCULUS III 1 | ||
| Other Courses not in the AREN Professional Program | 30 | |
| DESIGN COMMUNICATIONS I 1 | ||
| BASIC DESIGN AND DRAWING FOR ENGINEERS 1 | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING 1,4 | ||
| COMPUTER TOOLS - AUTOCAD 1 | ||
| COMPUTER TOOLS - MATHCAD 1 | ||
| DYNAMICS 2 | ||
| STATICS 1 | ||
| MECHANICS OF MATERIALS I 1 | ||
| CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS 1 | ||
| CIRCUIT ANALYSIS 1 | ||
| ENGINEERING PROBLEM SOLVING 1 | ||
| AREN Professional Program Courses | 44 | |
| ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS I | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS II | ||
| BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING & VISUALIZATION | ||
| CIVIL ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS | ||
| PROPERTIES AND BEHAVIOR OF SOILS | ||
| STOCHASTIC MODELS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING | ||
| BASIC FLUID MECHANICS | ||
| CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING | ||
| STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS | ||
| SOIL MECHANICS | ||
| REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN | ||
| STRUCTURAL DESIGN IN STEEL | ||
| PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE | ||
| SENIOR PROJECT | ||
| THERMAL ENGINEERING | ||
| DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS & LINEAR ALGEBRA | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
1 Course in the Architectural Engineering Pre-Professional Program
2 Completion of COMS 2302 PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING satisfies the University's communication requirement.
3 The Mathematics Department requires MATH 1421 PREPARATION FOR CALCULUS or passing a placement test provided by the Mathematics Department before enrolling.
4 Completion of CE 1105 INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL ENGINEERING satisfies the University's computer proficiency requirement.
More hours may be required to strengthen student's program or demonstrate proficiency. See Prior Preparation and Course Requirements.
Total hours will depend upon prior preparation and academic qualifications. Also, students who do not have two units of high school foreign language will be required to take modern and classical languages courses in addition to the previously listed requirements.
Refer to the College of Engineering section of this catalog for information concerning the following topics: Admission to the College of Engineering, Advising, Admission into the Professional Program, College of Engineering Academic Regulations, Honors Degrees in Engineering, Professional Engineering Licensure, and Cooperative Education.
Suggested Course Sequence
A suggested course sequence for the Pre-Professional (first two years) and Professional Program courses (final two years) is available on the CE Department’s web site.
Admission Requirements
Requirements for admission as an Architectural Engineering major are governed by the requirements stated under the College of Engineering section of this catalog.
Admission to the Professional Program
Requirements for admission to the professional program in Architectural Engineering are in accordance with those of the College of Engineering with the following added stipulations:
- Application to the professional program is to be made to the CE Department during the semester that the advancement requirements are being completed.
- No professional program courses may be taken until the student is admitted into the professional program or obtains the written consent of the Department Chair.
- Each student must complete all pre-professional courses stipulated under "Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Engineering" with a minimum grade of C in each course and a minimum GPA of 2.25 in:
- all courses,
- in all math, science, and engineering courses, and
- in all CE courses.
- Upon receipt of the application, a student's record is individually reviewed including grades, academic and personal integrity, record of drops and course withdrawals, the order in which courses have been taken, the number of times a student has attempted a course for credit, and any other aspect of the student's record that may be deemed pertinent to admission.
The student must be admitted to the professional program and have an approved degree plan on file in order to graduate. The degree plan is generated upon entry to the professional program. Graduating seniors should apply to graduate during the next-to-last semester.
Prior Preparation and Course Requirements
The undergraduate baccalaureate degree in architectural engineering is a four-year program and requirements for the degree are based upon prior high school preparation through either an honors or college track program. Students who have not had the appropriate prior preparation should contact the departmental advising office for a curriculum guide that will assist them in structuring a study plan that will include leveling courses. Students requiring leveling courses may require a period of time greater than four years to complete their undergraduate degree.
Academic Requirements
Academic performance requirements establishing satisfactory progress and grade point requirements are given in the College of Engineering section of this catalog.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR AREN COURSE PREREQUISITES
Architectural Engineering majors (AREN-UCOL, AREN-Intended or AREN) may not attempt a course until they have earned a grade of C or better in the prerequisite course(s).
repeating courses
Architectural Engineering majors (AREN-UCOL, AREN-Intended or AREN) may not attempt any course more than three times and apply that course toward a degree in architectural engineering. Enrollment in a course for a period of time sufficient for assignment of a grade, including a grade of W, is considered an attempt.
grounds for dismissal from the aren program
Architectural Engineering majors (AREN-UCOL, AREN-Intended or AREN) who the UTA Office of Student Conduct has found to have violated the UTA code of Conduct a second time are subject to dismissal from the AREN program.