<p>Bennnie- Wow…what a hard decision. Compared to the cost of PSU (which I know ALL too well!), is Tulane really out of the question? </p>
<p>I honestly can’t think of any city better than New Orleans in which to study historic preservation. Truly - it’s a perfect place for that area of study. I imagine that Tulane must be able offer lots of opportunities to be part of rebuilding/preserving an incredible treasure.</p>
<p>(Note - I am from New Orleans, married there, both children born there, still have family there…so I’m a little biased!!!). :)</p>
<p>I have several friends in both civil engineering and architecture.</p>
<p>The main difference between the two is that civil engineering is the engineering part while architecture is the art part.</p>
<p>A civil engineer focuses on the technical challenges of a particular project and makes it possible. Examples include dams, power plants, bridges, weird buildings, etc. It doesn’t really matter how those structures look; they just have to accomplish the task at hand.</p>
<p>An architect, on the other hand, focuses on the design aspect. They may design a very functional building that’s aesthetically pleasing, but the technical aspects of it may be nothing special.</p>
<p>The two fields work together when it’s a big project that has both technical and artistic challenges. Such an example would Sagrada Familia, a cathedral in Barcelona. Its form and function is in the hands of the architect, Anton Gaudi. However, the building techniques that allow the project to be finished in the next couple decades instead of 150yr from now is all in the hands of civil engineers.</p>
<p>In short: the question for architects is “what?” while the question for civil engineers is “how?”</p>
<p>Civil/Structural engineering departments that offer emphases or focuses in “nondestructive evaluation” and “structural health monitoring” would be a good start for this type of work</p>
<p>The only change I would make to excelblue’s post is that architects and engineers work together on a LOT of projects, not just big, complicated ones. When the housing industry was booming, we did many house designs with local architects. We’ve done simple warehouses, office buildings, etc. with them, also. A lot of times, we have input into the layout of the building, because it can affect the structural framing and bracing.</p>
<p>I would add that the architect is ultimately responsible for the design of the building as a whole. The architect coordinates all the designs that the subconsultants (structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, MEP engineer, landscape architect, and a whole bunch more depending on the complexity of the project) do and has the final say on all matters. The typical hierarchy is the owner hires the architect, and the architect hires everybody else that is needed to design the building.</p>
<p>So even for small simple buildings, you still need an architect.</p>
<p>^^Yes, as much as I think society undervalues structural engineers, I think architects may be appreciated even less. Their job is incredibly difficult. They are NOT just artists!</p>
<p>As much as we know about construction, we still hired an architect to design the addition to our house. We have a contemporary style of house, and making the addition look “right” was very challenging. Just the roof lines alone were a nightmare! It came out really great, and we get compliments all the time.</p>
<p>Architecture is very fulfilling if you enjoy poverty Architects tend to be passionate about their careers, but also live and die by the economy. Get your BArch and go back for a Master’s in something that will pay the bills.</p>
<p>I am very interested now in studying both Architecture and Architectural Engineering in college, because I am stubborn about wanting to do Architecture and have a good salary, and I like math and want to have a strong understanding of structures while also being artsy. But which programs of these are good? I only know of UT Austin’s 6 year dual professional B.Arch/B.S.A.E. program, but the curriculum looks brutal…</p>
<p>I doubt there are even any B.Arch only programs out there that aren’t brutal. Professional architecture degrees are not for the weak.</p>
<p>You should consider getting an undergrad engineering degree, followed by an M.Arch. It will open many more options for you and may only add one more year, compared to this dual degree.</p>
While the two majors are pretty different, it is a pretty common choice among potential civil engineering / architecture students. I was one who had come to that crossroads when I was applying for colleges; civil engineering was my top choice, followed by architecture, NOT any other engineering major. There are plenty of people who transfer between the majors once they get to college too. </p>
<p>For me, it wasn’t the math & physics that attracted me to engineering. I chose my major because I wanted to design and build bridges, buildings, infrastructure, etc and not anything else. I’m sure others who are contemplating these two majors are also of similar mindsets.</p>
<p>XCcoasterfreak, my son wanted to major in Arch Eng, but is also interested in architecture and loves to draw. He visited the programs at UC- Boulder, IIT, PSU and Drexel. He felt the PSU program had the best integration of architecture and engineering and also appreciated the opportunity to spend a summer in Rome, earning a minor in architectural studies. I think the BAE would be a great foundation to followup with an MArch, as ken 285 mentioned. (He did not visit UTA.)</p>
<p>I agree, 1st there is a minor fear, i think maybe a bit unjustified, but healthy paranoia is not a bad thing in a constantly outsourced world-the fear that architecture itself could become absorbed into simple computing programs run by engineers of mainly the type mentioned in this thread…suppose it could occur-to the detriment of diverse design. Your degree in civil and or by extension into sustainable desigh if you add the environmental engineering focus that extends civil engineering. A person who is a real artist might find this route a drag in respect to the up front leg work in doing the really hard math and engineering 1st, but I think although their are great undergrad B/Arch. programs like Cornell and Cooper Union the highest ranked programs are for M/Arch at the usual suspect top 10 colleges well many. The thing is that if automation makes architecture so much more CAD oriented and automated you won’t be left in the cold, and if you read about the employment rate and its ties to construction (both arch. and civil but less so env eng.)…so its a thought. I am hardly an expert but you likely also shorten the M/Arch from 3 to 2 years since you have all the underpinnings of structural engineering in you BSE. Its not for everyone-many architects go in weak in math and suffer through the engineering components hoping to squak through for the art portion of the job but they may be in for a rude awakening when comes time to pass the professional licencse exam…good thread though…more than one road to a great destination, I am hoping the dispassionate approach does not kill the passion if the path taken is civil/env first but if you really want to know what you are doing i think you approach from a position of power unequalled by a single degree…but i am an engineer so biased…</p>
<p>Why not try Architectural Engineering? There aren’t very many ABET programs in America, but I’m sure you’d be able to find one at a university nearby. I am in architectural engineering and my twin sister is in civil and for the first three years 85% of our classes are exactly the same.</p>
There are too many human factors involved in architecture to automate it. Architects also have to be responsive to client requests and be able to manage their subconsultants.</p>
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I’m sorry, I don’t understand how sustainable design factors into this. Also, environmental engineering has little to do with sustainable design.</p>
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Anybody who is not passionate in both engineering and architecture should not be majoring in both to begin with.</p>
<p>Please try to organize your thoughts better. There are a couple of sentences and sentence fragments in that post that don’t make any sense and seem to come from left field.</p>
<p>Here is California, Civil Engineering begining pay is a lot higher than that of Architecture major. If you don’t have a State Arch. License, you are basically a draftsman. The downturn of Real Estate market will really limits the job maket in the field of Architecture for a long term. </p>
<p>With the problem of aging infilstructures, utilities and bad roadways, the CE’s future is much brighter.</p>
Schools in CA are graduating CEs at a massive rate. We received 800 applicants for 25 paid summer intern positions. Some of which are PhD students.
You call this future bright?</p>
You can always relocate. North Dakota has a housing shortage, an unemployment rate below 4%, and plenty of construction work. Even Wal-Mart and McD’s are offering signing bonuses because many of their employees are leaving to work in the oil fields.</p>
Architects tend to be passionate about their careers, but also live and die by the economy. Get your BArch and go back for a Master’s in something that will pay the bills.</p>
help please?</p>