Architecture and Construction education requirements

An architect is responsible for planning and designing houses, buildings, and other structures. Entry level architect positions will require a bachelor's degree in architecture as well as passing a licensing examination. The following article details the educational requirements and job outlook for a career as an architect.

Essential Information

An architect is a licensed professional whose job involves planning and designing buildings, bridges and other structures. Architects also work with other professionals, such as landscape architects, engineers, urban planners, and interior designers when designing a structure.

Becoming an licensed architect requires extensive education, training, and a professional examination component. There are currently 154 degree programs in the United States accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (www.naab.org).

Required Education	B.S. in Architecture & Master of Architecture Bachelor of Architecture
Other Requirements	Supervised Internship & Licensure Exam
Job Outlook	7% growth from 2014-2024 (Average)*
Median Salary (2015)	$76, 100*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

A Bachelor of Science in Architecture is a 4-year, preprofessional degree. Although it includes classes like physics, architectural design, construction materials and computer-aided drafting, it doesn't qualify graduates to become licensed architects. Graduates who want to work as architects must enroll in a Master of Architecture program.

Bachelor of Architecture

A 5-year Bachelor of Architecture, or B.Arch., is a professional degree program. Students take classes in design, building materials, architectural history and architectural theory. Students also build models and complete design projects. They may study abroad in order to explore international design styles. Although graduates only need a B.Arch. to be eligible for licensure, they need to complete several years of supervised training before actually becoming licensed.

Master of Architecture

Graduates of B.S. in Architecture programs who want to work as architects must complete a Master of Architecture (M.Arch.). This professional program takes two years to complete and includes significant applied practice and research.

Professional Training

Graduates of professional architecture programs must train under a licensed architect and earn a total of 700 internship units before receiving their license. Each internship unit is equal to eight hours of training, and it typically takes three years of full-time work to complete the 700 units.

Interns typically prepare and coordinate documents with consultants, contractors and team members. They may work on design teams and create architectural models. These training requirements are set forth by the Intern Development Program, which is a part of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the American Institute of Architects. Arizona is the only state that allows unlicensed architects to practice without being under the direct supervision of a licensed architect.

Licensing

The Architect Registration Exam (ARE) is the final step to becoming a licensed architect. Only graduates of NAAB-accredited schools are allowed to take the ARE. The ARE consists of nine divisions, each of which must be taken separately. The entire exam requires about 40 hours to complete. Candidates are allowed up to three years to pass all sections of the exam. Once a passing score has been earned, an application must be submitted to the state registration board to receive a license. Architects are required to have a license.

Architects are responsible for designing the buildings and structures that we use in our everyday lives. While a bachelor's degree in architecture is available, you'll need to complete 5-year master's program to qualify for licensing an architect. Completing an internship and passing a national competency exam are the final steps in the process of becoming an architect.

Source: study.com

Landscaping Tips

Though your home is your castle, there is no necessity to surround it with a moat. Here are 5 tips that will help you to make your landscaping feel more warm, welcoming and cozy.

1. Put some flowers nearby your entrance. Flowers make any area look more welcoming and attractive, so greeting your guests with Petunia, Snapdragon, Lily-of-the-Nile or some other garden flowers is always a great thing to do. What is more, to add some space between your house and the entrance, you can consider adding a little white fence. It will create an illusion that your front yard is bigger than it actually is. What is more, adding fence will create a great space for planting flowers to add some color and coziness.

2. Add rambling vines to make your yard look absolutely lovely. You can not deny that rambling vines always create romantic and even magical atmosphere. So why not to use this tip while decorating your yard?

3. To hide the unattractive driveway, consider adding some color, texture, and height. You can easily do it by adding various sorts of flowers. To start, create an island of green lawn right in the hub of a drive. Then add a couple of low boxwood hedges with flowers toward the back of your island.

4. If you want your yard to blossom and flourish bust still do not have enough time to maintain it, consider planting low-fuss lilies. Such flowers look absolutely gorgeous and come in the variety of rainbow hues, so you can pick the one you love most. What is more, low-fuss lilies do not care about the sort of soil, they love the sun and welcome hot, they do not afraid of drought. In other words, Crinums is an ideal flower for all those who are looking for low-maintenance solutions.

5. The last tip also touches the low-maintenance aspect. To make your life easier, group plantings into beds and islands. This will help you to avoid mowing and trimming around each individual plant, save a lot of time and even money.