<p>It’ll take you forever to double major in those two. Both engineering and architecture are known to be very time consuming majors with few opportunities to take electives outside of their field.</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like you want to be an engineer though. You really won’t be doing much of the overall conceptual designs that architects would.</p>
<p>It’s possible to double major in Architecture/Architectural Engineering at UT-Austin. I personally knew only one person who did that. He sure worked long hours. I couldn’t see the point in it.</p>
<p>I mean I am really interested in rollercoaster design (I actually do that as a hobby, lol), and designing “theming” for them which was my initial reason for majoring in both, but in your cases, is it at least possible to minor in Civil or something of the sorts? Since I already know i’m looking at >5 college life with possible interest in earning a doctorate.</p>
<p>I don’t believe it’s possible to minor in civil engineering. I think that would be kind of like “sort of being pregnant.” You either do it or you don’t, you can’t dabble in it.</p>
<p>this is just my 2 cents. Perhaps you should major in engineer and get a masters in Arch if you are still interested which would be 4+3, but with the engineering background you might be able to test out of the engineering type classes and lighten your load.</p>
<p>It might only be 4+2 with a civil engineering background.</p>
<p>Sorry if I hijack this thread but I also have similar questions.</p>
<p>I want to design buildings and see them get built and be out there on the job. Also if I’m not doing that I want to have the credentials to be hired by developers to do those things.</p>
<p>I want to go to a school around me so I could work while attending school.</p>
<p>I am listing the schools around me offering degrees related to what I want to do</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Central Florida - offering
Architecture (B.Des.)
College of Arts and Humanities
School of Visual Arts and Design</li>
</ol>
<p>Civil Engineering (B.S.C.E.)
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction
Engineering,</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Valencia Community College - offering
A.A. Transfer Plans to Engineering (General)
A.A. Pre-Major Degrees for Architecture
A.S. Degrees
Building Construction Technology
Civil/Surveying Engineering Technology</p></li>
<li><p>Seminole State College - offering
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in
Architectural Engineering Technology (From what I’ve read this is not a real Engineering degree, right?)
Construction (This will lead to professional licensure as a general contractor)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Associate in Arts (A.A.) in
Prerequisite courses in these majors:
Architecture
Civil Engineering
Construction Engineering</p>
<p>Associate in Science (A.S.)
Architectural Design and Construction Technology
Building Construction Technology
Construction Management</p>
<p>What path should I take to accomplish what I want to do?</p>
<p>Again I’m sorry if I sound like I hijacked this thread.</p>
<p>When you say “be out there on the job,” how frequently are you talking about? Architects do visit project sites pretty often, but not on a daily basis. The same goes for the engineers, but only for their phase of the project. Contractors and construction managers are on site all the time if they are involved in field supervision (as opposed to project management, cost estimating, scheduling, etc.). Contractors/construction managers do not do any design though.</p>
<p>hey datddd, I just registered for this site to respond to you! You seem to be in the same situation I was in exactly one year ago. I’m actually right now a civil engineering major at UCF, and I’m planning to take architecture classes at Valencia (and minor in business, but that’s unrelated to this discussion). </p>
<p>(Note that I had ridiculous amounts of AP credit and am still going to be at school for 2 summers full-time in addition to my 4 years to get all this done!)</p>
<p>One important thing you should know is that the UCF B.Des in architecture degree is only the last two years of the architecture program! You have to take the Valencia Pre-architecture AA before you can get in at all, and it’s not guaranteed admission! You can also apply to the second 2 years of UF’s architecture program.</p>
<p>After talking to a LOT of advisers, this is what my plan comes down to. I’m going to take the 4 architectural design classes at Valencia, finish my Civil Engineering degree (choosing all the structural-related classes) and then, if I decided I like architecture enough, apply to UF’s Masters of Architecture Core program. That is a program designed for people with non-architecture or architecture-related undergrad degrees, and it takes 3-4 years depending on what you have credit for.</p>
<p>Also, be warned that the SSC “Architectural Engineering Technology” degree is, from reading their description, a degree designed so that you can “assist” architects and engineers. If you don’t have the means to attend a full university or don’t care about aiming high then it might be a good program, but I wouldn’t want a degree just to be someone’s assistant!</p>
<p>As a licensed architect who majored in Economics, then earned a M. Arch to enter the field, and as someone who has worked in diverse areas of the profession (traditional firm, real estate dept of a Fortune 500, sole proprietor of a part-time practice), I would suggest some things for you to consider.</p>
<p>*I find architects to be wonderful colleagues both in the university and in the profession. Generally witty, creative, friendly, hard-working, and team players (not saying that engineers aren’t, just can’t speak to that).<br>
*Do some personal soul-searching – what do you want most from your career – prestige? money? fulfillment? camaraderie? flexibility? stability? longevity? For example, architects have a very cyclical employement and income stream – if stability is essential, maybe architecture is not for you. How are you with deadlines – too stressful or taken in stride? Architecture is full of them and clients can wreak havoc with meeting them. Like sleep? Don’t get much of that in architecture school; face time (at all hours of the day or night) is important in most design classes.<br>
*Pick your university wisely – many are much more “artsy” while others more engineering oriented. As a more analytical type (never took a drawing class before arch. school) and of a more business/entrepreneurial bent, I was a fish-out-of-water with my old school, design-is-king, profs (not so much with my fellow students). I am certain my instructors thought I’d never make it in the field (even though I made good grades) but I’ve been very happy and successful.
