Overview

The Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE) offers a 5-year BS/MS program that allows students to earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in architectural engineering.

The educational objectives, specialty areas, and learning outcomes of each Master of Science program are shown in their respective sections (MSAE) and (MSCE).

This 5-Year program is open to students who are admitted to the graduate program at the end of their junior year. Students applying for this program should have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. 

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate students of the CAE department having a GPA of 3.5 or better are encouraged to apply to the 5-year BS/MS program during their junior year.  Applicants are required to submit official transcripts, and three letters of reference.  Admission criteria are described under Colleges of Engineering – Graduate Admission Requirements.

Curriculum Requirements

The undergraduate and graduate course requirements are provided in the table below.  The graduate portion is non-thesis.  Additional graduate degree requirements include:

  • Completion of the BS degree
  • Minimum of 30 graduate-level credits with a GPA of at least 3.0, and no grade lower than C
  • A Graduate Program of Study, which is the student's specific set of coursework that defines the course requirements for graduation, must be approved by an advisory committee (known as the Supervisory Committee).  The Program of Study is tailored to the student’s background and goals by their advisor, and must be approved as constituting an MS in Architectural Engineering by the student’s Program of Study Committee.  
B.S.A.E. REQUIREMENTS
Engineering Courses
CAE 111Introduction to Engineering I3
CAE 115Introduction to Engineering II: Geospatial Data (Surveying and GIS)1
CAE 210Mechanics of Solids I3
CAE 211Mechanics of Solids II3
CAE 212Structural Laboratory1
CAE 310Structural Analysis3
CAE 320Concrete Structures3
CAE 321Steel Structures3
CAE 330Fluid Mechanics3
CAE 361Building Information Modeling I3
CAE 370Geotechnical Engineering I3
CAE 371Geotechnical Laboratory1
CAE 380Electrical and Illumination Systems for Buildings3
CAE 381Building Mechanical Systems I: Hvac Fundamentals3
CAE 402Professional Engineering Practice3
CAE 403Senior Design Project I - Engineering Design3
CAE 460Construction Management3
CAE 470Foundations and Earth Retaining Systems3
CAE 480Plumbing and Life Safety for Buildings3
CAE 481Building Mechanical Systems II: HVAC Systems3
CAE 581Energy-Efficient Building Design3
ISE 311Applied Probability and Statistics3
MAE 303Thermodynamics3
Math and Science Courses
MTH 151Calculus I for Engineers5
MTH 162Calculus II4
MTH 211Calculus III3
MTH 311Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
CHM 151Chemistry for Engineers3
CHM 153Chemistry Laboratory for Engineers1
PHY 221University Physics I3
PHY 222University Physics II3
PHY 223University Physics III3
PHY 224University Physics II Lab1
PHY 225University Physics III Lab1
Additional Required Courses
ARC 230Building Technology I: Materials and Methods3
ARC 292Introduction to Architecture Design I3
ARC 293Introduction to Architecture Design II3
ARC 294Introduction to the Development of Architecture3
ARC 268History of Architecture II: Baroque through Contemporary3
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 107First-Year Writing II: STEM3
GEG 199Geographic Information Systems for Engineers1
People and Society Cognate9
M.S.A.E REQUIREMENTS
6 credits from Group A6
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
3 credits from Group G3
Group G: CAE Master's Design Project
Master's Design Project
9 credits from any of the following Groups: A and/or B9
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
9 credits from any of the following Groups: A, B, C, and/or D9
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group C: 600- or 700-level CAE courses in Construction Management (CM)
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799) except CAE and UMI
3 credits from any of the following Groups: A, B, D, and/or E3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799) except CAE or UMI
Group E: CAE Independent Study (Special Problems)
Total Credit Hours154
1

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise indicated

2

​Master's Thesis (CAE 810) will not count towards the degree requirements

3

Courses may not count towards multiple requirements

*

In their senior year, students enroll in CAE 604 instead of CAE 404.

 

Refer to the Additional Details section (below) for additional options and restrictions. 

Transfer of credits from other institutions

  • A total of 6 credits of transfer and/or exchange coursework not counted towards the student’s B.S. may be taken at another institution and used to satisfy requirements for the M.S. The number of eligible credits for transfer is 9, when pre-approved coursework is taken as part of a semester abroad experience.

