Architecture and Engineering

Program Offerings

Offering type
Certificate

The Program in Architecture and Engineering facilitates certificate studies from any student and is designed to support the full range of engineering and architectural cross-disciplinary interests. This program is a framework for interdisciplinary study to tackle problems that cannot be addressed by one discipline. Completion of the certificate program provides an opportunity to respond dynamically to evolving global challenges, where elegant and effective solutions lead to more resilient and sustainable communities.

Goals for Student Learning

The Program in Architecture and Engineering enables students to work at the intersection of engineering and architecture. It is a framework for interdisciplinary study to tackle problems that cannot be addressed by one discipline. The certificate program is an opportunity to explore new educational and research trajectories. 

The specific learning goals include the following:

  • Identify and confront new societal challenges for designing more resilient and sustainable communities.
  • Gain knowledge of the fundamental principles of both engineering and architecture, and explore the ways in which these principles interact.
  • Develop skills in critical thinking as related to developing solutions for global challenges that benefit from an interdisciplinary approach.
  • Build relationships with classmates across disciplines, learn to work collaboratively in studio spaces.
  • Draw upon the tools and knowledge gained in the classroom to build a foundation upon which the senior thesis (or other research) experience is designed.

Admission to the Program

The Program in Architecture and Engineering is open to all undergraduate students, regardless of discipline. A student planning to enroll in the program should consult with one of the co-directors of the program, who will assign a special adviser to help plan a curriculum. 

Program of Study

In addition to course requirements, the student must identify a global challenge theme, and incorporate the theme into the senior thesis as described below.

  • Identify a Global Challenge Theme: The solutions to modern societal challenges can be elegant, as well as effective. Together, architects and engineers must take the lead in confronting new societal challenges for designing more resilient and sustainable communities.
  • Incorporate Theme in Senior Thesis: The senior thesis should address a cross-disciplinary theme relevant to a global challenge. The student should also contribute to a thesis colloquium. The subject should be reviewed and approved by the co-directors.

Course Requirements

A total of six courses are required to obtain the certificate. No more than two courses from the six may double- count toward both major and certificate. All courses combined should illustrate a coherent program of study that addresses a global theme or challenge. See the list of preapproved courses below.   

The following two design courses are required for all students:

  • ARC 203 Introduction to Architectural Thinking
  • ARC 204 Introduction to Architectural Design (Studio Class) or ARC 205 Interdisciplinary Design Studio

One course is required within a "field of expertise" chosen by the student:

  • Structures: CEE 262 (A or B) Structures and the Urban Environment
  • Computation: ARC 311 Building Science and Tech: Building Systems, or alternative approved by co-directors
  • Environment: ENE202 Designing Sustainable Systems

Note: With approval of the committee, the student may construct their own “field of expertise” that demonstrates a coherent program of study addressing a global challenge theme.

Three additional courses are selected from a list of approved electives in each field of expertise. The preapproved courses within each field of expertise are listed below:

Structures

ARC 204 or ARC 205

ARC 206 Geometry and Architectural Representation

ARC 311 Building Science and Technology: Building Systems

ARC 374 Computational Design

ARC 350 Junior Studio

ARC 351 Junior Studio II

CEE 205 Mechanics of Solids

CEE 312 Statics of Structures

CEE 345 Origami Engineering 

CEE 361 Matrix Structural Analysis and Introduction to Finite Elements

CEE 364 Materials in Civil Engineering

CEE 366 Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures

CEE 440 Elements of Conceptual Design and Analysis of Structures 

CEE 463 A Social and Multi-Dimensional Exploration of Structures

CEE 538 Holistic Analysis of Heritage Structures

CEE 546 Form Finding of Structural Surfaces

EGR 251 or EGR 351 or EGR 451 Community Project Studios 

MSE 301 Materials Science and Engineering or MAE 324 Structure and Properties of Materials

MSE 302 Laboratory Techniques in Materials Science and Engineering

Computation

ARC 204 or ARC 205

ARC 206 Geometry and Architectural Representation

ARC 374 Computational Design

ARC 596 Embodied Computation

CEE 546 Form Finding of Structural Surfaces

CEE 374 Autonomous Fabrication and Robotics

COS 126 General Computer Science

COS 217 Introduction to Programming Systems

COS 226 Algorithms and Data Structures

COS 324 Introduction to Machine Learning

COS 424 Fundamentals of Machine Learning

ELE 206 (COS 306) Contemporary Logic Design

ELE 364 Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analysis

MAE418 Virtual and Augmented Reality for Engineers, Scientists, and Architects

Environment

ARC 204 or ARC 205

EGR 251 or EGR 351 or EGR 451 Community Project Studios 

ARC 382 Environmental Challenges and Urban Solutions

ART 250 Architecture, Globalization, Environment

ARC 406 Energy and Form

ARC 519 Climate Change, Adaptation and Urban Design

ARC 509 Integrated Building Systems

CEE 207 Intro to Environmental Engineering

CEE 304 Environmental Engineering and Energy

CEE 311 Global Air Pollution

CEE 344 Water, Engineering, and Civilization 

CEE 477 Engineering Design for Sustainable Development

MAE 221 Thermodynamics

MAE 228 Energy Technologies in the 21st Century

MAE 328 Energy for Greenhouse-Constrained World

MSE 301 Materials Science and Engineering or MAE 324 Structure and Properties of Materials

MSE 302 Laboratory Techniques in Materials Science and Engineering

Independent Work

Students are required to submit a copy of their senior thesis to complete the UARE certificate program.

Certificate of Proficiency

Students who fulfill the program requirements will receive a certificate of proficiency upon graduation.

Faculty

  • Director

    • Maria E. Garlock (co-director)
    • Forrest M. Meggers (co-director)
  • Executive Committee

    • Sigrid M. Adriaenssens, Civil and Environmental Eng
    • Maria E. Garlock, Civil and Environmental Eng
    • Branko Glisic, Civil and Environmental Eng
    • Forrest M. Meggers, Architecture
    • Guy J.P. Nordenson, Architecture
    • Mónica Ponce de León, Architecture, ex officio

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.