<p>I am an undergraduate student studying in India. I'm going to start my 5th (and final) year in architecture in 2 months, and I want to apply for a Master's degree in the US for 2011.</p>
<p>The thing is though, 4years into this course, I'm still not sure this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Yes, I like the idea of designing homes and other personal spaces, but that is IT!</p>
<p>So, I want to understand how graduate schools in the US work. If I do opt for an M.Arch degree... do i have to study very intense architectural stuff? I don't think I can take that.</p>
<p>What other options are open for me if I have a 5year B.Arch degree from India's best architecture school? Maybe construction management?</p>
<p>Also, are there any good design-related degree options that I can complete in a year? I think UC Berkeley offers something of the sort, every other college requires a minimum of 2years, which I might not be able to handle if it is PURELY architecture.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy studying 2years at grad school if I can punctuate my design/architecture studies with, say, some sociology, music, religions, economics etc. I know that's how colleges work, but, unfortunately, I didn't get to explore all my interests. And I don't want to have to tolerate something I don't love doing just because the undergraduate system in my country didn't allow me to discover where my interest and aptitude really lies.</p>
<p>So, basically, I'm crazy confused. I don't think this is the right place of mind to be when you're 21. HELP!!!</p>
<p>… do i have to study very intense architectural stuff? I don’t think I can take that.</p>
<p>OK, if you don’t want to do intense architectural stuff, do not go to graduate school. You should have gotten your general education in undergrad, graduate school is the time to focus. If you are burned out from your undergraduate experience then go work for a while with your five year degree. Then you can decide whether a Masters degree is really what you want. If your five year degree from India is accepted, then there a quite a few post-professional degree programs which last three semesters, but they are very focused and intense.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>no… its not that. i want to learn more. but i just want to know if i will get the option of studying other subjects along with architectural stuff.
you know… like if i can take a religion class or a history class or something, it’ll give me a break even though i’m still studying.</p>
<p>“you know… like if i can take a religion class or a history class or something,”
Depends on what school you apply to, but most likely, not. M.Arch curriculums aren’t terribly flexible; even most electives have requirement that have to be done in, say arch history/theory or building technology. Some larger schools like UPenn or possibly Berkeley may allow you to take classes through their humanities/econ &c. departments, but again it depends on the school. M.Arch programs are pretty much eat-breathe architecture environments.</p>
<p>I’m not too sure why you want an M.Arch after obtaining a B.Arch. That being said, most US schools probably won’t offer the types of classes you’re looking for, especially religion and music. The first is too controversial to touch, and the second isn’t seen as useful in a Master’s program (unless you’re a music major, I guess).</p>
<p>no no… i don’t specifically mean music or religion. i was just randomly naming subjects. it gets tiring to study just one subject all the time right? that’s why…</p>
<p>As others have said, the study of numerous other subjects during a master’s in architecture isn’t going to be much of an option. You can go for a master’s degree at a university, and depending upon your location, perhaps you can take continuing ed coursed in any subject you like. Here in NYC, a school such as NYU offers thousands of continuing education classes in every conceivable subject. I can’t vouch for the quality of those classes, though.</p>
<p>ok thanks a ton :D</p>