Quote:
“All fine architectural values are human values, else they are not valuable.”
—Frank Lloyd Wright
“Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins.”
—Mies van der Rohe
About the Field:
About 1 in 4 architects are self-employed—more than three times the proportion for all professional and related occupations. Licensing requirements include a professional degree in architecture, 3 years of practical work training, and passing all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination.
On the Job:
Architects plan and design buildings in which people live, work, worship, play, eat, and conduct countless other activities of daily life. They initiate construction projects by preparing design and structural specifications, materials, color schemes, equipment, estimated costs, and construction time. Then, they prepare scale drawings, and may build a scale model of the project.
Architects try to integrate engineering element into a unified and functional design. To accomplish this, they must consult with clients to determine functional and spatial requirements of the proposed structure, direct activities of workers engaged in preparing drawings and specification documents, conduct periodic on-site observation of work during construction to monitor compliance with plans.
How To Get There:
All States and the District of Columbia require individuals to be licensed (registered) before they may call themselves architects and contract to provide architectural services. During this time between graduation and becoming licensed, architecture school graduates generally work in the field under supervision of a licensed architect who takes legal responsibility for all work. Licensing requirements include a professional degree in architecture, a period of practical training or internship, and a passing score on all divisions of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).
In most States, the professional degree in architecture must be from one of the 113 schools of architecture that have degree programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). However, State architectural registration boards set their own standards, so graduation from a non-NAAB-accredited program may meet the educational requirement for licensing in a few States. Three types of professional degrees in architecture are available through colleges and universities. The majority of all architectural degrees are from 5-year Bachelor of Architecture programs, intended for students entering university-level studies from high school or with no previous architectural training. In addition, a number of schools offer a 2-year Master of Architecture program for students with a preprofessional undergraduate degree in architecture or a related area, or a 3- or 4-year Master of Architecture program for students with a degree in another discipline.
The choice of degree depends upon each individual’s preference and educational background. Prospective architecture students should consider the available options before committing to a program. For example, although the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture program offers the fastest route to the professional degree, courses are specialized, and if the student does not complete the program, transferring to a program offered by another discipline may be difficult. A typical program includes courses in architectural history and theory, building design, structures, technology, construction methods, professional practice, math, physical sciences, and liberal arts. Central to most architectural programs is the design studio, where students put into practice the skills and concepts learned in the classroom. During the final semester of many programs, students devote their studio time to creating an architectural project from beginning to end, culminating in a three-dimensional model of their design.
Lifestyle:
You should know that architects sometimes must work long hours (nights and weekends) to meet deadlines. On the up side, however, they can find employment in almost any city or region, they usually work in casual and creative office environments. Travel may be required for on-site visits.
You are:
• Creative Problem Solver
• Visual
• Drafting
• Strong Verbal Communication
• Strong Written Skills
• Strong Math Skills
• Design talent
• Multi-tasker
• Deductive Reasoning
• Able to Think Outside the Box
• Oral Comprehension
• Innovative
• Strong Project Managing
• Idea Generation
• Active Listening
• Team Player
Salary:
Starting: $42,193
After 5 years: $74,457
After 10 years: varies
Tools of the Trade:
Any practicing architect must have a hardhat, drafting tools, art supplies, blueprints, charts, tables, and computer aided design software (CAD).
Related Professions:
Architectural Engineering
Architectural Technology
City, Community, and Regional Planning
Civil Engineering
Construction Technology
Conservators
Drafting and Design Technology
Engineering Technology
Environmental Design
Industrial Design
Interior Architecture
Landscape Architecture
Studio Arts
Surveying
Interior Designers
Urban and Regional Planners
