Guide for Aspiring Architects

How to Choose the Best School

Hundreds of colleges and universities offer classes in architecture and related fields. How do you choose the best architecture school? These links and resources will help you find the best schools for architecture and to decide which school is right for you.

Types of Architecture Degrees

There are several different paths you can take toward an Architecture degree. One route is to enroll in a 5-year Bachelor or Master of Architecture program. Or, you can earn a bachelor's degree in another field such as mathematics, engineering, or even art. Then go on to graduate school for a 2- or 3-year Masters degree in Architecture. These different paths each have advantages and disadvantages. Consult with your academic advisers and teachers. You can also ask professional architects about the type of training they recommend.

• Video: Types of Architecture Programs

Architecture School Ranks

With so many schools to choose from, where do you begin? Well, you can look at manuals such asAmerica's Best Architecture & Design Schools, which evaluates schools according to a variety of criteria. Or, you can check general rankings of college and university programs. But beware of these reports! You may have interests that aren't reflected in school ranks and statistics. Before you choose an architecture school, think closely about your personal needs. Send away for catalogs, visit a few prospective schools, and talk to people who have attended there.

• America's Best Architecture & Design Schools

Accredited Architecture Programs

To become a licensed architect, you'll need to meet the educational requirements established in your state or country. In the USA and Canada, requirements can be met by completing an architecture program that has been approved by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). Other types of accreditation, such as WASC accreditation, do not meet the educational requirements for licensing. Before you enroll in an architecture course, always make sure that it meets the criteria established by the country where you plan to live and work.

• Find Accredited Architecture Programs
• Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture

Architecture Training Programs

Many fascinating careers related to architecture do not require a degree from an accredited architecture program. Perhaps you would like to work in drafting, digital design, or home design. A technical school or an art school may be the ideal place to pursue your education. Online search engines can help you locate both accredited and non-accredited architecture programs anywhere in the world.

• Schools for Art and Drafting
• Find Architecture Classes
• Architecture-Related Careers

Architecture Internships

Regardless of the school you select, eventually you'll need to obtain an internship and receive specialized training outside the classroom. In the USA and many other parts of the world, an internship lasts about three years. During that time, you will earn a salary and be supervised by registered pros. At the completion of your internship period, you'll need to take and pass a registration exam (the ARE in the USA). Passing this exam is your final step toward obtaining a license to practice architecture.

• Intern Development Program (IDP)
• About Student Internships

Study Architecture on the Web

Online courses can be a useful introduction to architectural studies. By taking architecture classes online, you can learn basic principles and possibly even earn credits toward a degree in architecture. Experienced architects may also turn to online classes to expend their knowledge. However, before you can earn a degree from an accredited architecture program, you'll need to attend seminars and participate in studios. If you can't attend classes full-time, look for universities that combine online courses with weekend seminars, summer programs, and on-the-job training.

• Online Architecture Programs
• Free Online Architecture Classes
• Discuss: Online Education for Architects

Architecture Scholarships

The long progress toward a degree in architecture will be expensive. If you're in school right now, ask your guidance counselor for information about student loans, grants, fellowships, work-study programs, and scholarships. Check scholarship listings published by the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Most importantly, ask to meet with a financial aid adviser at your chosen college.

• AIA Scholarship Listings
• What You Need to Know About Student Financial Aid

Ask For Help

Searching for the right school can be both exciting and terrifying. Take time to dream, but also consider practical considerations such as location, finances, and the general atmosphere of the school. As you narrow down your choices, feel free to post questions in our discussion forum. Perhaps someone who has recently graduated can offer a few tips. Good luck!

• Discuss: Becoming an Architect Later in Life
• Discuss: Which University Should I Apply To?

Teach Yourself

• Free Online Architecture Classes
• Free Architecture Videocasts
• Essential Reference Books

Careers in Architecture

• Become an Architect
• Architecture Acronymns
• Architecture Licensing

Question: How much do architects earn?

• What's the average starting salary for an architect?
• Can an architect earn as much as a doctor or a lawyer?
• How is the economic slowdown affecting architects and other design professionals?

Answer:

Job Outlook for Architects
Architecture, like many other fields, has been profoundly affected by the economic slowdown and the drop in real estate values. Between July 2009 and November 2009, employment at American architecture firms dropped from 224,500 to 184,600, according to the US Department of Labor. And yet the US Department of Labor predicts that over the next ten years, employment of architects will increase more rapidly than the average for all occupations. Projections about the job outlook for architects in the USA are published in the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Salaries for Architects
Many factors influence the salary an architect earns. Income varies greatly according to geographic location, type of firm, level of education, and years of experience. While published statistics can be outdated, they will give you a general idea of the salaries, wages, income, and benefits for architects. According to May 2011 US Department of Labor statistics, architects in the USA earn between $44,030 and $119,410 a year. Half of all architects earn more than $73,340 and half earn less. The mean annual wage is $79,300 per year, and the mean hourly rate is $38.13.

For more employment statistics, check out the DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey (Order Online). This report draws data from approximately 460 practices that offer design services such as architecture, design-build, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, urban design, and industrial design. More than 25,000 full-time staff are represented in the survey.

According to the 2010-2011 edition of the DesignIntelligence Compensation Survey, architect income remains steady despite the economic downturn. Salaries for recent architecture school graduates are increasing. The mean salary for a graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, for example, has risen from $39,333 in 2008 to $41,012 in 2009. The mean salary for a graduate with a Master of Architecture degree has risen from $42,985 to $47,263.

Professional architects with 20 or more years of experience earn an average income of $100,723. Twenty percent of the experienced architects earn up to $142,200, according to the DesignIntelligence survey.

An interior designer with 20 years' experience is most likely to earn $97,800, with the top 20 percent in making $145,333. Their bonus is 8.3 percent.

The DesignIntelligence Compensation and Benefits Survey is published every year and includes income projections, cost-of-living differentials, and information about benefits and perks. For the most current data, be sure to check the most recent edition.