Architecture major

[Taelord]

Hey Guys, just joined. This is an awesome site. I have a question for you. I am planning on majoring in Architecture in college. I have a few questions about it though. Is the fact that I have little drawing ability a big deal? Can I learn to draw? I have considered double majoring as an Architect and a Civil engineer. Is this a good idea? I really want to design buildings but I also want to be involved in the building of the building. Like be there as it's being constructed. And IDK but I would assume being able to do both the design and the calculations for a building would be a turn on to get a job. What say you guys? BTW sorry if this is in the wrong section.

[lekizz]

Sure, you can learn to be better at drawing, you will definitely have the chance to learn a lot at college. But the journey needs to start now - keep a sketch book, be creative, start making things, make sure you ahve a portfolio of things to demonstrate you are a creative person.

I'm not sure about the idea of doing two degrees. Architecture is tough enough! But there are a small number of successful architects that also have an engineering degree (normally structural rather than civil). Maybe you can find a university whose architecture course is biased towards the engineering side - I can't help you there, someone Stateside will have to say whether these sort of courses exist.

Good luck! It's a fine aspiration to be an architect!

[Taelord]

Thanks for the help Lekizz. So structural would be the way to go? Thanks for that info. The only reason I wanted to be get a civil engineer degree is because they work on really big buildings, like skyscrapers. That would be amazing. Because it'd be sad to design a building and not get to be there for the construction. Although, I don't know. Architects might get to be there too.

[jp2123]

In my understanding, which is not much (just a senior wanting to become an architect) Architects are always there in the construction or must of the time, cause they are the one who solve must of the problems that may occur with the design etc...

I might be wrong though but thats what i see in different tv programs.

[Taelord]

Oh, well that's great.

[jp2123]

again im not sure about this, and the architects that i have watched might have some other degree in enginering... You should do some research. Im sure you will find something in google

[lekizz]

[Taelord]

Well, this sounds like a bit of a weird aspiration, but I've always wanted to design skyscrapers. And from what I've heard civil engineers get to work on skyscrapers. Seeing as they are built by the city. So I wondered if a major in civil engineering would allow you to be involved in the construction of the skyscraper.

[agania]

Hi there! When I first started architecture school I had little to no drawing ability and while the first semester or so was a lot tougher because of it you can work around that factor. It also depends on where you go to school. Different schools center on different strengths-some are all hand drawing based, some computer and other a mixture of both. As you look at schools and compare them take that into consideration. You can tell, somewhat, by their courses. Decide in which direction you really want to go. I like my school because it focuses on both.

As for the double majoring thing- BAD idea! Architecture is a full time job- plus a lot of extra time. There are weeks that I don’t leave studio except to catch a couple of hours of sleep and go to classes. If you add another major on top of that you will never survive.

You will take basic classes in engineering and structures. So you will have a basic knowledge of it. You have to remember that the architect’s job- and what you learn in school- is how to create environments in which people live and work. You want to make them visually appealing and everything and your creativity does that. You then work with engineers- structural among them- to make sure the building will work and stand up.

If you really want to have a strong structural background then I would do a bachelors in civil engineering and take additional courses in structure and then go for a masters in architecture. You are going to need a masters in architecture anyway to become accredited (unless you get into a five you professional degree program).

And just for reference structural engineers got get their degree in civil engineering and then when they take the PE (professional engineering) exam they take it in structures. There are different tests for different ways an engineer wants to go. The transportation (where you take care of the roads and things) is the easiest to pass, which is the reason there are so many of those types of civil engineers.

As you look at school make sure you look at things like on campus jobs, work study, study abroad, laptop/computer requirements, co-op/internships, location to a major city, location from home (and where your friends are going!) as well as the program itself. It’s a lot but this is an important decision and especially if you decide to major in architecture it is really hard to transfer after a year or two to another architecture program. A friend of mine is going through it now (she wants to be closer to home) and is going through hell.

[thirtyninetyarchiegirl]

First of all, it's a really bad idea to double major with architecture! I don't know anyone who double majored who ended up with an architecture degree. Architecture takes up too much time and there are too many sleepless nights to try and juggle two course loads. If you're really set on getting a degree in engineering and in architecture, I'd suggest an architectural engineering degree (different from architecture), or going to undergrad for one and grad school for the other. Structural engineering is generally more useful to architects than civil, and you do learn the basics of structures in architecture. The other option is to find a school that focuses on the technical more than the creative.

As for the drawing... you can learn to draw. Generally, professors give you the basics of drafting and of drawing, and you can always work around not being able to draw. Betty Edwards' "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" is supposed to be one of the best books to help someone learn to draw.

[AMBULOPHOBIA]

Taelord, check your PM box.

I'm a CivE getting my BE and going to grad school to get my MArch. Def the way to go if you're undecided and/or you want to play a sport at the NCAA level(which was my case...and I don't regret that decision though I'm ITCHING REAL BAD to get out of these engineering courses and design some.)

All I can say is research your institutions extensively all the way to focuses and minors that they offer. Luckily the head of our department is a genius who has an infatuation with architecture and structural design(and he looks down upon boring stuff like highway design which some people seem to love). so i lucked out. but, it could have been bad. so, research research research. cause civil can entail anything from big huge awesome structures like suspension bridges and skyscrapers to roads and water resources and sewers and stuff.