Additional Details 

  • The classification of courses into their respective Groups can be found in the CAE Courses section.
  • Internships, Practical Training, workshops, or other types of practicum are neither required nor optional credit-earning components in the established graduate curriculum (Program of Study).  Credit earned through these experiences (such as UMI 605) will not count towards any CAE degree requirements.
  • The Supervisory Committee must have a minimum of 3 members, including:
    •  Committee Chair (Advisor) shall be full-time CAE faculty and a member of the Graduate Faculty
    •  Full-time or part-time CAE faculty
    •  Non-CAE member with an earned Ph.D.
  • In addition to the Committee Chair, at least one Committee member must be tenured/tenure-earning or a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Sample Plan of Study

A typical plan of study is shown in the table below.  

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
CAE 111 Introduction to Engineering I 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5
PHY 221 University Physics I 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
CAE 115 Introduction to Engineering II: Geospatial Data (Surveying and GIS) 1
CAE 210 Mechanics of Solids I 3
WRS 107 First-Year Writing II: STEM 3
MTH 162 Calculus II 4
PHY 222 University Physics II 3
PHY 224 University Physics II Lab 1
GEG 199 Geographic Information Systems for Engineers 1
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore Year
First Semester
CAE 211 Mechanics of Solids II 3
CAE 212 Structural Laboratory 1
ARC 230 Building Technology I: Materials and Methods 3
ARC 267 History of Architecture I: Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance 3
PHY 223 University Physics III 3
PHY 225 University Physics III Lab 1
ISE 311 Applied Probability and Statistics 3
 Credit Hours17
Second Semester
CAE 310 Structural Analysis 3
ARC 292 Introduction to Architecture Design I 3
CHM 151 Chemistry for Engineers 3
CHM 153 Chemistry Laboratory for Engineers 1
MTH 211 Calculus III 3
MTH 311 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
 Credit Hours16
Junior Year
First Semester
CAE 320 Concrete Structures 3
CAE 330 Fluid Mechanics 3
CAE 361 Building Information Modeling I 3
MAE 303 Thermodynamics 3
ARC 293 Introduction to Architecture Design II 3
PS Cognate 2 3
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
CAE 321 Steel Structures 3
CAE 370 Geotechnical Engineering I 3
CAE 371 Geotechnical Laboratory 1
CAE 380 Electrical and Illumination Systems for Buildings 3
CAE 381 Building Mechanical Systems I: Hvac Fundamentals 3
ARC 268 History of Architecture II: Baroque through Contemporary 3
 Credit Hours16
Senior Year
First Semester
CAE 403 Senior Design Project I - Engineering Design 3
CAE 470 Foundations and Earth Retaining Systems 3
CAE 480 Plumbing and Life Safety for Buildings 3
CAE 481 Building Mechanical Systems II: HVAC Systems 3
PS Cognate 3
Graduate Level Course from Group A or B 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
CAE 402 Professional Engineering Practice 3
CAE 460 Construction Management 3
CAE 581 Energy-Efficient Building Design 3
PS Cognate 3
CAE 604 Master's Design Project * 3
 Credit Hours15
Graduate Year
First Semester
Graduate Level Course from Group A 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Graduate Level Course from Group A or B 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil, architectural, and environmental engineering
 
Graduate Level Course from Group A, B, C, or D 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group C: 600- or 700-level CAE courses in Construction Management (CM)
 
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799)
 
Graduate Level Course from Group A, B, D, or E 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799)
 
Group E: CAE Independent Study (Special Problems)
 
 Credit Hours12
Second Semester
Graduate Level Course from Group A 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Graduate Level Course from Group A or B 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Graduate Level Course from Group A, B, C, or D 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group C: 600- or 700-level CAE courses in Construction Management (CM)
 
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799) except CAE and UMI
 
Graduate Level Course from Group A, B, C, or D 3
Group A: 700-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group B: 600-level lecture-based CAE courses in civil and architectural engineering
 
Group C: 600- or 700-level CAE courses in Construction Management (CM)
 
Group D: Any pre-approved course in any UM Department at the 600- or 700-level (i.e. XXX 600-799) except CAE and UMI
 
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours154
*

In their senior year, students enroll in CAE 604 instead of CAE 404.