Graduate education and research in architectural acoustics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abstract

The Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics has been constantly advanced from its inception in 1998 with an ambitious mission of educating future experts and leaders in architectural acoustics, due to the rapid pace of change in the fields of architectural-, physical-, and psycho-acoustics, and noise-control engineering. Since years the program’s pedagogy using “STEM” (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) methods has been proven to be effective and productive, including intensive, integrative hands-on experimental components that integrate architectural acoustics theory and practice. The graduate program has recruited graduate students from a variety of disciplines including individuals with B.S., B.Arch., or B.A. degrees in Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Architecture, Electronic Media, Sound Recording, Music and related fields. Graduate students under this pedagogy and research environment have been succeed in the rapidly changing field. RPI’s Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics has since graduated more than 120 graduates with both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Under the guidance of the faculty members they have also actively contributed to the program’s research in architectural acoustics, communication acoustics, psycho-acoustics, signal processing in acoustics as well as our scientific exploration at the intersection of cutting edge research and traditional architecture/music culture. This paper illuminates the evolution and growth of the Graduate Program.