What Can You Do With An Architecture Degree In 2023

Architecture deals with the process and product of planning and designing, which includes constructing buildings or other engineering structures. Architecture began in the prehistoric era and has been a career for different people worldwide.

We consider architects as artists and the piece as their works of art. The design of buildings has become the cultural identity of many people worldwide.

Some of these structures are tourist attractions in the country; for example, the tower of liberty, the Paris tower, the Vatican church, the pyramids in Egypt, and so much more.

Pursuing an architecture degree has been a career for many people, and we have seen its relevance everywhere in society. 

Table of Contents

What Is An Architecture Degree?

An architecture degree is a highly professional degree given to architecture graduates in a higher institution. There are levels and different degrees an architect can gain.

It would be best to start with a bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD. Although the last two are advanced stages, should you decide to further your studies?

Education

Acquiring an architecture degree is a long process. There are two options for earning an architecture degree: a five-year undergraduate B.arch or a 2 to 3 years post-master college master’s program in March.

Some universities combine the two in one, which amounts to seven years of study of architecture. Doctoral programs are not compulsory. Internships are part of the undergraduate degree students.

This allows the students to gain real-life experience instead of theoretical knowledge that only depends on modules or stimulation taught during the program.

Licensing is different depending on the country you are studying in, and once that is through, you can fully pursue a career in architecture. 

You can also get an architecture degree online, with many universities offering online classes with custom content for students, allowing you greater flexibility than on-campus learning.

Online learning will still take the required number of years needed to complete an on-campus degree.

You can read this?: How Much Money Do Architects Make? Salary Overview

Is An Architecture Degree Worth It?

Most of the challenges you will solve will require an architecture degree, though studying for an architecture degree is tenuous and complicated. It is rewarding in the end.

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What Can You Do With An Architecture Degree In 2023?

You can do so much with an architecture degree in 2023, detailed and explained in the following header. There are also professional and nonprofessional roles you can do.

Potential architects require problem-solving to be part of themselves to excel in the field. Students have different architectural specializations like residential, Commercial, environmental design, urban design, interior, and landscape architecture.

Depending on your specialization, there will be ample opportunities to explore in the future.

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What Kinds Of Jobs Can I Get With An Architecture Degree?

There is a rise in demand for architects, especially in developing countries, with the need for more healthcare facilities, real estate, recreational centres, and so much more.

The need for green architecture is waxing strong as nations deal with the climate crisis. Here are jobs you can get with an architecture degree:

1. Urban Planning

There is an increase in urban areas and towns springing up, and governments will need architects. This is one of the jobs you can get with an architecture degree.

With the increasing number of people moving into urban areas to make a living, the increase in redesigning urban areas or designing new ones has created an opening for anyone with an architecture degree.

2. Building Surveyor

Architects can function in this capacity, advising clients about the design of the building depending on the landscape in which it is situated, how it should be performed to its best ability, and construction, maintenance, and repair involved should some malfunction occur.

Architects as building surveyors offer expertise coupled with creativeness and professionalism.

3. Landscape Architect

This involves many designs, from public areas such as parks to infrastructure that integrates nature into the mix.

Here, architects play an important role in focusing on the effects of climate change through restoration effects.

They incorporate more green into their designs and focus on the beauty their inhabitants would feel.

4. Historic Buildings Inspector/Conservation Officer

Many older architectural buildings have stood for centuries; materials wear off each year, weakening structures.

An inspector or conservation officer handles these structures’ daily maintenance or remodelling to ensure they last a thousand more years.

Architects have extensive training and can function in this capacity. Some of these structures will have their plans redrawn to sustain them.

5. Research Architect

With new technology and digitalization becoming more integrated into every sphere of life. The architectural industry is experiencing waves of advances in which technology is improving ways of doing architecture.

A research architect handles these advancements through research and experimentation to determine if these new modules can operate adequately.

6. Extreme Architects

Though other architects are engineering ways to inside the coming threat in their work, coastal cities, desert-prone areas, and island nations will need these particular architects to draft designs limiting the damages that will come years from now.

Extreme weather will mean designs would be proof of these extremes and sustainable in the long run.

7. Estimator

Initially, you saw maths as an essential criterion for having your architecture degree, and an estimator runs those numbers on several projects. Here, some designs might be too ambiguous to actualize in real life.

The estimator handles that calculation to ensure all the details provided add up.

8. Lighting Architect

Light serves as a source of life in the world. The sun gives energy to our solar system, and lighting in buildings and structures provides aesthetic courage.

Lighting gives direction and warning and handles vision aside from the eyes we used to see.

Some, if not all, of the iconic buildings in today’s world, offer different lighting that makes the building different, even bridges. Lightning architects provide the means for this to be possible.

9. Interior and Spatial Designer

There are opportunities for architects in this field. This requires furnishing and renovation of the interiors of buildings by design.

Architects play an essential role in exhausting the best designs to make the internal spaces more comforting and relaxing. 

10. Construction Manager

This work involves the building process of the plan or designs strictly followed. Construction managers manage work on-site and monitor every process going on. The construction manager shows the job done with the designs drawn out.

Architects here are essential in understanding the designs better and planning the best approach to see things play out correctly.