*Try to get a part-time job or internship in an architect’s and/or engineer’s office to get a feel for both. Undergraduate, there was an architect who taught an evening real estate class at my university (which didn’t even have an architecture dept.). He was generous enough to offer me a low-level, part-time, job my Sr. year when I told him of my grad school aspirations in architecture. It gave me a real understanding of the work and people.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.</p>
<p>@datddd – I’ll throw in my two cents worth on your plans.</p>
<p>Architecture is such a low-paying field in the beginning and not-yet-licensed architectural grads (Bachelor’s or above) HAVE to have experience in the field before sitting for the licensing exam so archiectural “assistants” are not in great demand. Be careful not to get a lesser degree that it not going to get you a job.</p>
<p>If you goal is to be licensed (and my personal bias is that EVERY graduate should do so, even if your career track doesn’t require it – mine didn’t initially but life has a way of changing), be SURE that the college program you enter is accredited (sp?). Most states now require a minimum of a 5 year Bachelor’s and not all programs meet the standards to be licensed. Also – there is data on architectural licensing exam pass rates for various colleges’ grads on the internet. Not all schools prepare their students well. Please do your research – I’d hate for you to work hard in school and then not be able to reach your goals. The architecture professional association (American Institute of Architects) is a great place to start.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>XCcoasterfreak & others discussing dual major…</p>
<p>My daughter (HS junior - artsy and loves math) was heading for architecture. But after several revelations came to light (see list) she’s changed her mind:
<p>So, we went to BAC’s arch open house asking around for architecture like options, such as architectural engineering and the like. Got pointers from several schools (MIT, Syracuse, Cooper Union, etc - about 50 arch schools were there) that going into civil engineering with an emphasis in structures would be a good way to go. That path leads to BSCivil, where you can concentrate in structures if you wish. While working civil BS, her plan is now to also in parallel go for a minor in architecture (many schools this entails 30 credits). She’s going in with likely 15 AP credits (2 from junior and 3 from senior year), which will help lessen the load a bit.</p>
<p>After the BSCivil with minor arch, she could go for Master’s in structural engineering (this degree appears to be a graduate only program), or do an about face and head back in for a Master’s in Arch (less likely, but possible).</p>
<p>Searching US colleges, we found out that there’s 90 schools that offer civil eng and architecture. Due to wanting to stay in the NE, she has limited choices to Northeastern, MIT, UMass Amherst, RPI, Syracuse, Princeton, Lehigh, Columbia, and CMU. We shall see where this leads.</p>
<p>Get your B.S. in Civ. Eng, and get your masters in architecture later on, if you so choose. </p>
<p>A B.Arch won’t get you very far, considering how many architects there are. </p>
<p>Structural Engineering may also be where you want to go.</p>
<p>As mentioned previously, my son is an Arch Engr major at Penn State. He also considered several schools that didn’t have Arch Engr programs, but where he could do a BS in Civil Engr and a minor in Arch. In the end, he decided that he wanted the specific Arch Engr degree and he particularly liked the integration/coordination of the Engr and Arch classes that Penn State offered. </p>
<p>For example, this semester in his Engr Design class - his section is ONLY for Arch Engr majors (or prospective majors). So, while other Engr students are taking E-Design and doing projects that involve designing tools, toys, etc - his class is doing blueprints, layouts, architectural designs, etc. </p>
<p>Also, the Arch Engr program at Penn State is a 5 year program, but strong students have the option of doing a joint BS/MS in 5-1/2 years. This is what he is planning on doing. Oh - and the summer in Rome option (which I think officially gives him a minor in Architectural Studies) was also a major draw!</p>
<p>For him, this solid, collaborative relationship between the 2 programs was a major strength of PSU and one he couldn’t pass up.</p>
