The course sequence of AE 481W and AE 482 comprise what is more commonly known as AE Senior Thesis. This year-long capstone design project is one of the major highlights of the five year professional degree BAE program. It is required of all undergraduate students in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Penn State.
Senior Thesis consists of obtaining an outside sponsor who provides the student with an actual building that will be used as the model for a variety of technical and management tasks throughout the year. Based on the building or project model, students will investigate the project, perform technical analysis, develop project criteria and eventually prepare a written proposal for more advanced design work. This is followed up by a semester of intense effort to complete the goals of the proposal. A formal written final report is required as is a verbal presentation to a faculty jury.
A number of students, selected by the AE faculty from the first presentations, will represent their class and compete for numerous awards by presenting a second time. This second presentation will be to an invited jury of about 50 visiting practitioners from all over the country.
It is important to note that students are required to include work in their primary discipline area of AE as well as to demonstrate breath capabilities in several other architectural engineering areas.