Architecture is grounded in science and math but its heart is in the arts giving students with both interests the best of both worlds. After all, well-designed buildings not only serve the people who use them but also works of art that define the town or city in which they reside.
Students who study architecture train and prepare to become professional architects. Their course load consists of topics such as architectural theory, design, and history in addition to drafting and project and site planning.
Education
As an architecture student, you’ll take a design studio course nearly every semester. In these classes, you’ll apply what you learn in other courses in a practical, hands-on setting. The instructor will assign a project with certain requirements, and you’ll spend long hours designing your structure.
You’ll solve problems, make drawings, build models, and fine-tune the results. Once you’ve finished — or the due date comes along — you’ll make a formal presentation to the class. Your instructor and fellow students will respond with comments.
Similar majors include architectural engineering, city, community and regional planning, industrial product design, landscape architecture and studio arts. Architecture majors can obviously work as architects, but also as conservators, interior designers, landscape architects and urban and regional planners.
What to know before you apply
When it comes to majoring in architecture, it helps to be a creative problem solver. Also, because architects never work alone, it also helps to be good at working with other people and have strong teamwork skills.
If you’re a high school student aspiring to become an architect it might be helpful to take courses in AP Art History, studio art, photography, drafting/technical drawing, computer and graphic arts and computer-assisted drafting.
Questions to ask before deciding
It’s very important to verify that the program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. You’ll find that some programs stress the studio-art side of the field and some focus their emphasis on the engineering side. Choose which accentuates your skillset and go from there. With any major, you want to seek out the background and philosophies of professors, what kind of work are current students doing, how often do design studios meet and how many students are in each class. Looking into technology is also important because some schools have unlimited access to studios and labs and others will require you to have your own materials to work independently.
Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, architects make about $80,000 a year depending on location and company size.
