I have plans of dual majoring in both architectural engineering and residential architecture, as I believe that would greatly increase my competence as an architect – being able to combine form and function without having to slow the process with another person sounds glorious. It also seems to me that much of the classes/prerequisites would be approximately the same.
So, to simplify, if I were to dual major in the aforementioned fields, would I likely be able to graduate in a timely manner due to a heavy overlap of classes, or would I have to do an extra year or two due to there being little overlap/another reason not stated?
Architectural engineering students generally take one or maybe two architecture classes. They have more overlap with civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers than architects. You would be looking at lots of extra time to complete both.
There have been quite a few threads on this board about the feasibility of combining architecture and engineering. The general advice has been pick one or the other, don’t try to do both, certainly not simultaneously. I don’t know any degree program specifically for “residential” architecture, though many firms and individuals specialize in that area.
The professional architecture degree – the bachelor of architecture or BArch – is generally a 5.0 year program and comprises a fair amount of training in the structural side of architecture. Alternately, it would be possible to get an undergraduate professional degree in architectural engineering followed by a Master of Architecture, the MArch. That path would take about 6.0 to 7.0 years.
There are many pre-professional undergraduate degrees (e.g., BA or BS in architecture, architectural design, environmental design) that might be possible to combine with engineering, but in most states you need either the BArch or the MArch to become a licensed architect.
Those are some very interesting points, from both of you.
I’m not sure if this really pertains to the thread, but seeing as it would be rather difficult to focus on both as a major, is there any noticeable real-world benefit for being competent in both fields, or would my time better be spent in my chosen field?
(also, if you know, is the general consensus of taking both based upon the work load, or more-so on having to learn so much content?)
There is an entire thread devoted to the engineering vs architecture argument at the top of this forum’s home page.
My daughter just graduated this year with her BArch. She was taking an average of 19 credits per semester over her five year program. No way could she have plugged in an ArchE degree as well. By the way, ArchE, at least at her school, is also a five year program.
The studio demands of a BArch program are significant. These hours spent in studio impede greatly on the ability to schedule non-major, or 2nd major courses.
There really is not much overlap in courses between the BArch and ArchE programs. D2 took about 3 structural engineering courses and some other engineering (HVAC, lighting, etc.) courses, but certainly not even close to the level required by an accredited engineering major.
Do you want to be an engineer or an architect? There is an old saying - “jack of all trades and master of none,” meaning you really can’t be on top of the game in different fields at the same time. Sure there are exceptions, but those are few and far between.
Getting two undergraduate degrees is not really a competitive measure. As noted above, if you insist on being both an architect and an engineer, get an engineering undergrad degree and then go for an MArch afterward.
I had read through the bulk of that thread, but some areas were still a little vague.
It does seem like getting an engineering degree then an MArch is the way to go, however after reading through this and the pinned thread, that architectural engineering is kind of redundant. It appears something along the lines of civil engineering then the MArch will have the most pull in the job industry (at least, if you plan to start your own firm/go freelance, otherwise stick to one), for any further readers of this thread looking for a conclusion.
@Khranos, I think you’re overestimating the need for expertise in both fields in order to start your own architectural firm. Plenty of architects succeed on their own with BArchs or MArchs. Either way, first you need to complete your state’s licensing requirements which on average takes 2.5 to 3.0 years.
You should closely consider the cost of 6.0 to 8.0 years of education. Financial aid for an undergraduate degree follows the same guideline as an undergraduate program at the same university, but MArchs funding is less predictable and can be expensive.
You should also bear in mind that admission to top ranked MArch programs is highly design, portfolio and experience driven. I don’t think having an engineering degree would hurt you in admissions, but it might not help you either. You’ll still have to satisfy the requisite art and art history courses and put together a portfolio that demonstrates creative ability.
Are you applying to colleges this year or next? If next year, you might want to attend a BArch or MArch information program to understand what admissions are looking for. Or sign up for a career exploration program in architecture to get a better idea of what architecture entails.
I’m currently planning on actually starting college in January, as I had to spend the first semester moving states to receive a highly reduced tuition. I’ll most definitely keep looking at online resources, however.
