<p>A common misconception is environmental engineering is about sustainability and “saving the earth.” The bulk of the courses and jobs are actually about waste management, landfill design, sewer systems, pollution control, etc. However, I do remember someone on this board posting that they did green design or alternative energy systems as an environmental engineer with the Navy.</p>
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I’m not familiar with the nuances with architecture employment, but logic would say a minor in civil/structural engineering would be helpful.</p>
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<p>You’re right. Architectural engineering is the engineering of buildings and not so much the design. I’m not sure what you mean by “reliable” though.</p>
<p>Cooper Union does not have a minor in engineering for architecture students. You probably won’t have time for it anyway if you go there. The architecture program is one of the best in the country, so if you can’t get a job graduating from Cooper, then a minor wouldn’t have helped anyway.</p>
<p>Thank you, ken285, this really helps!
Maybe ‘reliable’ is not the right word, sorry. What I meant was that architectural engineers are not as needed as structural engineers so I thought it would be though finding a job.
Yea, I think you’re right, I couldn’t find anything in Cooper Union’s website about architecture students being able to minor. Btw, did you study architecture in Cooper Union?</p>
<p>I actually studied civil engineering at the Cooper Union. When I was applying to colleges, I was debating between architecture and civil engineering but ultimately decided to go with the latter because I was not confident in my artistic abilities. I wish I was talented enough to get into the architecture school!</p>
<p>Some architectural engineering majors end up working as structural engineers (same for civil engineering). Structural engineering is a specialty in both majors.</p>
<p>Oh, wow, that’s really impressive since I’ve heard Cooper Union is very hard to get into, I’m not even sure if I have a chance. My grades and test scores are not great:
SAT- 1st time, CR: 540, M: 680, W: 610 1830
2nd time, CR: 530, M: 690, W: 660 1880</p>
<p>SAT Sub Test- 1st time, Math II: 610, Physics: 640</p>
<p>avg. GPA since freshmen year: not weighted- 3.5, weighted- 3.7</p>
<p>Honors/APs:
freshmen year: accel. math honors
sophmore year: geometry honors, english honors
junior year: precal honors, physics honors, AP english language and composition</p>
<p>AP physics B- 3(self-study…), AP english language and composition- 3</p>
<p>I attend a presigious high school in the Bay Area, does that matter in the admissions?</p>
<p>^ Ken probably has a good stats for you, but just personally thinking the socres you provide are very average. </p>
<p>I really want to know this from Ken: is Cooper Union really that difficult? My physics professor teaches at cooper too so I know he gives very very difficult problems to his students. A friend went to Cooper and he said it was like hell being there (like seriously no life) even though he was very smart.</p>
<p>I was an architectural engineering major. I picked the major because I wanted to be a structural engineer. I wanted to design buildings. I did NOT want to major in civil and learn about highway design, wastewater treatment, etc. We were required to take a couple of semesters of architectural design to understand what architects do.</p>
<p>At the University of Texas at Austin, it is possible to double major in architecture/architectural engineering. I never saw the point in it, but a few people every year manage to do it.</p>
<p>If you have any more questions about Arch. E., feel free to pm me!</p>
<p>misstrwbrylvr, admission into the architecture school is about talent, talent, and talent. While you do have to submit your grades and test scores, it’s all about the vision that you have, how creative you are and how well you can express that on paper (or any other medium). If you have an outstanding portfolio, you will be accepted regardless of grades. Admission into the engineering school, however, is more about grades than anything else.</p>
<p>Cooper isn’t easy (for any of the majors). Those that graduate are usually pretty passionate and enjoyed the work they did. Sure it may be tiring and stressful at times, but it’s all manageable. Have good time management skills, know how to prioritize things, and be smart about your approach to work and you’ll be fine. I knew plenty of people who had part-time jobs / internships during the school year and still had time for fun.</p>
<p>I would not recommend minoring in engineering. As an architecture school graduate, I can tell you that you will not have any time to concentrate on anything other than architecture. Most schools are very design studio centric. Studios are 9 hours of class time per week, plus all your free time to work on your project. This goes for the entire 5 years. If you want to study engineering, I suggest you do it in graduate schools. One misconception is that architecture and civil engineering are related. This is not true. The hardest aspect of architecture is design, which is not technical like engineering and cannot be learned from books or taking exams. Since you want to have an environmental focus, maybe you should look into Cal Poly Pomona since their architecture program has a sustainability focus. In a recent survey they ranked as one of the top three in the country along with Oregon and UT Austin. </p>
<p>^ Excellent post! I had to take two semesters of architectural design, and they were the hardest classes in school for me. Architecture is SO different from engineering! If engineers were responsible for the look of buildings, there would be nothing but cubes littering the landscape. Well-braced cubes.</p>
<p>Thank you, mrsleonore!
The link really helped since I’m applying to Cal Poly Pomona and University of Oregon.
Do you know if Cal Poly SLO architecture students also study sustainability?</p>
<p>SLO is more geared towards construction. You’ll need over a 4.0 and a 1400 to get into SLO but Pomona should be a good if not better alternative. You really should also check out the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at Pomona. This is a living and working residential community on campus that is almost 100% self sufficient. They produce their own energy, grow food, and recycle their own waste. It was designed and is being run entirely by the college of Environmental Design. </p>
<p>Wow, the virtual tour was pretty amazing. Cal Poly Pomona definately looks eco-friendly!
Is Cal Poly SLO that hard to get in? I thought you need about an avg. of 1200/1600 for the SAT and an avg. of 3.8 GPA to get in, well, for the architecture major.
Did you study architecture at Cal Poly Pomona?</p>
