Oklahoma State University

1535

Students who demonstrate proficiency in this portion of the program by meeting a specific set of admission criteria are eligible for admission to the professional program in architecture. The professional program in architecture (typically three years) builds systematically upon the knowledge acquired in the pre-professional curriculum. Students expand their design and problem-solving abilities through a sequential series of design studios informed by sequences of courses dealing with structure, systems and materials, building technology, the history and theory of architecture, and business and project management principles. In addition students fully utilize the computer as a design and communication tool in the problem-solving process. The design studio is the center of the School’s educational program. It is the setting where students and faculty work most closely together, and where all specialized study and knowledge comes together and is synthesized in design. The record of OSU students’ achievements in the design studios is evidenced by the success in national and international architectural design competitions. In addition to a student’s design studio education, he or she is required to complete sequential courses in structures, architectural history/theory, technology, and management that work in correlation with the design studio sequence. The program has long been known as one of the strongest professional programs in the United States. OSU graduates are consistently offered employment opportunities in many of the best architectural offices in Oklahoma and throughout the United States. The program is fully accredited by the National Architectural Accreditation Board. Architectural Engineering Architectural engineering is a profession that combines the art and science known as architecture with a detailed background in fundamental and applied engineering principles. In its broadest sense, it involves the creative application of science and technology to the design of structures meant for human occupancy. Architectural engineering differs from architecture in its focus upon the design of elements, systems and procedures for buildings, rather than the design of buildings themselves. Architectural engineers practice in a wide variety of professional engineering settings such as consulting firms, architectural firms, industrial or commercial organizations and governmental agencies. The objective of the Bachelor of Architectural Engineering program is to provide basic and professional education to engineering students in building-related systems. OSU graduates possess broad-based knowledge, skills and judgment that prepare them to succeed in the profession of architectural engineering or in further studies at the graduate level. The program is designed to prepare students to contribute to society as professional engineers dealing with analysis, design and related activities within the construction industry. The program utilizes the broad resources of the University to exploit a close relationship with the architectural program and to provide in-depth understanding of the professional field and sensitivity to other less technical concerns related to the building environment faced by architectural engineers. The primary focus of the architectural engineering program at OSU is the safe and economical design of technical systems used in buildings. Structural systems must withstand the various forces of nature such as gravity, winds and earthquakes, as well as the forces of man. These systems require a working knowledge of the mechanics of those materials commonly used for building structures such as steel, timber and reinforced concrete. Two new options are available for consideration

in the architectural engineering program: Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing, and Construction Project Management. The study of architectural engineering is an integrated mix of liberal studies, design and technical education. Architectural engineers need to be able to conceptualize aesthetic issues and design complex technical systems. In the pre-professional portion of the architectural engineering program (approximately two years of study), the focus is on the underlying scientific and mathematical principles of engineering and the basic design principles of architecture supplemented by appropriate general education courses in English, social sciences, natural sciences, math and humanities. These courses allow students to assimilate a beginning knowledge base in architecture and engineering along with a broader liberal-based component to their education. Students who demonstrate proficiency in this portion of the program by meeting a specific set of admission criteria are eligible for admission to the professional program in architectural engineering. The professional program in architectural engineering (typically three years) builds systematically upon the scientific and architectural knowledge acquired in the pre-professional curriculum. Students acquire detailed technical and architectural knowledge and problem- solving abilities through a series of progressively more detailed and comprehensive courses and studios. Each architectural engineering course builds upon the preceding architectural engineering courses to develop in the student the ability to identify and solve meaningful architectural engineering problems. The coursework is specifically sequenced and interrelated to provide design experience at each level, leading to progressively more complex, open-ended problems. This coursework includes sensitizing students to socially-related technical problems and their responsibilities as engineering professionals to behave ethically and protect public safety. The program culminates in a fifth-year course in which the students integrate analysis, synthesis and other abilities they have developed throughout the earlier portions of their study into a capstone experience. An integral part of this educational continuum from basic knowledge through comprehensive architectural engineering design are learning experiences that facilitate the students’ abilities to function effectively in both individual and team environments. Students are exposed to a wide variety of problems dealing with contemporary issues in an international context. Moreover, the program provides every graduate with adequate learning experiences to develop effective written and oral communication skills. State-of-the-art computational and CAD tools are introduced and used as a part of the students’ problem-solving experiences. Finally, the students’ experience in solving ever-more-challenging problems gives them the ability to continue to learn independently throughout their professional careers. Architectural Engineering Educational Objectives . The educational objectives expected of program graduates a few years after graduation are as follows. These graduates: • Will utilize their education in architectural engineering to contribute to society as licensed professional engineers; • Will excel in their careers, displaying leadership, initiative, and broad- based knowledge and skills; • Will have displayed a sensitivity to human needs and other less technical concerns related to the building environment;