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Architecture Career Guidance Need more information on education and careers in architecture? Check out the following resources that will help you get to links covering specialties in architecture, show you how to choose an architecture school, and find other links related to the study of architecture. • Architecture Career Specialties • Architecture Industry Trends • Choosing an Architecture School • Architecture School Accreditation • Architecture Degrees • Architecture School Continuing Education • Top 10 Qualities of a Great Architect • Architecture Organizations • Other Architecture Resources

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Architecture Scholarship Links • AIA/AAF Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarship • AIA/AAF Scholarship for First Professional Degree Candidates • American Planning Association Scholarships • Association for Women in Architecture Scholarships • Connecticut Architecture Foundation, Inc. Scholarships • Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects Scholarships • HEEF Architecture and Engineering Scholarship • Landscape Architecture Foundation Scholarship and Professional Awards Program • New York Foundation For Architecture Grants and Scholarships • RTKL Traveling Fellowship • SOM Foundation Fellowships and Awards • The American Architectural Foundation Scholarships

Architecture Education Facts • According to the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACS), new students entering an undergraduate program in architecture are expected to have taken trigonometry and, at least, one physics class in high school. • At the start of 2004, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) listed a total of 113 architecture professional programs in the U.S. as qualifying for accreditation. • The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) was first organized in May of 1919 to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the public by setting standards for the registering of architects. • According to a 2002 survey of 148 architectural firms across the U.S. done by the online magazine, DigitalIntelligence, the top five ranked schools for producing qualified architecture graduates were, in this order, Harvard University, California Polytechnic State University, University of Cincinnati, Cornell University, and Yale University. • The only agency authorized to accredit academic programs in architecture in the United States is the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). • To qualify for an architect license in most locations, an applicant must have earned a professional degree, served a period of time as an intern or apprentice, and passed each of the nine divisions of the Architect Registration Examination or "ARE."

Architecture - An Introduction to a Great Career By ArchitectureSchools.com Staff Introduction The need for shelter is one of the most fundamental requirements of existence. From before the time of the first pyramids and pagodas, architecture has played an integral part in the minds, spirits and lives of human civilization. Many societies have been remembered and understood solely on the basis of the structures they have left behind; for the dwellings that men make are the most enduring markers and reflections of their creators. Even today buildings reflect the character of their designers as well as that of their occupants. Whether it is a humble residential dwelling or a grand public edifice, few things affect the quality of our daily lives as deeply as the work of the architect. Accreditation Here are some links to organizations that can help with your Accreditation questions... Architecture School Accreditation American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) National Architect Accreditation Board (NAAB) American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Related Career Fields Architecture Interior Design Landscape Architecture Civil Engineering Building Construction Urban and Industrial Planning Outlook According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), in the year 2000, over 102,000 jobs were held by architects. Although the majority of these jobs were in small (under five people) architectural firms, over one quarter of them were self-employed. Others found work as general building contractors and for various local, state and national government agencies. The median annual earnings for architects in 2000 was $52,510. The middle 50 percent of workers in this profession earned between $41,060 and $67,720 while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,540 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $85,670. According to the BLS, architectural jobs are expected to grow at a rate of about 10 and 20 percent over the first decade of the new millennium. This is close to the average expected rate of job increases in all industries. Career Challenges An architect must have the eye of an artist and the pragmatism of an engineer. He must be able to synthesis the often vague needs and desires of his clients into solid, functional, three-dimensional structures. To do this he must create and demonstrate his ideas, through both renderings, models and construction plans. But it is not just the aesthetics he must consider. He must also make his designs practical and economical to build and safe to be in, within the constraints of construction techniques. The end product must be in compliance with all zoning and building codes and regulations. The architect must literally take into account the movements of celestial bodies and the prevailing winds when he plans a structure. Everything in the environment will have an influence on how he designs his structures and, conversely, everything about his structure, from the methods of construction to the materials used, will have an effect on the environment that surrounds it. The work of an architect is very diverse. He must be knowledgeable in history, art, design, engineering and physics. He must be able to manage and coordinate different groups of people towards a common goal. The majority of their time is spent in an office environment, but they may have to make frequent trips to construction sites, clients' locations and the outlet sources for the materials the intend to use. Computers and the Internet are increasingly important tools and labor savers in the architecture profession. The work of designing and drafting architectural drawings can reduced through the use of computer graphic programs and the necessary communication and coordination can be facilitated by the Internet's speed and connectivity. Education The are different degree choices depending on the area of concentration the prospective student is interested in. An undergraduate, Bachelor of Architecture degree may take five years to earn, requiring a thesis and internship. By contrast a person interested in an interior design career, may choose between a full Bachelors degree or a certification program, some taking as little as one year. Most areas of study also offer graduate degrees. An architecture degree candidate may be expected to take courses in art, design, history, math and the physical sciences as well as courses focusing on building construction and engineering. All states require individuals to be licensed before they can call themselves architects. In addition to a degree in architecture from an accredited school, an internship is required for the candidate, typically lasting for a period of three years. In order to be licensed the candidate must also pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Since these licenses are bestowed by each state individually, the licensee is only allowed to conduct business as an architect in the state he is licensed in. Summary In our society of increased complexity, regulation and diversification, the need for architects and builders shows no sign of abating. The pressures of population growth, economics and environmental concern only add to the architectural designer's traditional challenges of aesthetics, functionality and safety. In meeting these challenges, architects will enjoy the opportunity, like few others do, to shape and define the world we live in, and to create enduring legacies of their vision for future generations.