<p>Hi, I've only been recently considering architecture for college. What's the difference between Architectural Engineering and Architecture majors in terms of courses and what's the medium starting salary, and what's the salary, say, after ten years of experience?</p>
<p>If you want to do engineering for architecture--do structural engineering and get paid a whole lot more. I have never met an architectural engineer in 30 years of practice.</p>
<p>Starting salaries for enigneers are probably...40% higher than architects? They probably maintain that ratio throughout the first ten years.</p>
<p>In either field, the major money is in developing and running your own business.</p>
<p>Architecture school is a form of art school. Engineering school is a deep Math and Physics experience.</p>
<p>ArchE. All the time consuming projects of architecture. All the math and physics of engineering. None of the sleep.</p>
<p>the two are very different. while there is design involved in engineering, it is more structural design more than anything else, whereas in architecture, you're dealing with many aspects within design. in arch school, you're constantly producing lots of ideas whereas in engineering, you're studying how things stand, and calculating forces,etc. in the real world, there is far less designing involved in engineering, but the pay is better, especially in the beginning years after college. Both fields have the potential for you to earn a lot of money, but engineering has more stability.</p>
<p>Architectural engineering is very nearly the same as Structural Engineering. The difference lies in a few classes that gives it a little bit more of a design emphasis. It is very deeply math & physics, as stated above. Architecture is a different thing entirely, and does not often include a lot of structural and physics stuff - just the basics to be able to converse with an engineer about it, focusing more on the artistic, social, theoretical aspects of design. Both are difficult, though architecture is more time-consuming.</p>
<p>Architects don't make much money. Engineers start in the $40,000-50,000 range - architects often start around $30,000.</p>
<p>I've never heard of an 'architectural engineer' per se. </p>
<p>We hire all sorts of engineers though, mostly structural, civil, mechanical. </p>
<p>They all tend to make more money than architects FWIW.</p>
<p>Everyone makes more money than architects. If you're considering architecture, you can't care about money. But, $30k is enough to live most places.</p>
<p>IIT has architectural engineering. The program is growing pretty quickly. There must be some demand for them...</p>
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Everyone makes more money than architects. If you're considering architecture, you can't care about money. But, $30k is enough to live most places.
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<p>Well, two things. 30K is not enough to live on in NYC, and many if not most of the architects I know there have "outside" sources of funds to enable them to live there and work in the top firms. </p>
<p>Remember Peter Eisenman's office went several weeks without pay on at least one occasion.</p>
<p>Anyone have any first hand info on the Architectural Engineering programs at CU Boulder, KU or OU? Jr daughter is interested.</p>
<p>There's a "Building Science" program at USC that sounds about like what you describe as "Architectural Engineering". It's a program that's really split between the two schools- the undergrad program is technically a part of engineering, but takes around 1/3 of their classes in architecture, and the grad program is part of the school of architecture.</p>
<p>When you get right down to, $100k isn't really enough to live on in NYC. Never quite understood why people put up with those prices. Needless to say, I'm staying in Chicago.</p>
<p>There are a lot of stories of interns, at least in the fairly recent past in the US, and it still happens elsewhere, going without pay and living a marginal but, um, interesting, i guess, existence in superstar firms. I had never heard of other members of the firms going without pay, but I believe it.</p>
<p>i used to be really interested in architectural engineering but i could only find like 3 decent school's that offered it and none of which i was particularly interested in..there may be more now but i don't think its a very popular major</p>
<p>is structural engineering really almost the same? is it like architectural but less artsy? because taht would be perfectt
oh and is structural offered at a lot of schools??</p>
<p>If you have any inclination for architectural engineering--get a structural engineering degree or a geo tech degree. In 30 years I have never met or worked with an architectural engineer--and what's more--I don't want to! If I am designing a tower, I want the best damn daring structural engineer in town--the higher the degree the better.</p>
<p>I never had so much fun on $20K a year as I did when I did my apprenticeships in New York City. Those apprenticeship experiences still lead to multi-million dollar projects for my office because my international client base recognizes the names of those architects.</p>
<p>I'm a civil engineering major, which is the broader field in which structural engineering lies and from what i've seen in classes, there is little to no emphasis on aesthetic design. My professor mentions it from time to time, but it's usually overlooked and isn't much of a factor. </p>
<p>structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering, so it's offered at almost every university with an engineering dept.</p>
<p>Well, would anybody suggest doing the Duo Major program with ArchEngi and Arch? I'm facing the choice right now.</p>
<p>I'm from the UK and leeds University does a year out for AchEng in Penn state which I have heard is really good. Any one got any idea on starting salaries are? and mean salaries too?</p>
<p>I'm coming to Hamilton college for a year before I come back home to study it anyway.</p>
<p>I just started my first year of Arch at KU. After hearing all the horror stories about how much they get paid, I'm not sure if I want to spend that much time and not get paid for it. KU does offer an ArchE program, but to the person who asked if they could do both, NO WAY. You're talking about 10 years of school and then internship. I have heard my teacher say that ArchE's are worth their weight in gold, unfortunately they don't get paid in gold. From what I've seen they make a little more than Architects. I'm going to try to get a minor in business or entrepreneurship. I think that's the key to making money. Anyone have suggestions of double majors or minors to go with Architecture let me know.</p>
<p>Brothel, If you want to make a good living in a traditional architectural practice, then focus on your studio classes, put together an outstanding portfolio, and get a job at a good firm that will compensate you properly for your skills. Right now in Dallas, that would be about 40kto 50k starting salary for the best firms. A business minor will not do anything for you in a firm until you get to senior management after 8 to 10 years. A night class MBA might be a better way to go.</p>
<p>On the other hand if you are flexible in what you want to do with your degree, then a business minor would make you a more attractive candidate for developers, program managers, and corporations who also hire architectural graduates. You will not be practicing architecture, but you can make a good living with a reasonable amount of security. There are also many construction firms who like architecture graduates, and they tend to pay a little better; 50k to 55k.</p>
<p>A year or two of studios should give you a better insight as to what you should do.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>^^Great advice and real world data from rick.</p>
<p>See how you go in your design classes. By third year you should ask yourself if you are one of the best designers in the class. Does it come easily? If it does, then you could probably find success in your own firm or at the head of a design department.</p>
<p>If you are not in the top 25% of designers in your class by your OWN estimation, then that's the time to think about a different career track which might be more lucrative.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your input. I think design is the way for me and KU is big on studio design. You guys have helped a lot.</p>