An architect is someone who designs or plans buildings, landscapes, and urban areas. They also design interior spaces such as homes and offices. Some architects work independently, but most are part of a firm with other professionals that they collaborate with.

Architects have college degrees so they can be formally trained in how to create architectural masterpieces. This includes designing skyscrapers, hospitals, and shopping centers.

However, not all bachelors’ degrees in architecture are the same. In fact, some are completely worthless! Read on to learn more about what an architecture degree really means.

I've compiled a list of reasons why you should consider dropping out of school and becoming an architect. These arguments apply even if you already have an art or business degree and are looking to move up the ladder.

WARNING: If you feel motivated during this review, you may want to give it a few days before re-evaluating your career path.

Different types of architecture

What is architectural drawing? Architectural drawing is one of the most fundamental tools to understand how architects design buildings. It is also known as drafting, graphic design, or blueprinting.

Architectural drawings are used to visualize and interpret three dimensional space. They can be done either manually or digitally.

Manual drawings use brushes and pencils to create designs. Digital drawings use computer software to produce similar results.

Many students begin learning architectural drawing by practicing hands on creating floor plans. A basic level plan looks like a house with a door and an interior area where you could live.

But there are many more advanced levels of architectural drawing that go beyond this! These other styles include elevation (looks at the building from above), perspective (3D view) and full-scale models (an exact replica of the building made out of plastic or metal).

Bachelor's degree in architecture

An architect is someone who designs buildings or urban areas, as well as landscapes and other spaces. They are usually educated at a bachelor’s level, with at least one four-year bachelor’s degree. Architects need to be familiar with various theories and concepts of art, mathematics, engineering, and science, among others.

Most architects have at least a master’s degree, but some may only have a professional certificate or diploma instead. Both types of qualification allow you to practice independently without being licensed, which comes with certain regulations.

Architecture is a very competitive field. Due to this competition, most employers do not give much respect to those that are unlicensed. Most professionals have at least an associate’s degree, so if you are interested in becoming an architect, start thinking about your education options now!

There are many ways to become an architect. Some students earn their undergraduate degrees first before moving onto graduate studies, while others choose to go straight into masters programs. Either way, it is important to know what kind of career opportunities there are for architects.

Degree requirements

An architect must have at least an undergraduate degree to be considered professional. Most colleges offer either two- or four-year degrees in architecture. The length of each program is dependent on what areas of study you choose.

Most bachelor’s programs are focused on design, but some may also include courses such as business, marketing, or economics. These more practical subjects help prepare students for entry level positions beyond being an architect.

Architectural technology (AT) departments focus more heavily on creating a solid understanding of all things related to buildings. This includes everything from interior decoration to mechanical engineering. Some AT programs even require you to take additional classes outside of architectural topics to satisfy the degree!

"Undergraduate architects should consider focusing their studies in one area to obtain better employment opportunities," says Melinda Martinez, Associate Professor of Architectural Technology at Texas A&M University. "For example, if someone with no art background wanted to work as a graphic designer, they would need to learn about painting and drawing."

There are many ways to become an architect without having an advanced degree, but it will limit your career choices. It is not uncommon to find employers that prefer those who have graduated college.

Licenses required for architecture

To be an architect, you will need to have at least one of two things: An accredited educational program or a license to practice. Most states require that applicants have either a bachelor’s degree or certification as a professional architect before they are allowed to take the exam to become licensed. (This is different from having only a general education with no specific design courses).

Most countries don’t offer licensing exams for people who want to be architects so they can work without being officially trained. This is because most often employers look more into someone’s qualifications than skill sets when hiring and therefore it doesn’t matter too much whether there is formal licensure.

Popular types of architecture

Now that you have your degree in architecture, it is time to pick what career path you want to take. There are several different areas within architectural design, so deciding which one is right for you will depend on your skills, interests, and strengths.

Architects usually start by choosing between three major categories: urban planning, interior designing, or building design.

Urban planners work with governments to develop long-term strategies and policies to improve the quality of life for people living in an area. For example, they may suggest new zoning laws or ways to better organize transportation systems.

Interior designers focus on how to make rooms look beautiful and unique. They may also do research about materials and styles to use when furnishing a room.

Building architects create designs for buildings such as skyscrapers or houses. They must know lots of mathematics and physics to come up with creative concepts, but not more than needed to pass their exams.

Some architects combine more than one area of expertise, making them very versatile.

Determining the right degree for you

Even if you have a passion for architecture, it is not necessarily the best career path for everyone. While some people are drawn to working with structures and spaces, that doesn't mean they want to be an architect when they grow up.

Architects must first graduate from college or university with at least a bachelor’s degree in architecture before they can take the professional exam to become licensed as an architectural designer.

However, most employers don’t require this level of education for entry-level positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2,500 registered architects in 2006, but only about 1,000 of those had active licenses.

The average salary for an architect was $63,900 per year in 2016, which makes it one of the highest paying jobs available without a bachelor’s degree. But like any other profession, higher paid positions will attract more talented professionals so your income may vary.

Finding an architecture school

There are many ways to learn about architectural theory and practice. Online courses are one of the best routes if you want to explore concepts without too much cost. Programs that offer online degrees have become increasingly common, as students continue to test out how well they work.

Architecture is a pretty popular career choice these days. This is great for students who do not feel very confident going into college or those who cannot afford to attend a traditional brick-and-mortar campus. Being able to study from anywhere gives people this confidence because they do not need to be near a university to learn what they want to know.

However, due to the popularity of online learning, some critics say it can be difficult to tell which sites are worth your money and time. While there are no hard and fast rules, here we will discuss some things you may wish to consider before investing in an expensive degree program.

Price

Just like any other type of education, higher education costs money! Fortunately, though, information technology has made it possible to get a good grade even if you do not spend a large amount of money on tuition. Many schools now offer both their course materials and services such as academic support free of charge.

If a student wants additional material or help with studying, they must pay for them. However, most students find the resources given sufficient enough to achieve the same result as paying full price.

Factors to consider when choosing an architecture school

When deciding where to go for your bachelor’s degree in architecture, there are several key factors that you should take into consideration. First, what is the scope of the education given at the school? Some schools offer only master’s degrees while others offer both masters and bachelors.

Is this important to you? If yes, then it is worth looking into which types of programs each school has. For example, if you want to pursue professional opportunities in design, then going for a limited-access program may be more appropriate.

Alternatively, if you would like to broaden your horizons and explore different fields within art and design, then a general studies or liberal arts oriented undergraduate program might be better suited. It will also give you broader life skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving!

There is no wrong choice here, but do make sure that the school that you choose fits with your dreams and career goals.