Importance of Interdisciplinary Learning in Achieving AEC Industry Success

Interdisciplinary learning plays a vital role in the education fields of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. According to the literature, interdisciplinary studies are often associated with professional skills that should be taught in engineering and other similar programs. Knowing the attributes and scope of interdisciplinary learning concurrent with the technical requirements of an engineering degree can set students up for career success. The objective of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary education in AEC students’ success after they enter the industry. Knowing what makes students successful professionals, the link between interdisciplinary domains, technical domains, and metrics for professional success can offer guidance for programs to consider. To accomplish this, this body of work deployed a series of surveys investigating the importance of interdisciplinary learning on the graduates’ success to companies who hire architectural engineering students. Success was characterized through teamwork, satisfied clients, successful technical solutions, happy people, and making a positive contribution to the industry. The results show that both technical depth and breadth were valued in parallel with experience working in teams and collaborative environments to achieve these areas of success. Furthermore, this paper discusses and suggests curricular relationships between interdisciplinary factors, such as breadth of knowledge and collaboration within the Architectural Engineering Department, in promoting the success of graduates in the AEC industry.