Christopher Jaffe and the Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abstract

Chris Jaffe graduated with a major in chemical engineering in 1949 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Four decades later in 1998, Chris founded an Architectural Acoustics program at the School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In the fields of architectural-, physical-, and psycho-acoustics, the rapid pace of change has advanced the program to be a graduate program with an ambitious mission of educating future experts and leaders in architectural acoustics. Chris Jaffe's continued dedication and support helped Rensselaer's Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics reshape its pedagogy using “STEM” (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) methods, including intensive, integrative hands-on experimental components that fuse theory and practice in a collaborative environment. The STEM-based pedagogy enables individuals from a broad range of fields to succeed in this rapidly changing field. The program has attracted graduate students from a variety of disciplines including individuals with B.Arch., B.S., or B.A. degrees in Architecture, Music, Engineering, Audio/Recording Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Acoustics, Electronic Media, and related fields. RPI's Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics has since graduated more than 100 graduates with both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. This paper shares the growth and evolution of the graduate program, and acknowledges the profound contributions made by Chris Jaffe.