That is reassuring to know that it isn’t as competitive as I first thought, I’m mostly just concerned that I’ll have an issue finding a job after schooling and would like something to fall back on to nearly double my chances in the industry initially.
I have heard that many of the art courses will take very much of your time away, and I could see that being an issue if I was working with two different subjects – I was mostly expecting to be taking technical courses rather than any art courses (I was still planning on taking them as an extra-curricular, however).
So, out of this, I should probably focus entirely on architecture rather than attempt to grab something else similar as a back-up?
The ‘art’ courses you speak of will comprise most of your curriculum in a BArch program. There are some technical (ie. arch engineering) courses in most programs, but BArch programs are highly art and design focused. As QuietType states, the studio classes will take a great amount of time. These involve designing the project, late nights (maybe some all-nighters) to make your project perfect. …because you will need to present it to the jury (panel of architects or teachers) and explain the concepts behind your design (art). In my daughter’s program, half of the students dropped by the 3rd year. If you are not creative or interested in art, arch (or some kind of ) engineering may be a better fit. You should visit the college and speak to someone from both the arch and engineering department to understand the difference in the programs. Good luck.
That’s very interesting to know. Honestly, that’s better than what I was hoping for – I care more for the creative side of architecture, but want to at least be knowledgeable on the technical side.
I’ll still be sure to discuss it with the school once a meeting can be scheduled. It seems there are more and more caveats to this topic than I initially expected.
@Khranos, It sounds as if you’re focusing on a specific university. What degree(s) in architecture do they offer? Do you have the credentials to get accepted?
There are several degree combinations that can lead to a career in architecture, and when you consider which path is right for you, you also have to think about how you’re going to pay for it.
I’m a parent, not an architect, but my observation is that the best way to get a good job upon graduation is to take advantage of all your school’s resources for summer internships, industry networking and alumni/ae and professor connections. Even if your intention is eventually to own your own business, you’ll need to work for a firm (or at least another licensed architect) while you’re going through the licensing process.
Aside from engineering, there are several other career paths that are connected to architecture but don’t necessarily require a professional degree in architecture, such as construction management, real estate development, plus the various technologies that serve architectural design. If you’re unsure, perhaps you could attend a career exploration session or talk to a counselor at an architecture school before you make a decision.
Well, they offer a BArch and a MArch of course, and a basic degree in architectural engineering. Plus, pretty much any other engineering degree people might desire (civil, electronic, mechatronics, construction management, et cetera).
Paying for it, thankfully, has been covered and won’t be an issue at my university of choice.
Those are very useful tips. I do come from a family of millworkers as well, with many, many connections to huge firms. I hadn’t thought much about internships yet, but between professor connections and family connections, that will likely not be an issue.
Construction management is actually something I’ve also looked heavily into – I plan on taking some classes similar to it if nothing else.
I have talked abut this on previous posts, but I am still not sure how much benefit an engineering degree provides for an architect in practice. I have two Clemson grads with about 2.5 years of experience. One has a BArch, the other has an undergraduate degree in engineering and an MArch. They work together on large healthcare projects. They are both outstanding, but I have not been able to see any difference in their ability to learn and do their jobs based on one having the engineering degree. This is not the first time I have observed this in an office. On paper it sounds like a good idea, but the impact of a dual major does not seem to be significant.
UT Austin has a dual BArch and BS Architectural Engineering. However, engineering and architecture have a lot less in common than you think. At my university engineering and architecture are on two different campuses and have no overlapping classes. It would take 8 years at my school, but at UT it would be 5-6 years. I have heard of people being an architect and engineer but it is not common and not always helpful. If you do want this path I would suggest a 4 year BS in engineering and 3 year MArch. Remember being an architect takes a long time to be licensed. Being a licensed architect and engineer will take a while, but if it is want you want then go for it. I considered this option too, but I decided to switch to a BS Arch instead of a BS in civil engineering. Also in architecture school you are taught the basics of structures and building science so you will have some understanding of engineering (which is all you need as a architect). Good luck.
I’m happy to know that I can take a less stressful route without noticeably decreasing my performance. I suppose if nothing else, I could take a stray engineering course or two down the road if I feel the need to further my knowledge of the specifics.