Development Of A Curriculum For A New Architectural Engineering Program At Texas A&M University Kingsville

This paper presents an overview of the development of the curriculum for a new architectural engineering program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The program proposal has been submitted to the appropriate state agencies for approval, which it is expected to receive in early 2005. If approved, the first cohort of students will be admitted into the program in the fall semester of 2005. The mission of the program will be to prepare students to undertake the necessary design experience in the building industry to become registered engineers with a specialization in Building Architectural Engineering, and to instill in them the importance of lifelong learning, including pursuing advanced studies leading to graduate degrees. The program will be a traditional four-year engineering degree program requiring 131 semester credit hours of coursework sufficient to satisfy all the accreditation requirements of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The proposed curriculum includes coursework in communications, social science and humanities, mathematics and science, engineering fundamentals, and the three basic curriculum areas of architectural engineering: structures, building mechanical and electrical systems, and construction/construction management