<p>I go to a school without a dedicated BArch 5 year program, but a 4 year BA in Architectural Studies is offered. My school isn't particularly strong in Arch to begin with.</p>
<p>However, I intend on traveling once I graduate college, most likely by teaching English. I also am majoring in philosophy and want to take numerous studio arts classes and film classes. Basically, if I do the BA Arch I'm limiting some other courses I'd like to take.</p>
<p>My question is this: if I don't intend on going right into a MArch program immediately following graduation, should I just major in whatever I want and then apply to MArch programs when I'm at that point? It seems like admission isn't guaranteed with a BA Arch Studies anyway.</p>
<p>“should I just major in whatever I want and then apply to MArch programs when I’m at that point? It seems like admission isn’t guaranteed with a BA Arch Studies anyway.”</p>
<p>I’d say, yes, major in whatever you’re interested in/passionate about. Most MArch schools prefer to see very well balanced, well traveled students with a strong interdisciplinary background. Make sure to cover the basic MArch reqs sometime in the near future, if you haven’t done so already (1 physics, 1 math, a few art hist. and studio art classes). The courses you’d like to take (art/film/philosophy) are totally applicable to at least part of an MArch curriculum (so long as you don’t talk too much about Lacan haha). The only true benefits to a BA in Arch Studies are 1) exposure to architecture early on while still taking advantage of a LA education 2) possibly getting advanced placement for MArch I (2+ yrs).</p>
<p>As So_ said, if you are not going to get advanced placement in an MArch program then the BA in Arch will not help you a lot, particularly if you are taking studio art classes instead. The only other thing to be said for taking undergraduate studio courses is to find out whether you really want to be an architect. Whatever else you may think about becoming an architect, till you take that first studio you won’t know for sure. When you are in studio at 4:00am for the third week in a row trying to finish up your project, that is when you find out how deep the passion runs.</p>
<p>If you plan on working in an architecture firm, get your professional degree, MArch, or BArch. The other degree you get matters less if you are definitely going to get the professional degree.</p>
<p>Like Felix and Rick said, the best route to being an architect is to get a B.Arch. The other degree is a waste. But, you really need to know if you want to be an architect. That is key.</p>