Studies & Degrees in Architectural Engineering
Architectural engineering is the engineering of buildings. Where an architect decides a building's space, form and use, an architectural engineer works on how the building stands up and performs: its structure, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting and electrical systems, acoustics, and the way it is built. Drexel University puts the difference this way: architects primarily shape a building's space, form and use, while architectural engineers focus on how the building stands up, performs and supports the health, comfort and productivity of the people in it.
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) describes architectural engineering as an interdisciplinary field that creates integrated building solutions through close coordination between structural, mechanical, lighting, electrical, acoustical and construction work. Students take mathematics, physics and engineering science first, then courses on each building system, and they learn how the systems affect one another. Programmes also include some architectural design, so that engineers understand the architect's side of a project, and they usually end with a large building design project.
Qualifications and levels
Architectural engineering is mostly a bachelor's degree subject, and it is offered mainly in the United States.
- Bachelor's degrees. The length depends on the university. At Penn State the major has ten semesters: the professional degree, Bachelor of Architectural Engineering, is granted after a five-year programme, with four options (Construction, Lighting/Electrical, Mechanical and Structural). Drexel University offers a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering that combines technical courses, laboratories, design projects, a senior capstone and co-op work periods. The University of Colorado at Boulder offers a bachelor's degree in architectural engineering alongside civil and environmental engineering.
- Master's and doctoral degrees. Graduates can specialise further, for example in structures, building energy or lighting, or move into research.
- Two-year colleges. Community and technical colleges offer shorter programmes in architectural or building technology that train technicians and can count towards a later bachelor's degree. Ask the college which universities accept the transfer.
In the United States, check whether a programme is accredited by ABET, the agency that accredits engineering programmes. ABET accredits programmes, not institutions, and states that accreditation gives assurance that a programme meets the quality standards of the profession. Penn State's undergraduate architectural engineering programme, for example, is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists nine active schools for architectural engineering. Seven are in the United States, one is in the United Kingdom and one in Denmark.
The American universities on the list are The University of Texas at Austin, Penn State at University Park, the University of Miami, Drexel University in Philadelphia and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Two colleges are also listed: Greenville Technical College in South Carolina and Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. In Europe the list has Cardiff University in the United Kingdom and Aarhus University in Denmark.
Teaching at the American and British schools is in English. The name of the degree does not mean the same in every country, and the professions of engineer and architect are regulated nationally. Students who plan to work outside the country where they study should ask the school and the professional body of the destination country what recognition the degree has.
Careers
Graduates work for engineering consultancies, construction companies, architecture practices and building owners. Drexel University lists the fields its degree leads to: structural engineering, mechanical and HVAC design, building energy and performance, building controls and commissioning, digital design and BIM, construction and project management, and sustainability and facilities engineering.
In the United States engineers who offer services directly to the public typically need a state licence as a Professional Engineer (PE). According to NCEES, which sets the examination, the PE exam is designed for engineers with at least four years of work experience after college. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate outlook for architectural engineers. For civil engineers, the closest occupation it covers, it projects employment to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between architecture and architectural engineering?
Architects mainly shape a building's space, form and use. Architectural engineers design the structure and the technical systems that make the building stand up and work, such as heating and ventilation, lighting and electrical systems.
How long does an architectural engineering degree take?
It depends on the university. At Penn State the Bachelor of Architectural Engineering is a five-year programme of ten semesters. Check the length and the work placements of each programme before applying.
Can I work as an architect with this degree?
Not on the basis of this degree alone. It is an engineering degree, and the title of architect is regulated separately in each country. Ask the school and the professional body where you plan to work which activities the degree qualifies you for.
What does ABET accreditation mean?
ABET is the agency that accredits engineering programmes in the United States. It accredits individual programmes, not institutions, and states that accreditation gives assurance that the programme meets the quality standards of the profession.