Prospective Students - Architectural Engineering Department

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Architectural Engineering

The architectural engineering program was created originally as an academic body of knowledge primarily concerned with people occupied structures. The accredited programs throughout the United States, while sharing a common general mission, all have their own specialties supplemented by other specific proficiencies related to the field.

Cal Poly's Department of Architectural Engineering's (ARCE) curriculum focuses on the structural engineering of buildings. By focusing on building design students are able to take many more structural engineering courses than is possible in a traditional civil engineering program. Beyond structural engineering courses, students take several architecture and construction management, giving them an appreciation for these disciplines.

What Makes the Program Unique?

Theory AND practice - the curriculum consists of a mix of theoretical and practical courses.
Design labs - students take several intensive design labs in which they design actual buildings.
Hands-on - students have many opportunities to build models and test building components in the lab.
Great student-faculty interaction.
Active student chapter of the Structural Engineers' Association of California (SEAOC).
Excellent network of alumni.
Access to numerous scholarships.
Help finding internships and job opportunities.

ARCE v. Architecture

Architectural engineering (ARCE) should not be confused with architecture (ARCH). While there are strong ties between the two departments, architectural engineering leads to a career as a structural engineer rather than as an architect.

ARCE v. Civil Engineering

Architectural engineering differs from civil engineering in that the focus of the ARCE program is on structural engineering of buildings whereas a traditional civil engineering program offers a broader curriculum that includes courses in transportation, wastewater, environmental engineering, etc. in addition to structural engineering courses. By focusing on the engineering of buildings, the architectural engineering department is able to offer many more courses related to structures. For students interested in designing buildings - ARCE is probably the place for you! For students who aren't sure which branch of engineering they wish to pursue - Civil Engineering may be the way to go...

Profile of an Incoming Student

Successful students in the architectural engineering program are among the most highly qualified to enter the university. They have balanced aptitudes in mathematics and verbal skills. They generally have an interest in or have matured skills in graphics and/or art. They are noted for their ability to think through abstract problems and have a passion for what they are doing. Hopefully the student understands the mission of the department and has a general sense of where the program leads a successful graduate. A sense of wanting to be an active part of a team is desired and is a skill that develops naturally within the department's pedagogy. During the first year at Cal Poly, the student will not take any architectural engineering courses but rather mathematics, physics, and architectural courses along with fulfilling the general education and breadth requirements. While this can be distracting to a young person's ambition to be in the architectural engineering program, the second year starts to expose the student to the fundamentals of the profession. The third and fourth year include the transition to the design labs and are the signature classes within the program.

Computing Recommendations

Students in the Department of Architectural Engineering are not required to purchase a personal computer. The ARCE department does maintain its own computer lab for its students and there are many labs around campus for general student use. Many students, however, find it convenient to have access to their own computer.

Wireless access is available in all of the Architectural Engineering design laboratories as well as most areas on campus. Laptops are favored by students because they can use them in the design studios (where juniors and seniors tend to spend a large portion of their day).

It is recommended that you purchase a PC for our department. It is acceptable to purchase a Mac, however. If you do purchase a Mac, there may be a time in which you will have to install a Windows operating system on your computer in order to run some of the programs we use. In order to install Windows on you Mac you would have to use Bootcamp, or purchase VM Ware Fusion, or Parallels or a similar program along with a copy of Windows.

Buying a computer that will last a student for the 4 or more years they will be in the ARCE program can be difficult. With the programs we use getting larger and more processor and memory intensive every year, we recommend that you buy a bigger, faster, stronger computer than might be needed today.

Specifications you should look for

Intel i5 at the least, i7 processor would be better. Quad core processor better than dual core.
500 GB or greater hard drive
512 MB or greater video memory with a resolution minimum of 1280x1024
6GB or greater RAM