REFLECTION

ABET Outcomes for AE 481W/482	Outcome not able to be assessed (Score of 0)	Level of ability demonstrated but below acceptable (Score of 1)	Minimum acceptable level of ability demonstrated (Score of 2)	More than minimum level of ability demonstrated (Score of 3)
An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering				X
An ability to analyze and interpret data				X
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs				X
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems				X
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility				X
An ability to communicate effectively				X
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context				X
An ability to engage in life-long learning				X
A knowledge of contemporary issues				X
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice				X
Engineering design capabilities in at least two (2) of the (3) basic curriculum areas of architectural engineering, and that design has been integrated across the breadth of the program			X
Communication and interaction with other design professionals in the execution of building projects				X

Senior Thesis Reflection

Upon completion of my thesis coursework, I realized that the design of an actual building is a complicated process that will never be the same from project to project. Five years of courses certainly provided me with the tools and knowledge needed to analyze and design various components of a structure. Senior thesis has been a unique experience because it is the only project that forces an individual student in architectural engineering to actually combine the entirety of his or her acquired knowledge. I feel that senior thesis is representative of work performed by professional engineers in industry, but it differs from an internship in that students are permitted to explore a variety of applications, including those that may not yet be standard in industry. Senior thesis has been a worthwhile experience, without which I would not be confident in the path ahead of me that I have chosen. I only wish that experiences similar to senior thesis could be presented to students earlier in the architectural engineering program, so they can truly understand the work of an engineer before full commitment to the field.

CPEP Reflection

The Capstone Project Electronic Portfolio (CPEP) has been a wonderful tool for sharing progress and final results with friends, family, professors, and industry professionals. Additionally, I enjoyed learning the basics of creating a website, which is a skill that will definitely be useful in the future. Finally, the websites of previous architectural engineering students proved to be an invaluable resource throughout my senior thesis coursework.

Note: While great efforts have been taken to provide accurate and complete information on the pages of CPEP, please be aware that the information contained herewith is considered a work-in-progress for this thesis project. Modifications and changes related to the original building designs and construction methodologies for this senior thesis project are solely the interpretation of Carol Gaertner. Changes and discrepancies in no way imply that the original design contained errors or was flawed. Differing assumptions, code references, requirements, and methodologies have been incorporated into this thesis project; therefore, investigation results may vary from the original design.

All renderings have been provided courtesy of Commonwealth Architects.