<p>I agree with Enrique07. Get the BS in Civil Engineering at a school with a good structures lab. Then you can go get a Master’s in Arch if that is the path you want to take. </p>
<p>We have been advised our DS will need a master in structural engineering to work in his desired field due to the liability firms have they now. So at this point we know he will need a MS to get the type of job he wants. If that is a M Arch or MS in Structures he can decide later.</p>
<p>In our search for his school we have found the emphasis within different Civil Engineering departments varies greatly. For instance, at OSU there is NO structures lab and for a school that size it is surprising. Case Western has an exceptional structures lab for only 100 undergrad Civil Eng. For a student wanting to take electives in structures versus the other civil sub categories this is a consideration. And it looks like my son is going to U of M (with Case an outside possibility).</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>These are words that should be capitalized, underlined, and in bold.</p>
<p>I had a good friend who was a Harvard trained architect who made a career change to finance after the mid 70’s recession and layoffs at the major firms. it required him to go to Stanford B school and start over at age 28 or so, but he did it. I also know several architects whose businesses are struggling currently, and who’ve had to relocate to stay employed. This happens to other professions too, but when you are involved with long term, cyclical assets, from time to time you run into a situation where you realize that in the past four years, you did eight years worth of work and there’s not any there for the next four.</p>
<p>A friend who is an architect is now unemployed and was underemployed for about a year. He is not finding a lot of openings to even apply for, and says that a lot of basic work goes overseas. ANother was unemployed for about two years and now is at a startup whose future is unclear more than a very few months out.</p>
<p>I have a son who wanted to be an architect until he learned about architectural engineering. When he met with the AE department head at one school we visited he asked what the difference is between the two degrees. He was old “about $20K to start”. ;)</p>
<p>So I am going to hijack this thread in yet another direction primarily because the responders here have proven themselves to be so knowlegible and interested in the topic. My D wants to ultimately have a career in historic preservation - keeping culturally important structures from falling down. She was initially thinking architecture was the way to go but after spending a shadow day with an engineer that specialized in preserving older buildings, it seems engineering is more appropriate but she still loves the idea if not the reality of architecture. </p>
<p>Fast forward a year and now she has been accepted to both architecture and engineering programs.</p>
<p>RPI-civil with minor in arch.
VTech - civil
Penn State - accepted to engineering and hoping for Arch Engineering as Grcxx3’s is doing
Catholic - dual degree in arch (pre-professional) and civil engineering
UMass Lowell - local school offering a free ride and paid internship
Tulane - architecture but too expensive so no really in the running.</p>
<p>Penn State is the most expensive of the programs because of the 5 year commitment and lack of merit aid but seems the most on target.<br>
VTech - doesn’t seem to offer the option of minoring in Arch but is reasonable enough that she could still afford grad school
Catholic - seems like a good program but also relatively unknown
UMass Lowell - no prestige associated with it but sure is a extremely attractive offer. Plus she would live at home so no great college experience like what is available at PSU or VT.
RPI - on the expensive side but closer to home.</p>
<p>Anybody care to comment or give suggestions on which program for her to choose? I should also mention the neither the head of Arch Engin or Arch at PSU could really say themselves which of the two programs was better for what she wanted to do.</p>
<p>Interesting, my DD also wishes to restore historic properties and/or convert them into enviromentally friendly designs. She has eliminated architecture as a major. Spent some time with family members who are architects and they were very discouraging. She is now looking at civil/environmental and architectual engineering not sure which way to go.</p>