Overview
As you know, architects design buildings. Architectural engineers specialize in designing the engineering systems within buildings. Architectural Engineering is in many ways similar to civil and mechanical engineering, but it is specifically geared toward the building industry. There are only a handful of Architectural Engineering programs dotted throughout the United States, and some of them require five years of fairly rigorous and diverse study. For the lucky few who graduate from these programs, though, employment opportunities are exceptional and career opportunities are bright.
Architectural Engineering majors study the planning, design, construction, and operation of engineered systems for all different kinds of buildings. What kind of engineered systems, you ask? In a nutshell, all those tremendously important things in every building that no one really notices like electrical systems, lighting, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, fire protection, plumbing, and structural systems.
If you decide to major in Architectural Engineering, you'll study the fundamentals of engineering and building construction as well as architectural history and design, math, the physical sciences, computer programming, and surveying.
- $30,240 Tuition
- 1260 Avg SAT
- 24,931 Enrolled
- $25,770 Tuition
- 1210 Avg SAT
- 19,338 Enrolled
- $60,042 Tuition
- 1330 Avg SAT
- 13,450 Enrolled
- $48,670 Tuition
- 1320 Avg SAT
- 2,998 Enrolled
- $26,838 Tuition
- 1150 Avg SAT
- 15,113 Enrolled
- $48,240 Tuition
- 1260 Avg SAT
- 2,653 Enrolled
View All Architectural Engineering Schools
SAMPLE CURRICULUM
Architectural Design
Architectural Graphics
Building Materials Science
Calculus
Computers in Engineering
Construction Contracting
Electronics and Electric Circuits
Engineering Systems Mathematics
History of Architecture
Physics
Plane Surveying
Statics and Dynamics
Structural Analysis
Structural Design
HIGH SCHOOl PREPARATION
In a word: math. You will do more math as an Architectural Engineering major (or as any kind of an engineering major) than you could ever shake a stick at in high school. So, get used to it, and get good at it. You also want to be comfortable working with different kinds of computer applications, and you should take a few art classes in order to feel comfortable with different design elements.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS & CAREERS