XCcoasterfreak

Hey again,

I was wondering just how realistic it is to pursue graduate structural engineering studies after completing the B.Arch. I already have plans to use up all my elective credits by enrolling in Engineering courses, and I plan to take some core Math and Science courses at my local community college over the summer to try and squeeze in as much experience as possible. You could say that I'm "trying" to double major, but I think I have already come to realize that it is not very ideal; I just want to have very strong understanding of structural analysis to accompany my education in architecture. I plan to intern at firms afterward to start on getting the required hours to take the ARE, yet I don't know if pursuing a graduate degree while doing that is feasible. I am well aware that this degree path is uncommon, so advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

turbo93

It would depend on how strong a preparation one had for structures in the BArch program including foundation things such as mechanics of materials, physics, and the like, and (sigh) math. Ask grad schools as to what prerequisites they would want to see for a successful applicant and go from there.

Methinks the other way may be more doable, i.e. BS Structural Engineering and MArch, since the 5 year BArch has few electives to begin with. The BS Arch / MArch route has more electives but is one year longer...

XCcoasterfreak

In that case, do you believe that if I used my elective credits in the B.Arch toward core Math/Science/Structures courses (I suppose an "unofficial" minor), a transition to graduate Engineering studies would be easy/feasible then?

turbo93

It should be, but most BArch programs have one elective a semester, and some are university requirements like English etc... If your math is strong enough or you have AP credits for things like math, a bit easier.

XCcoasterfreak

I scored a 4 on BC and 5 on the AB subscore on the BC exam this past May. My plan was to take Calc III over the summer so I would have sufficed the prerequisites to take Linear Algebra/Differential Equations (it's one 3 credit course at where I'm enrolling). The only GE classes for the first year of my B.Arch is Calculus and English, so if I pass out of English this May, I'm already at a head start.

turbo93

awesome.... Then you could take some 'electives' like Strength of Materials, Intro Materials Science (or whatever it's called) and so on... I just Googled for prerequisites and Stanford (just an example that popped first...) needs:

Master of Science in Structural Engineering

Mechanics of Materials (CEE101A)
Geotechnical Engineering (CEE101C)
Structural Analysis (CEE180)
Design of Steel Structures (CEE181)
Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures (CEE182)
Programming Methodology (CS106A or CS106X)

So I'm guessing 4-5 courses minimum. Now, you could sweet-talk your BArch advisor to allow you to count some of these as electives (instead of, say, some arcane 'Studio 300 - abstract designs using drinking straws and toothpicks' to take a class like Concrete... Or they may be included in the BArch curriculum altogether... DD1's BS Arch has a couple of the above as dual-listed Arch and Civil Engineering...

As always, check with your specific school and advisor but I don't think they'll give you much grief. The above are standard fare civil engineering courses so they should be offered on a regular basis.