Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute combines engineering, architectural design, and building science to prepare students to design sustainable, efficient, safe, and comfortable built environments. The program suits students interested in both the creative and technical sides of buildings, with study spanning structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction systems alongside WPI’s project-based learning approach.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the mathematical and scientific foundation needed for architectural engineering through Calculus I–IV, General Physics—Mechanics, and Chemical Properties, Bonding, and Forces, while beginning the major with Introduction to Architectural Engineering Systems. The year introduces students to how engineering science connects with building systems and architectural applications.

Year 2: Students begin applying engineering principles to buildings through Architectural Design I, Architectural Design II—Light and Lighting Systems, and Building Electrical Systems. They also develop structural fundamentals through courses such as Analytical Mechanics I, Analytical Mechanics II, and Introduction to Analysis and Design, combining design thinking with engineering analysis.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into advanced building performance and environmental systems through courses including Architectural Design III, Principles of HVAC Design for Buildings, and Building Physics. Students investigate architectural form, materials, building-envelope performance, thermal comfort, HVAC systems, energy use, and environmental conditions while progressing toward design proficiency.

Year 4: Students integrate their architectural engineering knowledge through advanced courses such as Advanced HVAC Design, Architectural Design IV—Building Energy Simulation, and Architectural Design V—Building Envelope Design. The final stage includes the Major Qualifying Project (MQP), WPI’s capstone design experience, where students demonstrate design proficiency in either the structural or mechanical area.

Focus Areas

Structural systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems, construction and construction management, architectural design, building physics, HVAC design, lighting systems, building energy simulation, building-envelope design, and sustainable building design.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates are prepared to solve complex engineering problems, apply engineering design while considering public health and environmental factors, communicate effectively, work collaboratively in teams, conduct and interpret experiments, acquire new technical knowledge, and demonstrate design proficiency across architectural engineering areas.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Architectural Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Architectural Engineering Programs. WPI states that the program prepares graduates for professional engineering careers, including progression toward Professional Engineer registration, graduate study, continuing education, and sustainable design practice.

Reputation (Employability)

WPI reports an average starting salary of $72,822 for its Architectural Engineering graduates. Graduates have pursued roles such as Architectural Engineer, Structural Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Energy Modeler, Electrical Engineer, Lighting Designer, Project Manager, and Construction Management Project Manager, with employers including AECOM, Jacobs Engineering, Arup, WSP, Skanska, Turner Construction, and Gensler.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is strongly centered on hands-on, project-based learning, allowing students to apply engineering principles directly to the design and performance of buildings. Students develop practical expertise across structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction/construction management systems, while electives such as Building Energy Simulation allow them to deepen their technical design skills. The program also includes opportunities to support faculty research, complete projects off campus in the U.S. or abroad, and undertake a required senior Major Qualifying Project (MQP) that addresses real-world architectural engineering challenges.

Students gain this practical experience through WPI’s project-centered curriculum and specialized facilities:

Integrated Design Projects: Architectural Engineering students work across structural, mechanical, and electrical disciplines, including an integrated building-design experience in which a building is progressively engineered through junior-year coursework.
Major Qualifying Project: Every graduating senior completes an MQP, with student teams presenting their research, design, or creative projects to faculty advisors, external sponsors, and the wider community.
Building Energy Simulation: Students can develop specialized skills in building energy analysis through the Building Energy Simulation elective, connecting engineering design with building performance and sustainability.
Design Studio: WPI’s 1,600-square-foot Higgins Design Studio in the Keck Design Center supports computer-aided design, simulation, visualization, coursework, student projects, and faculty research. It includes high-performance workstations and is designed to support collaboration and teamwork.
CAD & Digital Tools: WPI provides access to more than 200 scientific and engineering software applications through Academic & Research Computing, including CAD, simulation, and visualization resources.
AutoCAD: Students have access to AutoCAD for 2D and 3D computer-aided design, with the software available through WPI computer labs and on eligible personal devices.
3D Prototyping: Academic & Research Computing provides rapid-prototyping resources that allow students to produce 3D-printed parts from CAD models using machines in Higgins Laboratory.
Architectural Engineering Facilities: Kaven Hall, home to the Architectural Engineering Department, includes laboratories for structural engineering, construction materials, and computer-aided materials and design, alongside other engineering laboratories.
Research Opportunities: Architectural Engineering students can support faculty research and use WPI’s research-computing infrastructure, including high-performance computing, research storage, engineering software, and specialist consultations.
Off-Campus Projects: The program specifically provides opportunities for students to conduct projects off campus in the United States or abroad, bringing architectural engineering work into real-world settings.
Internships & Co-op: WPI identifies co-op and internship opportunities as ways Architectural Engineering students can gain real-world professional experience alongside their academic work.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Architectural Engineering is housed within WPI’s Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering environment and works across engineering disciplines, while Unity Hall provides collaboration spaces and laboratories for interdisciplinary programs including Architectural Engineering.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of WPI’s Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering are prepared for careers spanning building engineering, design, construction, consulting, and sustainability. WPI identifies roles such as Engineer, Analyst, Researcher, Project Manager, Consultant, and Designer, with graduates working at organizations including AECOM, Jacobs Engineering, Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, WSP, Skanska, and Turner Construction.

Career development and professional progression are supported through WPI’s project-based education and dedicated career resources:

Career Development Center: WPI’s Career Development Center provides career counseling, recruiting events, employment resources, and access to employer opportunities; students can also use Handshake for job postings, interviews, and employer connections.
Internships and co-ops: WPI specifically highlights internships and co-op experiences as ways for Architectural Engineering students to gain real-world work experience before graduation.
Industry employers: WPI lists AECOM, Jacobs Engineering, Thornton Tomasetti, Arup, WSP, Skanska, Turner Construction, Gilbane Building Company, Suffolk Construction, Buro Happold, SOM, Gensler, and HOK among organizations that have hired Architectural Engineering graduates.
Project-based career preparation: Major Qualifying Projects give students experience addressing real engineering and building challenges, including structural design, energy simulation, building systems, sustainable housing, and energy retrofits.
Starting salary: WPI reports an average starting salary of $72,822 for its Architectural Engineering graduates.
Graduation outcomes: WPI’s broader Class of 2024 First Destination Outcomes data reports an average salary of $80,294 within six months of graduation across undergraduate programs; this figure is university-wide rather than specific to Architectural Engineering.
ABET accreditation: The Architectural Engineering BS is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Architectural Engineering programs, providing an established professional-accreditation framework for the degree.
Professional development: WPI’s stated program objectives include graduates pursuing Professional Engineer registration, earning graduate degrees, continuing professional education, participating in professional societies, and applying sustainable design principles in professional practice.
Professional societies: Students can engage with organizations and clubs connected to the field, including the Architectural Engineering Institute, ASHRAE, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and Structural Engineering Institute.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Architectural Engineering, students can continue directly into WPI’s BS AREN/Master of Architecture pathway and earn both degrees in five years. WPI also offers a five-year BS Architectural Engineering + MS Fire Protection Engineering option, while graduates can pursue graduate study in Architectural Engineering or related disciplines at WPI and other universities.