Earning An Education In Architecture

Students, parents, friends of students who wish to become architects can browse through www.DegreeAuthority.com to get the latest news and information. Students who have other commitments are now given the opportunity to earn at their convenience. They do not have to worry about attending brick and mortar educational institutions as they can easily earn a at one of the online institutions at very nominal rates too!

What does an Architect do?

Architects conceptualize and design buildings based on the purpose it serves and the people who live in it or utilize it. their duty is to make the maximum use of any space allocated for construction, make sure that it is unique and pleasing in appearance while being economical and built with a well planned budget. The buildings have to be built to be safe, aesthetic in appeal and suitable for the purpose it has been built for.  Students can choose from various educational programs available in the field of architecture at both online and traditional educational institutions. Students can also get the latest information about how to and get tips on the various as well as that are available online.

Education & Accredited Degrees

Students can become architects by earning a or a graduate degree program that has been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Students can opt for as they are more flexible to complete, however, students need to be very disciplined and hardworking if they consider distance mode of education. Students who have successfully earned a professional degree in architecture need to take up an internship program and they must clear the licensure examination, the architecture registration exam. Students are required to take up programs offered by 114 educational institutions that have been accredited by the NAAB.

Students who wish to become architects may pursue a 5-year bachelor's degree, a 2 years master's degree (for students who have successfully completed undergraduate studies in architecture) or take up a 3-4 years master's degree (for students who have graduated in another discipline). The NAAB acknowledges three kinds of architecture degrees, the bachelor of architecture, the master of architecture, and the doctor of architecture. Some institutions offer students an opportunity to gain a dual degree in architecture such as architecture and planning, architecture and landscape architecture etc.

Some institutions offer students an architectural technology associate's degree aimed at students who seek entry-level jobs in this field. Ferris State University, Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, New England Institute of Technology, and Baker College are some of the institutions that offer associate's degrees in architecture.

There are many institutions that offer 3 or 4-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees in architectural studies. These programs are not accredited and students will then have to take up the 2-year master's degree in architecture if they wish to sit for the architecture registration examination. Students who take up the 5-year bachelor of architecture degree study design, building mechanical systems, structures, plumbing systems, electrical systems and CAD. Students can take up this program at the Pratt institute, Rhode Island Institute of Design, Boston Architectural College, Savannah College Of Art and Design and Georgia institute of technology.

Students who take up the Master of Architecture program will study structural engineering, architectural history among other subjects. These students need to complete a thesis before they can graduate. There were as many as 84 accredited master's programs offered in the United States during the year 2006. Andrews University, Arizona State University, Columbia University, and Georgia Institute of Technology are some of the institutions that offer Master's degree programs in Architecture. Students who have successfully completed the B.Arch or M.Arch degrees can take up a doctoral program in architecture. The University of Hawaii offers an NAAB accredited doctoral program in architecture.

Architect Registration Examination

Students who successfully complete their graduation need to work under a licensed architect for a mandatory period of 3 years before they can sit for the architect registration examination. Many who have secured a license take up certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Students who are considering to take up architecture are advised to find out about the accreditation status of the programs as some programs are not recognized by the NAAB.  Some programs include an internship and it is recommended that students opt for such programs as it helps them gain valuable work experience while that period can also be included as part of the mandatory 3 years training period.

Career Outlook

Students who have selected the field of architecture have made a good choice. This is because as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, the employment growth rate is projected at 18% during the next decade, which is much faster than the average growth rate of all other occupations. Architects in fact held about 132,000 jobs in the year 2006. Their median annual salary of architects ranged at around $64,000 in 2006.

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