Architecture exists where science and the arts meet, combining the rigorous principles of engineering with the creativity and problem solving of design. Architecture is about designing spaces that meet human needs: places to live, work, learn, play, and appreciate one’s environment. From the tallest skyscrapers to the coziest homes, every structure started as an idea in an architect’s mind, and pursuing architecture in college leads to countless ways to express imagination, ingenuity, and a vision for the world.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the different options students might pursue in architecture, how they can be integrated with licensure and professional goals, and the skills needed to be a competitive applicant to architecture programs.
What Are the Different Types of Architecture Programs?
Architecture: This is the broadest study of architecture as a field, usually culminating in a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), Bachelor of Science (BS), or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Though there is variation to what each program offers within its curriculum, every architecture major will develop their drafting, drawing, and modeling skills while studying history and theories of design.
Though many students are drawn to architecture because of the prospect of designing buildings like the most famous architects, much of what architecture majors learn covers the functional components of buildings and how they’re made–utility systems, structural frameworks, materials, sustainability, and even urban planning. Some architecture programs go further and offer coursework and training in conceptual areas of architecture, like aesthetics and futurism.
One of the best ways to determine whether an architecture program is the right fit is to look at the work that students produce. This can usually be found on a school’s architecture program webpage, where prospective applicants can also peruse curriculum and learn about the faculty.
Interior Architecture: Whereas much of architecture focuses on the exterior design of buildings, interior architecture focuses on the structural components of how spaces within larger structures are designed for specific purposes. Interior architecture also takes a closer look at how people, animals, and/or things interact with spaces, and examines how the aesthetics and disposition of spaces optimize their use. An interior architect asks questions like: - How does the placement of doors or ventilation support how someone will use this space?
- What materials could we use to align the aesthetics of the space with the furniture or objects that will inhabit it?
- How can we transform an old space for re-use as a new space?
It’s important to not confuse interior
architecture with interior
design, as they are two separate fields with different educational pathways. Whereas interior architects are still trained as architects and must have extensive knowledge in math, science, and engineering—in addition to honing their creative style—interior designers focus on the
adornment of spaces, including décor, furniture, window treatments, floorings, etc. Though there is overlap in the skills associated with these fields, interior architects are ultimately concerned with structural, formal, and functional elements of space.
Landscape Architecture: Parks, gardens, plazas, and even highway medians are the domains of the landscape architect. If you’ve ever admired a scenic pathway or wondered how the concrete jungles of cities can manage to stay green, you’ve seen a landscape architect’s work.
Landscape architects possess much of the same skills as any other architect, and they often collaborate with other architects and designers. However, a landscape architect’s skills center around how the living and experiential elements of designs connect with and enhance other structural elements around them. This can include designing outdoor urban spaces, landscaping for houses or businesses, or plotting large-scale commercial spaces while being mindful of sustainability practices and responsible land use
What About Licensure?
Colleges and universities offer five-year programs that equip students to enter the workforce and become a professionally licensed practitioner (BArch), and four-year programs that do not offer licensure (typically BS and BA programs). The additional year of coursework offered by licensure programs focuses on legal frameworks architects must adhere to, including code compliance, building standards, and permitting processes. Though a non-licensure program offers strong foundational skills for aspiring architects, a student in a four-year bachelor’s program would need to go on to earn a Master of Architecture (MArch) degree to receive professional licensure. This is typically an additional two years of study, though there are three-year pathways for students who didn’t major in architecture as an undergrad.
To check whether a program is accredited to offer licensure, visit the
National Architecture Accrediting Board.
How Can I Prepare to Apply to an Architecture Program?
Architects must be both technically minded and creative. Students considering architecture as a potential major in college should be comfortable with (and enjoy!) subjects like math, physics, and art. If the high school offers elective courses in architecture, drafting, engineering, or computer modeling–great! However, these electives
alone will not necessarily make an applicant more competitive. The “nuts and bolts” (no pun intended) of core academic subjects are very important and serve as the foundation for more advanced coursework and eventual career.
To explore an interest in architecture, students should consider summer programs and opportunities to hone drawing, public speaking, reading, and writing skills (yes, architects do a
lot of reading and writing). They can also reach out to architecture firms in their area to see if they offer internships or programs for high schoolers.
Syracuse’s webpage on preparation for prospective architecture majors provides an excellent overview of less-considered skills that can make a student more competitive in the admissions process. In particular, I want to stress the importance of being able to draw quickly and adeptly by hand. Though architects often use computer-aided tools, nothing substitutes for the embodied knowledge of drawing skillfully with pencils (or pens) on paper.
Finally, potential architects should always be aware of their environment by examining the world around them, questioning how they and others inhabit and use constructed spaces in purposeful ways, and challenging themselves to consider perspectives they might not have considered before.
