Master of Science in Architectural Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Drexel University

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Architectural Engineering (MSAE) at Drexel University develops advanced expertise in the engineering principles behind the design, construction, and operation of buildings, with particular emphasis on building performance, energy efficiency, alternative energy strategies, and indoor environmental quality. It suits students with an engineering or related background who want to advance into building systems, sustainable design, consulting, research, or industry, while developing the computational, modeling, and interdisciplinary skills needed for complex building projects.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced knowledge of integrated building systems through core subjects such as AE 510 Intelligent Buildings, AE 544 Building Envelope Systems, and AE 550 Indoor Air Quality. These courses develop an understanding of intelligent building technologies, envelope performance, and indoor environmental conditions, providing the technical foundation for advanced study and research.

Year 2: Students deepen their expertise through subject-area-focused courses and electives, with options such as CIVE 6210 Advanced Mechanics of Materials, CIVE 6220 Advanced Structural Analysis, ENVE 5110 Outdoor Air Quality, and AE Special Topics courses. Depending on their pathway, students can complete additional coursework, an independent study, or an optional research route through AE 7997 Master's Research and AE 7999 Master's Thesis, allowing them to apply advanced engineering knowledge to building-performance and sustainability challenges.

Focus Areas

Focus areas: Building energy efficiency and alternative energy, indoor environmental quality, building systems and performance, sustainable building design, computational and modeling tools, building operation, resilience, urban planning, and community development.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop advanced ability to analyze and integrate building systems, evaluate energy performance and indoor environmental conditions, apply mathematical/computational/modeling tools, design sustainable building solutions, and communicate complex technical concepts while working effectively on interdisciplinary teams.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Professional alignment: Drexel's Architectural Engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, while the official accreditation listings do not identify the MSAE itself as a separately ABET-accredited program. Therefore, the master's degree should not be described as an independently ABET-accredited program; rather, it provides advanced technical preparation for professional engineering practice and related technical careers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Master of Science in Architectural Engineering at Drexel University gives students opportunities to apply advanced building-engineering concepts to real building-performance, sustainability, indoor-environment, and construction challenges. Students can pursue research, independent study, thesis work, computational and modeling approaches, and an optional co-op, while accessing specialized engineering laboratories and research groups focused on structures, materials, indoor environments, energy, and sustainable building systems.

Students can strengthen their practical and research experience through these program-relevant opportunities:

Graduate Co-op: Full-time, on-campus MSAE students can choose an optional co-op experience, providing a three- to six-month professional engagement where classroom knowledge is applied in an employer setting; Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center supports students with co-op opportunities and professional preparation.
Research & Thesis: Students can undertake AE 7997 Master's Research and AE 7999 Master's Thesis, providing a structured route into independent architectural-engineering research.
Indoor Environment Research Group: Students interested in building performance can engage with research on indoor air quality, indoor particle formation, filtration, biowall filtration, and dynamic ventilation strategies. The group has instrumentation capabilities in the BSEG and DARRL laboratories and has projects funded by organizations including NSF and ASHRAE.
Advanced Infrastructure Materials (AIM) Research Group: The AIM facilities support research into sustainable construction materials, concrete durability, infrastructure resilience, materials characterization, monitoring, and nondestructive techniques. Research examples include 3D printing, fiber-reinforced polymers, geopolymer concrete, microbial self-healing concrete, and phase-change materials.
Structural & Geotechnical Research Laboratories: Students have access to facilities supporting large-scale experimentation in structural health monitoring, infrastructure preservation, nondestructive evaluation, earthquake engineering, and geotechnical research. Equipment includes data-acquisition systems from MTS, Campbell Scientific, and National Instruments.
Computational and GIS Tools: Drexel provides access to ArcGIS and GIS extensions such as LiDAR Analyst through its ESRI campus license, supporting spatial analysis and research applications.
Bossone Research Enterprise Center: The Edmund D. Bossone Research Center houses 48 teaching laboratories, 37 laboratory support spaces, and the Materials Characterization Core, which supports materials discovery, characterization, and device prototyping and serves students, faculty, and external academic, national-laboratory, and industry partners.
Machine Shop: Drexel Engineering's full-service Machine Shop supports fabrication and research needs, with professional machinists and capabilities for scientific instrumentation, testing fixtures, and fabrication projects.
Interdisciplinary teamwork: The program's learning outcomes specifically emphasize communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences and functioning effectively on interdisciplinary teams, reflecting the collaborative nature of architectural engineering practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Science in Architectural Engineering at Drexel University prepares graduates for advanced technical, research, consulting, design, and management roles involving complex building systems, sustainability, energy performance, and indoor environmental quality. The degree can also strengthen a graduate’s pathway into doctoral study, while Drexel notes that many program graduates have gone on to establish consulting and construction firms and take positions in public utilities, government, and business.

Typical career roles include: Architectural Engineer, Building Performance Engineer, Sustainability Consultant, Engineering Project Manager.

Career development, industry exposure and outcomes:

Career services: Drexel’s Steinbright Career Development Center supports students through co-op and career services, providing opportunities for professional experience and employment preparation.
Employment outcomes: Drexel reports that 98% of College of Engineering graduates were working or enrolled in graduate/professional education one year after graduation in its 2021 alumni survey, while 95% of those working full-time were satisfied with their position.
Salary figures: Drexel reports that graduate-degree employees can earn up to 28% more than bachelor’s degree holders over the course of their careers. For Drexel Engineering co-op students, the reported median hourly salary was $21, with Architectural Engineering specifically reporting $20/hour in AY 2021–22; this is co-op compensation rather than a graduate starting salary.
University–industry connections: Drexel Engineering’s experiential model connects students with organizations including EwingCole, Exelon Corporation, Pennoni Associates, Allan Myers, CertainTeed Corporation, Philadelphia Water Department, and Woodward McCoach, providing exposure to professional engineering and building-related environments.
Professional development: Full-time, on-campus MSAE students can access a co-op option, while the program emphasizes practice-informed learning and professional preparation for advanced technical and management positions.
Accreditation value: Drexel’s Architectural Engineering BS, rather than the MSAE itself, is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Therefore, the MSAE should not be presented as an ABET-accredited graduate program; however, Drexel states that the master's curriculum supports continued technical development aligned with professional licensing and certification expectations.
Long-term progression: Graduates can move into advanced technical positions and leadership in industry or use their research preparation to progress toward doctoral study. Drexel specifically identifies PhD study in Architectural Engineering or related fields as a progression route.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MSAE, students can progress to Drexel’s PhD in Architectural Engineering, where they can pursue advanced research in areas such as building energy efficiency, alternative energy, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable design. The PhD develops deeper expertise in building-system analysis, computational modelling, sustainability, and independent research, making it suitable for students targeting research, university teaching, or highly specialized technical careers.