Architectural Engineering vs. Architecture (Courses/Salary)

rick12
Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:48:27 +0000

Yes, getting a job in architecture is still pretty tough, but better than it has been for about the last three years. We are hiring and there is a lot more activity at the job fairs. My sense is that things seem to be gradually improving, but it is still a delicate recovery.

Engineering or architecture? I have a son who is a sophomore in each. They both work the same amount of hours, but one spends his time alone in his room or the library, the other is in studio with his friends drawing and making models. The architect is part of an active architecture co-ed social scene (50/50) and is headed off to Europe in the Fall for a semester of study abroad. The engineer knows perhaps a dozen guys (not many girls in the class) from his study group, and is joining engineering clubs to meet others. Study abroad does not seem to fit into the curriculum. However when he graduates he will probably have his pick of jobs.

You just have to decide where you will fit best. My only suggestion is that if you are going to go through the hard work of studying engineering don’t go into architectural engineering. Go work for Boeing or GE, somewhere that the engineer is king. It just doesn’t make sense to me to go through all the work and end up facing the same economic roller coaster as the architects who had all the fun in school.

rick