11. Political Architect

Many architectural decisions go on in government; what housing policies to adopt and becoming a political architect will allow you to join these decisions and help improve people’s lives. 

12. Estates Manager

Estate managers handle management duties within the estate. Architects here are experts and determine the best building plans to imbibe with clients.

Estate managers work with clients to produce the best day-to-day operations of commercial properties.

13. Restoration Architect

Here, the architect examines and restores old and modern architectural structures.

Their distinct work allows them to serve as inspectors to ensure structures are not degrading or going to become a significant hazard, causing harm to the life of people.

Most of the time, refreshing architects must alter the design of structures to ensure and prolong their longevity.

14. VFX Artist

A virtual effect artist creates digitally created images using computer software. We see them in films and video games.

Architects can work as VFX artists as supervisors, artists, or animators. They can learn the skill sets required along with their degree and make powerful scenes on screen.

15. Architectural Technologists

Architectural technologists are also known as building technologists; they provide technical building design services and are trained in architectural technology, building technical design, and construction.

This is a specialization gained by an architect to provide construction details for building designs.

16. CAD Technician

Computer-aided design technicians use specialized software to craft designs, usually in 2D or 3D models.

These models were created to serve as essential modules to study during construction. This helps the architect to draw out plans and potential costs for the product.

Using technology in architecture is becoming more prominent, and you can fit into this role perfectly. They can run simulations to see how the actual designs run in real-life situations.

17. Structural Engineer

The architects here will be responsible for designs for exterior buildings to ensure they hold up to whatever comes their way, such as strong winds, heavy rain, snow, earthquakes, etc.

Working as a structural engineer will require your knowledge of material strengths and design to incorporate them into it to ensure the best possible outcome, both in beauty and protection.  

18. Archivist

This requires architects to store information documented in books or electronic mediums. They are like librarians, some old writings, manuals, or transcripts about architectural designs.

They also build structures where this information is available and aid researchers with information on their works.

19. Framer

They handle the construction or repair of frames in building structures. Some frames age over time and see that they put a plan in place to determine the problem.

20. Fire Risk Assessor

We lose many buildings to fire outbreaks because of poor designs, which cause significant loss of life and property.

Here, the architect ensures buildings ventilation and likely escape routes embedded into the design in case of emergency.

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Is A Career In Architecture Good?

Licensed architects professionals need science, maths, and creative skills to craft suitable, buildable, and artistic designs.

This requires in design that they follow the state’s building code, how the environment affects the building or structure, and other guidelines stipulated by their employee (government or individual).

New technology, such as Computer-Aided Design & Drafting (CADD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM), has aided architectures to achieve designs more effectively than hand drawing, which is also required in some works.

Non-Architecture jobs for Architects with an architecture degree include:

Teacher or Professor

After years of acquiring a degree, you might decide not to practice but to pass the information to new students.

Through this avenue, you get to do more research into architecture and improve yourself in the process.

Teaching can be rewarding and still be relevant in 2023. With academics improving over the years, you can contribute too to help grow the need for future architects.

Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur isn’t limited to any field of study; anybody with the right skills and management can become an entrepreneur. With your architecture degree, you can have the edge over everyone else in the market and excel at your pace.

Being an entrepreneur allows you to explore different options and add creative ways to go about them.

Journalism

This might be weird, but you can excel as a journalist and do extraordinary things. Journals and publications relating to architecture will be an essential read for many graduate students, those working in the field who wish to renew their information about new things in the architecture world.

Your work as a journalist will allow for research into those inventing new technology to make architecture more accessible. 

Production designer, theatre/television/film

An architect’s skills could be helpful in the film industry; they can help step upstage and help with the design required for a movie set. Architects can help with analysis and consult on some projects to entail the accuracy of the film’s projections. 

Architects make a good salary depending on where they choose their career, but average salaries fall between 30,000 to 120,000 USD per year in the United States. This varies from state to state.

In Nigeria, Architects can make up to more than a million naira per year, depending on their expertise and work experience.

Qatar, China, the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are some of the highest-paying countries for architects.

FAQs On What Can You Do With Architecture Degree

Is architecture good for the future?

With the increase in globalization and the movement of people, architects must redesign old spaces to match the essential visions of such organizations and design new places to accommodate people.

Is architecture going to be in demand?

The architecture will always be in demand, with the demand for architects growing yearly in different parts of the world.

Can architecture be done in 3 years?

As stated under the education section of this content, the architecture degree lasts for 3, 4, or 5 years depending on the nation’s educational curriculum and standards needed by the architectural community before becoming a fully credited architect.

Is it too late to study architecture?

It is never too late to venture into architecture as long you remain dedicated, focused, and creative. You will enjoy the journey as you go, regardless of your life stage.

How to study architecture at home?

Also stated in the education segment of this content, you can apply for online programs for a degree in architecture right from the comfort of your home and still get the work done. This will require you to go the extra mile to remain focused and determined to complete your program and seek challenges in the world.

Conclusion

Getting an architecture degree might be quite challenging, long, and tedious, but with continuous keenness to learn and innovate, the sky is just your starting point.

Using technology to solve problems as an architect will stand out in 2023 as the world becomes more technologically advanced. But the leading architecture, the drive, is being able to solve problems.

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