<p>What are the pros and cons of both?</p>
<p>Like they both are about the same difficulty but CIVs get paid more but I also generally hear that Architecture is more fulfilling while CIV Engineering leaves people feeling like a cog in the system.</p>
<p>Then there are those that generally say that they can only "stand" Engineering while most Architecture people say that they are passionate about their job.</p>
<p>Sounds like you have your mind made up already. :)</p>
<p>I think structural engineering is a very fulfilling career. It does pay better than architecture, but you still get to see “your” buildings go up. </p>
<p>In our area, engineers are holding out OK, but a lot of architects are having a hard time of it. Especially the ones who concentrate in house design. Even a small structural engineering firm can diversify, working on a lot of different types of buildings. We work on everything including houses, hospitals, factories, prisons, schools, towers, etc. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that architecture and structural engineering are VERY different fields. I am very analytical and math-minded, so I like engineering, but I would make a horrible architect! I barely made a C in one semester of architectural design.</p>
<p>Actually, the structural engineers I know really like their jobs. I don’t think I’ve ever heard one say he/she could only “stand” the job.</p>
<p>What you could do is start out in civil engineering, but take some introductory architecture courses as well.</p>
<p>If you like both, you can see if you can do a double major or major + minor (or just take a few courses of interest). For example, at UC Berkeley, minors are offered in both [architecture[/url</a>] and [url=<a href=“http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/undergrad/curriculum/minors]civil”>Minors | Civil and Environmental Engineering]civil</a> engineering](<a href=“http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/programs/undergraduate/minors/arch]architecture[/url”>http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/programs/undergraduate/minors/arch).</p>
<p>If you like only one of them, you can choose that for your major.</p>
<p>The reason for starting in civil engineering is that civil engineering requires the “heavy” versions of math and physics, which are accepted for architecture majors, even though architecture may only require the “light” versions, which are not accepted for civil engineering majors. In other words, if you start to take the courses for civil engineering, you can switch to architecture, but not the other way around.</p>
<p>“Sounds like you have your mind made up already.”</p>
<p>Well, I have honestly heard mostly from the architecture side so the views I expressed would be slanted that way. Architects get paid significantly less yet it appears to be the same difficulty so imagined that there must something about their job that they love significantly for them to not merely tolerate it but love it. While on the other hand Architects have a bit of a harder time finding employment and it overall takes much longer to become one while at the same time they carry heavy loan burdens. It’s difficult to discount the realities of that situation.</p>
<p>However, even though the Civs I have conversed with said they can only “tolerate” their jobs, they never thought that the work itself was somehow meaningless.</p>
<p>Still, this is truly the first time I have heard someone say they loved their job as a civil engineer. Can any of you that feel the same tell me why you love the job so much?</p>
<p>You might want to take a look at Architectural Engineering. The ABET accredited programs are listed here - </p>
<p>[AEI</a> - AEI](<a href=“http://www.aeinstitute.org/education//information.cfm]AEI”>http://www.aeinstitute.org/education//information.cfm)</p>
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<p>in my experience it’s generally the civ.e’s that go to graduate school who are the most satisfied with their careers.</p>
<p>One reason I like the career is that it’s very flexible. [People who have “heard” this part, please forgive me - I feel like a broken record sometimes!] My husband and I run our own structural engineering firm out of our house in Maine. We built a home office that looks out over the woods. We work hard, but we can take off when we want to. Today, my husband went skiing in northern Maine! I like to run, and I can do that on a regular basis, right out our front door.</p>
<p>Grcxx3 is right, you should check into ArchE. That was my major, at the University of Texas at Austin. It’s an excellent program.</p>
<p>It’s really cool to see the projects you designed get built. My kids call them “Mom’s buildings,” or “Dad’s buildings.” I LOVE that we’re not just “pushing paper,” but creating something real that will hopefully last a long time.</p>
<p>Oh, my husband and I did go to grad school. He started out as a “pure” civil engineer, working on drainage and site plans (the company that hired us didn’t want us in the same department!). He got tired of THAT real quick. So keep in mind that there are different types of civil engineering!</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, if someone starts out with a degree in civil engineering, can they move towards structural engineering or do they need more classes? </p>
<p>Another similar question I wondered about is at UVM they only have civil engineering but your can minor in green building and community design which is actually taught by an architecture firm.
[Green</a> Building and Community Design : Undergraduate: Majors and Minors : Community Development and Applied Economics : University of Vermont](<a href=“Community Development and Applied Economics | Community Development and Applied Economics | The University of Vermont”>Community Development and Applied Economics | Community Development and Applied Economics | The University of Vermont)</p>
<p>Are there civil engineers that predominately work in that area of building or is that just a wishful hope for the future?</p>
<p>Structural engineering is commonly considered to be a sub-discipline of civil engineering.</p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago I was reading an article in the newspaper about careers that are in high and low demand in CA. Architecture was on the very low end while Civil Engineering was on the high end. It might seem strange at first, but you must remember that CE is a very broad career, its not all buildings and bridges. But thats the situation here in CA, so my only advice is to research locally on the job market of your chosen career. I really don’t know much about Architecture but I know several friends that already graduated with the degree and they have yet to land an entry level position. Sadly one of those friends is still working in retail. I feel bad but thats the downside to not having as many construction projects as before.</p>
<p>Our liability insurance broker told us this week that his engineering client companies seem to be holding on OK, but architects are really struggling, and a couple of them have gone out of business. A local architect who was on his own and hired us frequently finally gave up and went to work for somebody else. It’s tough out there.</p>
<p>I do admire architects a lot. You have to keep in mind that not only are they responsible for the artsy design stuff, but they have to coordinate ALL the aspects of construction - finishes, construction details, structural design, mechanical design, electrical design, etc. It must get pretty stressful at times.</p>
<p>Lakemom, as Ken said, structures is really part of the civil engineering curriculum. In college, you could concentrate more on structural design classes. That’s why I majored in Architectural Engineering, actually - I didn’t want to take ANY classes on drainage, highways, site design, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks Mainelonghorn. My son is interested in Arch but he really is strong in Math and Physics. UVM is on our maybe list but they don’t actually have Arch, just the minor taught by an Arch firm. Arch engineering is also taught at some of the schools on our maybe list so that is also an option for him.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t necessarily say that CE is less fulfilling. I know a civil engineer who finds their career very fulfilling because they are improving the city around them on a daily basis. The only part that they don’t like too much is the large amount of public relations which slows down the process. The best way to see what you are most interested in is to job shadow.</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn - my son is majoring in AE at Penn State.</p>
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<p>That’s something the general public probably doesn’t realize. If they did, I’m sure architects would get appreciated a lot more!</p>
<p>Grcxx3, that’s cool! Penn State has a good ArchE program.</p>
<p>You’re right, Ken. I’ve sat in on meetings where the architect had to play babysitter / peace negotiator, also. I remember thinking that I was glad it wasn’t me!</p>
<p>hey broskies, I have a similar problem so I decided to might as well post in here. I am very interested in computer aided modelling and the design aspect of Architecture, yet I want to be paid more for also having a strong understanding of structures, and I have a pretty decent math/physics interest (current junior in calculus bc), would it be a good idea to major in both structural/civil engineering and architecture?</p>