New UT Arlington bachelor’s degree combines architecture, engineering to meet industry demand
Beginning this fall, The University of Texas at Arlington will offer the first architectural engineering bachelor’s degree program in North Texas to prepare a new generation of students for careers in design, construction and engineering-related fields.
The program will be based on 120 semester credit hours and incorporates courses in civil engineering, architecture, studio design and engineering design. Graduates will be ideally suited to fill in-demand jobs in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors.
The new degree plan will be offered jointly by the College of Engineering and the proposed College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, an integration of the existing School of Architecture and School of Urban and Public Affairs. Graduates will know how to apply engineering principles to the construction, planning and design of built structures.
“This new degree program bridges architectural and engineering expertise so our graduates will be among the best prepared to design and build sustainable cities for the future,” said Nan Ellin, founding dean of the new college integrating the disciplines of architecture, planning and public affairs. “Future graduates’ contributions will enhance the quality of life in the Dallas-Fort Worth region and well beyond North Texas.”
With a population nearing 7 million, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area is the fourth-largest metro area in the country and one of the nation’s fastest-growing economies. Construction-related industries are thriving. UT Arlington’s Strategic Plan 2020 calls for the University to address challenges that face such swelling urban regions, including a commitment to fostering sustainable urban communities.
Khosrow Behbehani, dean of the College of Engineering, said the new program has been driven by industry demand with business leaders noting that they often hire job candidates from out of state to fill positions in the building, construction, architecture and engineering areas.
“This new degree provides industry with students who have a highly-focused multidisciplinary education that is responsive to industry needs,” Behbehani said. “Responding to industry needs is indeed a salient aspect of our mission which we take very seriously and enjoy fulfilling.”
Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering will have the opportunity to work with engineers and architects in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings, building systems, parking and airport facilities, bridge systems and other infrastructure systems.
For information about the new architectural engineering degree program, email Bijan Youssefzadeh, program director and associate professor at the School of Architecture, at bijan@uta.edu, or James Leininger, undergraduate adviser in the College of Engineering, at jleininger@uta.edu.
About the College of Engineering
The UT Arlington College of Engineering offers nine baccalaureate, 14 master’s and nine doctoral degree programs. Its graduate program has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best in the nation. With more than 6,000 students and about 25,000 alumni, the College of Engineering is the fourth largest in Texas, providing the local, regional, and national workforce with motivated and highly skilled graduates.
About the proposed College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs
The soon-to-be merged college combines the long-successful programs of the School of Architecture and the School of Urban and Public affairs into one academic unit that will extend the impact and excellence of the University in areas related to design, architecture, urban planning and public affairs.
About UT Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of nearly 49,000 students in campus-based and online degree programs and is the second largest institution in The University of Texas System. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked UT Arlington as the seventh fastest-growing public research university in 2013. U.S. News & World Report ranks UT Arlington fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more, and find UT Arlington rankings and recognition at www.uta.edu/uta/about/rankings.php.
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