When your child tells you they want to study architecture design, you may have mixed feelings. It seems like an interesting field, and it’s certainly something that will allow them to express their creative side. But what are their career opportunities? How marketable is this degree, really? How much will a top-of-the-line architecture school cost compared to a traditional university or community college? Here is everything you need to know about an architecture degree program as a parent.
There Are Numerous Job Opportunities
Those who have a degree in architecture design can work in other fields as well. Contractors can find themselves in real estate development, construction, or engineering. The average architect could earn upwards of $80,000 per year, and your child could also go on to teach architecture to students as well.
You Can Still Pursue Financial Aid
Many colleges offer architecture design degrees, and they accept funding from the federal government. You can also look to private student loans or personal loans to help your child pay for college. Another option to consider is taking out a home equity line of credit (HELOC). This allows you to take advantage an asset you already have and use it strategically to pay for your child’s education.
Architecture Design Draws on Many Skillsets
Although they may want to specialize in architecture, your child can develop a valuable skill set that can make them a valuable candidate in many industries. Architects must be logical, research driven, critical thinkers who are comfortable exploring innovative solutions and problem solving. The degree program is creative at heart, but it is also very math heavy. Students will study math subjects such as calculus, geometry, and trigonometry, along with science fields like physics and engineering. Their robust academic portfolio will ultimately set them up for success in many fields, and their STEM-based knowledge can help them advance their careers more easily.
Prepare for Licensure
Architect students must pursue licensure before they can work; the standards of the field ensure both safety and quality for workers and those that go on to inhabit and use the buildings they help design. A degree in architecture design can help your student gain the knowledge and skills they will need to pass the architect licensing exam. In fact, your child will need a degree to take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). This exam is vital for anyone that wants to become licensed and work as an architect in their state. The best architecture schools will ensure that your child covers all the prerequisites, including a mandatory internship, to be fully qualified for the ARE after graduation.
There is Room to Grow
A bachelor’s degree is not your child’s only option. They can go on to pursue a master’s in architecture, a doctoral degree, or even complement their undergraduate with graduate studies in construction, engineering, or management in either field. Although it may not be the most common degree path, parents need not worry whether their child will have opportunities if they want to become an architect. The average salaries are good, and there are many changes for your child’s work to make a major difference in people’s lives. While many think that architects design mansions for the wealthy, they are needed everywhere. Architects use their skills and creativity to design spaces that support their communities.
What to Know Before Your Child Applies
If they hope to make the most out of architectural college, in addition to doing well in math and science, your child will need to pass the SATs or ACTs and have an architect school portfolio before applying. They can work on this portfolio by incorporating sketches, drawings, blueprints, and any other media that demonstrates their creativity and attention to detail.
