The senior design studio VIII is a capstone course required of all students in the Architectural Engineering program. This is an independent study type course requiring extensive research, analysis, prototyping, testing, and evaluation. Students will have completed a wide variety of technical courses by their senior year and will have the background necessary for the completion of a comprehensive design project. A typical project starts with several weeks of intensive investigation and analysis. The initial investigation will be followed by a combination of conceptual design, engineering calculations, computer-aided drafting, analysis, material selection, building prototypes, testing, modifications, and detailed design. Students are required to prepare a final thesis with an appropriate portfolio and make an oral presentation to department faculty and other architectural students. Students are expected to maintain a logbook to document the progress and time invested in the project. A student is expected to spend a minimum of nine hours per week to successfully complete their project.