Prospective Undergraduate Students

The Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State is widely acknowledged as the top architectural engineering program in the country. It emphasizes the scientific and engineering aspects of planning, designing, and constructing of buildings. The goal of the program is to provide engineering graduates with the best education available for careers in the building professions.

The undergraduate architectural engineering program at Penn State is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Architectural Engineering Program Criteria.

Department of Architectural Engineering Program Education Objectives

The undergraduate program in Architectural Engineering is designed to produce graduates who, within a few years of graduation, are expected to be:

• Progressing in their professional careers in the building industry or other related fields by applying expertise in one or more areas related to the integrated planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of sustainable, resilient, and high-performance buildings and infrastructure
• Demonstrating strong ethical leadership, communication, collaborative, and interdisciplinary skills
• Advancing the building industry and engaging in lifelong learning through activities, such as graduate-level study, professional development, mentoring, and involvement in professional organizations and other industry service roles
• Attaining credentials appropriate for their career paths, such as professional licenses, registrations, or certifications

The architectural engineering undergraduate program at Penn State delivers high-quality education and creative inquiry on the fundamentals of engineering, and their application to the built environment. The program produces graduates with a broad understanding of building systems and their integration, as well as in-depth knowledge of the construction, lighting/electrical, mechanical, or structural sub-disciplines. The program focuses on improving the quality of life through the built environment by emphasizing the dynamic interactions among multiple building functionalities, and their effects on building occupants, that dictate overall performance. Graduates of the program become leaders in the building industry and exhibit awareness of global issues and an appreciation of diverse perspectives.

Department of Architectural Engineering Students are Prepared To:

1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

**Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.