<p>Can a masters in architecture qualify you to be an art director?
What type of jobs are available for someone who has an architect degree?</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“https://www.acsa-arch.org/students/studentsguide.aspx]ACSA[/url”>https://www.acsa-arch.org/students/studentsguide.aspx]ACSA[/url</a>] is a good resource.</p>
<p>I have personally known people with architecture degrees that were;</p>
<p>Product designers
Set designers
Lighting designers
Video game designers
Museum exhibit designers
Owner’s representatives
Salesmen
Jewelry designers
Painters
Sculptors
Contractors
Directors of recreation departments
Photographers
U.S. senators
City Mayors
Developers</p>
<p>You can be pretty much what you want to be with the degree. However, I do not think that an architecture degree alone will qualify you to be an art director, you are going to have to show outside activities related to the field, and some job experience in order to qualify.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>Just curious if you think many architecture majors seek alternative careers because:</p>
<p>1) Architecture education trains them for a wide variety of options. (This is what most architecture schools declare).</p>
<p>OR, could it be just the opposite?</p>
<p>2) Most students are not prepared for traditional architecture offices, and often have little concept of the profession even after graduation, and therefore seek alternatives.
3) Even in a “good” economy, there are not enough jobs in traditional architecture offices, and therefore outside opportunities are sought due to necessity.
4) Too many programs focus on design, while the profession can only accommodate a limited number of designers.
5) Other?</p>
<p>FWIW here is what I think;</p>
<p>1) Architecture education trains them for a wide variety of options. (This is what most architecture schools declare).
Not sure I completely agree with this. Particularly in the BArch and MArch programs architecture is very narrowly focused, however the problem solving process taught is as rigorous as anything out there.</p>
<p>OR, could it be just the opposite?</p>
<p>2) Most students are not prepared for traditional architecture offices, and often have little concept of the profession even after graduation, and therefore seek alternatives.
I think most schools prepare students with the skills needed for traditional architectural practice, but the reality of the profession can be a shock. If you end up in a practice site adapting Walmarts, life is not going to be anything like what they told you in school. You need to find a job where people are still passionate about architecture, otherwise they will suck the life out of you. </p>
<p>3) Even in a “good” economy, there are not enough jobs in traditional architecture offices, and therefore outside opportunities are sought due to necessity.
Not true. If you look at the numbers the long term trend is that there are not going to be enough architectural graduates to fill all the positions left by the retiring baby boomers. In 2007 I can remember our folks showing up for a job fair at Iowa State where 60 firms were there to interview 15 seniors who had not already accepted positions. This was pretty typical. Right now that seems like a distant memory.</p>
<p>4) Too many programs focus on design, while the profession can only accommodate a limited number of designers.
The rewards in school are so narrowly focused on design that anything short of that would feel like failure. In good firms everybody feels like they contribute to the design, though maybe one in ten people get to start with a clean sheet of paper. I think most of the disillusionment comes from working at firms where there is very little regard for design, it is all just a business.</p>
<p>5) Other?
A lot of people get out of it because they develop strong management skills and get recruited to go work at corporations, universities, developers, etc. where the hours are shorter and the pay can be better. Some find that their true calling and passion is something else; graphics, photography, industrial design, etc. Many leave when the profession starts shedding jobs in a downturn. Right now I would say that the profession has an unemployment rate in the neighborhood of 30%, and I don’t think we will generate any significant jobs for another year. A good percentage of those architects will find something else to do. This is one of the unfortunate realities of the industry.</p>
<p>rick</p>
<p>I am aware that about every 7 years there is a recession in housing. I was wondering what else you can do with an arch. major because I am considering other professions to fall back on when times get tough.</p>