Difference between Civil Engineering and Architecture

<p>oops, just realized this thread is fairly old</p>

<p>

I can’t see this being true. Typically, the owner hires the architect, and all the other sub-consultants (structural engineer, geotech engineer, MEP engineer, landscape architect, etc.) work for the architect. </p>

<p>If you meant all structures require an engineer and only some structures require an architect, that might be more true. Structures would include bridges, tunnels, dams, etc in addition to buildings. I’m not sure if small residential one or two family houses require an engineer in addition to an architect though.</p>

<p>"Architects make the building look stylish and presentable.</p>

<p>Civil engineers keep the building from collapsing and killing everyone inside"</p>

<p>who makes sure the building FUNCTIONS as it needs to? that there is enough room for the needed uses, that their is enough natural light, that things that need to be close to each other are, that there isnt a lot of wasted space, etc, etc?</p>

<p>Most buildings are not designed by architects. States each have regulations based on either building size or cost that determines when the drawings have to be stamped by an architect. Builder homes don’t typically fall into the category and seldom have any architect involvement and this accounts for the low percentage of architect designed buildings.</p>

<p>Civil engineers lay out roads, oversee the surveys of the property, and draw up the water and sewer connections. In sub-divisions they will typically layout the lots and roads (ever wonder why your neighborhood is so poorly laid out?). They might be involved in buildings for which there is no architect, but the drawing may just be a single page showing the water and sewer connection.</p>

<p>Structural engineers are the ones that keep buildings from falling down. The consultant food chain looks something like this;</p>

<p>Architect
Structural engineer
Civil engineer</p>

<p>(Big gap)</p>

<p>Mechanical engineer
Electrical engineer
Plumbing engineer</p>

<p>rick</p>

<p>My Question is: I was wondering if ARchitecture will help you to learn more about designing roads or houses for a city?</p>

<p>Wait this is all confusing?
You guys say that the architect is trained in structural engineering too, so what is the point of the engineer?</p>

<p>And I thought urban planners plan cities and roads and stuff?</p>

<p>At my college, architecture majors had 2 courses in structural engineering (I believe). It gives them some knowledge about it, but is not nearly enough to design an actual building.</p>

<p>If you’re talking about the actual structural design of a road, then that would be in the civil engineering field.</p>

<p>Wait so I have a dilemma…i don’t really like that artistic part of architecture, I more like the design, so should I try civil engineering?</p>

<p>Is civil engineering like architecture without the art?</p>

<p>When you say “design,” what do you mean exactly?</p>

<p>Like making up the building itself…the materials, window type, etc…
I want to be able to design the building like an architect, but unfortunantly, architects do a lot of artistic things like sketching and drawing which i don’t like…</p>

<p>Things like windows, doors, drywall locations, paint type/color all fall under architecture and not civil engineering.</p>

<p>Civil engineers build roads and bridges and tunnels and stuff</p>

<p>structural engineers of buildings make sure the building does not fall down.</p>

<p>Architects design the building to be functional and efficient (energy efficiency is also a big concern). They ALSO design it to be attractive, make a statement, etc. Which of those is more important will depend on the type of building, the client, the clients needs and desires.</p>

<p>Some Arch schools emphasize one side or the other more, IIUC. Though all will expect SOME attention to art, creativity, appearance.</p>

<p>And drawing and sketching, as has been said, are tools, artistry aside.</p>

<p>so basically its not architecture without art?</p>

<p>from what I can gather there are architects who design factories, even hospitals, who do nothing particularly artistic. </p>

<p>You can imagine that being able to draw could still be useful to them.</p>

<p>So civil engineering isnt architecture without art…they dont get to design any buildings, they just do the structures and stuff?</p>

<p>Because I thought since I liked architecture, but I dont like to draw, civil engineering is kind of like architecture without the drawing. But I guess I was wrong :/</p>

<p>I’m a 2nd yr civil engineering student,studyin in India.
Due to bad timing n ill advise, i cudn’t opt 4 Barch. Nw i’m more artistically inclined. I wish 2 have sum knowledge abt architecture. I want to pursue it aftr i finish CE. But i cant stand da thot of 5 yrs. Is der any alternative course wid a lesser tym period of 1 or 2 yrs.</p>

<p>You can get a BS in CE, then go for an MArch, which will be around 2-3 years depending on the credits that you already have.</p>

<p>Is it common among students to apply 4 m.arch aftr BS</p>

<p>Yes, or BA or even BFA</p>

<p>Hey, i’m new here.Currently an A-level student, graduating end of this year and plan to further my studies in architecture course. But the decision hasn’t been made yet.
Can i get a M.Arch without any B.Arch? someone told me that, we can study civil.engineering and get a BS in Civil or maybe Master in Civil then can directly jump to the M.Arch?</p>

<p>It sounds stupid. But i really need advises. thank you.</p>