A career in architecture demands plenty of creativity, excellent organizational skills and the ability to exceed independently. An architect will first brainstorm and design buildings for their clients, either through an architecture firm or through their own independent business. They take into consideration all of the building guidelines, cater to their clients wishes and designs a blueprint and model of the building. Becoming an architect is not as easy as being artistically inclined. To get hired or find clients, you need to attend a college designed for architecture and obtain a degree. Without this, you will be at a disadvantage and will likely have trouble finding jobs. An architecture degree allows you to start your own business, work in a building construction firm and even become employed by a government agency. Earning a degree through an accredited college is the first step in becoming an architect.
There are several different programs offered by design schools, each specializing in their own unique area of architecture. If you are interested in designed restaurants, shops and other commercial buildings, you may try to find a degree that will prepare you for this specific task. If you love designing homes for residential areas, you should find a program that accommodates you for that. However, many students are unsure if they want to specialize in any particular field, so it is best for them to begin studying generally and then focus later on, if they wish. People who are strong with English, mathematics and physics will have an advantage when studying architecture in college. A lot of the designing focus greatly on geometry, trigonometry, algebra and pre-calculus. If you do not feel comfortable with your mathematic skills, you should consider taking a class or hire a tutor to prepare yourself for the difficult college classes ahead of you. A thorough understanding of art and design is necessary for conceptualizing and visualizing, two skills that are extremely vital to being an architect.
When searching for an architecture school, it is best to know how long you can handle the commitment and what you want to get out of it. If you are interested in working as soon as possible and attending more school lately, you may be interested in a 2-3 year bachelor. Others may want to get their schooling out of the way and enroll in a 5 year masters program. The programs differ substantially in cost, time invested and ultimately the kind of jobs you may be offered after graduating.
Schools Offering Online Architecture Programs
University of Florida
College of Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida has grown to be one of the most recognized programs in the architecture field. Located in Gainesville, Florida, it first opened its doors to students in 1925. The school offers several different programs and degrees to fit a student’s specific educational goals. They focus on five different genres; architecture, building construction, landscape architecture, interior design and urban and regional planning. They offer design programs, masters in architecture degree programs, masters in science and various other programs that cater to specific areas of design. They pride themselves as being one of the leading design, planning and construction institutions in the United States and are devoted to providing their students with being as prepared as possible when entering the architecture field as a graduate. If you are interested in learning more about the College of Design, Construction and Planning you can reach them by writing to 331 Arch, P.O. Box 115701, Gainesville, Florida 32611-5701 or by calling 352-392-4836. Their website, http://www.dcp.ufl.edu/, also offers plenty of information about who they are and their programs.Ohio State University
The Knowlton School of Architecture at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio is a state of the art facility that first opened its doors in 2004. They are a fully accredited school with a completely new and modern design throughout their campus. They offer 2 and 3 year masters programs, along with bachelor’s degrees as well. Although it is a fairly new campus, especially compared to other architecture schools, it has already been proving itself as one of the top facilities to earn an architecture degree. The campus features all new gallery space, top of the line computer labs and excellent libraries. Attending newer schools means that their curriculum is fresh and focused on helping the student’s succeed. The Knowlton School of Architecture is unique in that it trains their students in the social, aesthetic and technical aspects of architecture and gives them the opportunity to gain experience that can be demonstrated in the work place. You can contact the Knowlton School of Architecture by writing to 275 West Woodruff Ave Columbus, Ohio 43210-1138 or by calling 614-292-1012. You can also visit their website at http://knowlton.osu.edu/.Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona is the proud home to the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Arizona State University. The location is one of the schools largest assets, as it is one of the United States most rapidly growing metropolitan regions. Students here are challenged everyday and pushed to be their best and can only graduate if they have a full grasp on architecture. The students assess, study, and create strategies for any challenges they are faced with in the quickly expanding field. They learn how to develop and create designs from the technical, environmental and aesthetic perspectives. The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture focuses on giving their students the tools they need to succeed as an architect and what they need to know to be the best they can in the field. They offer a variety of degrees and programs, each fitted to suit the student’s individual needs. There are some shorter programs offered such as their 2 year bachelor’s degree and longer with the 3 year masters program. For more information on the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture you can write to P.O. box 872102 Tempe, AZ 85287-2102 or call 480-965-8561. Their website, http://design.asu.edu/sala/, also offers plenty of other information on the school.Career & Employment Information
Once you have graduated from an architecture school, there are many different ways to find a career. Some graduates are interested in becoming employed by an architecture firm so they can gain experience and slowly learn from the other employees. Clients are given to them and they are helped throughout their job in case of any large challenges they are presented with. However, if someone feels they are experienced enough to take on their own business, it can be much more favorable to work independently. As a licensed architect you can create your own company, find your own clients and be paid as you would like to.The job outlook for architects is expected to be on the fasted growing occupations through 2016. There will be a large number of new architects graduating from schools so it may be hard to set yourself apart from the rest, but plenty of creativity can make them stand out. Getting a higher degree at a school, such as completing a master’s program, will put you at an advantage and make you more desirable for employers. Gaining real-world experience through interning at an architecture firm can be a great way to impress employers during an interview. However, as the world is constantly becoming more industrialized, there will always be a need for architects and the employment outlook is looking bright for anyone who is looking to become an architect.
While experience can make a substantial difference on an income, along with if they work independently or with an established firm, the average salary for an architect is about $64,000 yearly. Recent graduates typically make much less then this and get paid higher as their experience and time with a company grows. Independently employed architects should also expect low wages at first, especially if they need to put a lot of money into their company when starting out. If they are talented enough and have the drive, they can quickly rise to making a much higher income, often times surpassing the average. The amount of annual salary for an architect is solely based on experience, so it is important not to get discouraged in the beginning and continue growing and moving forward.
A career as an architect is a demanding job that requires somebody to spend a lot of time visualizing a design and transferring that over to an actual model or blueprint. In an average day, an architect will discuss with other architects, or go over plans alone if they work independently, about the requirements, objectives and budget of a project. They must determine what needs to be done for a project and begin to construct a design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. After the design has been constructed, it must be presented to the client so excellent people skills are necessary to sealing a deal correctly. The ability to change plans due to the clients wishes will allow you to create a design you are both proud of and that the client is happy with.
If you possess organizational skills, are comfortable with mathematics, artistically inclined and have excellent people skills you could make a successful architect. This is a career that requires a lot of work and isn’t a simple side job. It needs a lot of work and the designing of homes and buildings cannot be created without passion put into it. If you feel you possess these skills and are ready for what the job entails, you can start the road to getting licensed. A degree in architecture will provide you with the knowledge of basic architecture and any other skills you will need once you begin working.
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