What can I do with this degree?
ARCHITECTURE

AREAS

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE
  • Single Family Housing
  • Multiple-Unit Residential
  • Tract Homes
  • Senior/Assisted Living
  • Remodeling/Renovations
EMPLOYERS
  • Architecture firms
  • Real estate developers
  • Construction firms
  • Individual homeowners
  • Self-employed
STRATEGIES
  • Description: Designing new homes or renovating existing ones for either single or multiple families.
  • Gain experience in an architect's office.
  • Obtain an internship while in school.
  • Develop strong communication skills and patience which are important when working with individuals in designing their homes.
  • Study houses and architecture styles.
  • Read books and magazines about architecture.
  • Develop computer skills.
COMMERCIAL/INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE

Private Industry including:

  • Office buildings
  • Convention centers
  • Medical offices
  • Health clubs
  • Motels, hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Shopping centers
  • Supermarkets
  • Theaters
  • Arenas.

Public/Government including:

  • Schools, colleges, universities
  • Government facilities
  • Military facilities
  • Libraries
  • Hospitals
  • Recreational facilities
  • Churches
  • Museums
EMPLOYERS
  • Architecture firms
  • Large corporations
  • Manufacturers
  • Research institutions
  • Transportation companies
  • Universities and colleges
  • Local and state government
  • Federal government agencies including:
    • Department of Defense
    • Department of Interior
    • Department of Housing & Urban Development
    • General Services Administration
    • Preservation firms
    • Self-employed
STRATEGIES
  • Description: Designing office buildings, factories, laboratories, malls, schools and other commercial or government facilities.
  • Get hands-on experience while in school. Learn the technical side of preparing construction documents; spend time in the field to understand the mechanics of construction.
  • Important to understand the various jobs and processes that will take place in the buildings.
  • Advanced training may be helpful if specializing in a certain typology such as historic preservation and renovation or a certain type of building such as schools or hospitals.
  • Get involved in leadership roles on campus; architects may serve as project leaders coordinating the work of engineers and contractors.
  • Take computer classes.
  • Writing skills are necessary for advancement in firm.
EDUCATION
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Part-time Instruction
  • Special Collections Libraries
EMPLOYERS

Colleges and universities

STRATEGIES
  • Graduate degree in architecture desirable for full-time professorships.
  • Professional experience and licensure in the field of architecture is beneficial.
  • Develop a working knowledge in the building design or construction industry, along with knowledge of CADD, project planning, and estimating.
  • Create a portfolio for faculty review.
RELATED PROFESSIONAL
  • Urban Planning
  • Real Estate Developing
  • Contracting
  • Property Assessment
  • Landscape Design
  • Interior Design
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Consulting
  • Facilities Management
  • Product Development/Marketing
  • Law
  • Insurance Liability
  • Writing
EMPLOYERS
  • Federal, state, local government
  • Real estate firms
  • Developers
  • Contractors
  • Self-employed
  • Architecture firms
  • Design firms
  • Engineering firms
  • Corporations
  • Architecture departments
  • Law firms
STRATEGIES
  • Specialized training or advanced degrees may be required, i.e. master's in urban planning, degrees in landscape design, interior design, etc.
  • Learn about real estate market and supply and demand in area for developing.
  • A contractor's license is considered valuable for working in the design/build area of architecture.
  • MBA degree may open more opportunities with business and industry.
  • Many large corporations employ architects to serve as client representatives when working with architectural firms.
  • Design and organizational skills are helpful.
  • Earn JD for law practice.
  • Hands-on-experience in architecture and construction will help prepare one for contract negotiation and litigation.
  • Take courses in English and journalism.
  • Develop writing skills.
  • Get involved with campus publications.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • To gain entry into the field of architecture, one must receive either a Bachelor's or Master's degree from an accredited school of architecture, complete a full-time internship (three to five years) and pass a licensing examination.
  • Architecture is a combination of art and science.
  • Architecture involves much more than designing buildings. Talk to architects and visit their offices to learn more about the field.
  • Students of architecture must be able to conceptualize and understand spatial relations and be detail-oriented. Develop creativity, analytical skills, and a sense of quality.
  • Take many art and photography classes but not mechanical drawing classes.
  • Oral and written communications skills are important, particularly when working with clients, construction crews or government officials. Good writing skills are valuable for developing architectural proposals.
  • Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) and other computer technologies are prevalent in the field of architecture. Develop as many computer skills as possible.
  • The job market for architects, especially residential, varies with changes in economy as demand is often tied to level of construction.
  • One third of architects are self-employed as either partners or running their own firms.
  • Most architects work in firms of fewer than five people.
  • Related fields include: graphic, interior, or industrial planning, real estate development, civil engineering, and construction management.
  • Some architects specialize in a particular building type. Graduate study in the field may be helpful for specializing. Other architects may specialize in a certain function of the firm such as project management or specification writing.
  • Areas of specialization include: historic preservation/renovation, healthcare facilities, sports facilities, educational facilities, master planning and interior design.
  • Students should design a portfolio to use when interviewing. Include freehand drawings, final drawings by hand and computer, process sketches, photos of study models and finished models, a sample of writing, and work from technical courses.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA /ADEA Employer