Program Overview

Architectural Engineering (AREN) Program

The Architectural Engineering (AREN) program at the University of NebraskaLincoln offers a comprehensive education in the field of architectural engineering. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles of engineering and architecture, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry.

Course Offerings

The AREN program offers a wide range of courses, including:

• AREN 100: Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction Seminar
  • Description: Presentation of professional problems and practices by students, faculty, and professionals associated with careers in the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction.
  • Credit Hours: 0
• AREN 101: Introduction to Architectural Engineering
  • Description: An overview of architectural engineering, including descriptions of structural, lighting and electrical, and mechanical engineered systems in buildings.
  • Credit Hours: 1
• AREN 103: Design and Simulation Studio I
  • Description: Focus on virtual modeling in the context of conceptual design, including the study of fundamentals of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and iterative design processes.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 201: Architectural Engineering Seminar
  • Credit Hours: 1
• AREN 203: Design and Simulation Studio II
  • Description: Focus on building systems as integral elements in architecture, building and construction assemblies, materials and methods, fabrication, and tectonic exploration using BIM processes.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 211: Thermodynamics for Architectural Engineering
  • Description: First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics, properties of gases and vapors, sources of energy and its conversion to work, and applications in Architectural Engineering and Construction.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 225: Construction Graphics and Design
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 240: Building Systems
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 303: AE Design and Simulation Studio III
  • Description: A comprehensive focus on building design and construction through integrating program, structure, site, and enclosure aligned with architectural engineering.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 307: Mechanics of Materials Laboratory
  • Credit Hours: 1
• AREN 310: HVAC Fundamentals
  • Description: Introduction to the types of air conditioning systems, properties of moist air, psychometric processes in HVAC equipment, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and heat transmission in buildings.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 312: Mechanical Systems for Buildings
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 313: HVAC Laboratory
  • Credit Hours: 1
• AREN 320: Lighting I: Fundamentals for Design
  • Description: Introduction to illumination engineering for building interiors, including the fundamentals of light and vision, lighting equipment, and basic illuminating engineering design methods.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 322: Electrical Systems I
  • Description: Study of basic design of building electrical systems, including circuit design, power distribution and service equipment, communications systems, and special electrical systems.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 323: Lighting and Electrical Systems Laboratory
  • Credit Hours: 1
• AREN 330: Building Acoustics
  • Description: Introduction to the acoustics of buildings, including the fundamentals of sound generation, propagation, and measurement, human hearing, and acoustic properties of materials and constructions.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 377: Global Experiences in Architectural Engineering
  • Description: Individual or group educational experience in Architectural Engineering that combines classrooms, lectures, discussions, and/or seminars with field and/or classroom studies in a foreign country.
  • Credit Hours: 1-3
• AREN 392: Individual Instruction III
  • Credit Hours: 1-3
• AREN 394: Special Topics III
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 401: Senior Project: Mechanical Systems
  • Credit Hours: 4
• AREN 402: Senior Project: Lighting
  • Credit Hours: 4
• AREN 403: AE Design and Simulation Studio IV
  • Description: Advanced topics in Building Information Modeling (BIM), including modeling tools and processes for building engineers, designers, contractors, and operators.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 404: Building Envelopes
  • Description: Introduction to the fundamental concepts of heat transfer through application in building envelope thermal behavior.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 412: Building Energy II: Primary and Secondary Systems
  • Description: Analysis and design of building air distribution systems, fans, pumps, piping, space air diffusion, chillers, and boilers.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 415: HVAC Design
  • Description: Develop and design the mechanical system for an actual building, from the programming phase to the final construction documents.
  • Credit Hours: 4
• AREN 420: Lighting II: Theory, Design, and Application
  • Description: Design and analysis of lighting systems, including the integration between the lighting design process and the technical foundations for building lighting.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 425: Lighting Design
  • Description: Advanced design and analysis of lighting systems, including application of the lighting design process for advanced interior applications.
  • Credit Hours: 4
• AREN 430: Advanced Noise Control
  • Description: Characterization of acoustic sources, use and measurement of sound power and intensity, sound-structure interaction, acoustic enclosures and barriers, muffling devices, vibration control, and active noise control.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 442: Healthcare Design and Construction
  • Description: Introduction to the design and construction of healthcare facilities, including healthcare regulations and standards, infection control, and medical equipment selection and coordination.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 460: Smart Building Sensors and Programming
  • Description: Principles of modeling, interfacing, and signal conditioning of sample building sensors, and acquisition of sensor data utilizing an engineering programming language.
  • Credit Hours: 3
• AREN 492: Individual Instruction IV
  • Credit Hours: 1-3
• AREN 494: Special Topics IV
  • Credit Hours: 3

Program Details

The AREN program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in architectural engineering, including coursework in engineering principles, architecture, and construction management. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.