So I'm a 2011 MArch grad from KU who's been struggling for the past year to even land an interview, let alone find work. I've been surviving on what little freelance graphic design work I can get, but it's starting to dry up and my student loan bills aren't going away anytime soon. The further I go, the more it seems like the best option for me is to go back to school and expand my abilities with a degree that complements architecture well.
I'm very interesting in sustainability and humanitarian design, but I'm not really sure what degree options would be beneficial for those areas...but I'm also open to new suggestions.
Attain the power to do things and you can decide what is done. Start at the bottom and you will always answer to the decision makers. Control from the top and can shape a future that you want and prioritize those values you feel are important.
Hmm, I hadn't thought of pursuing something more business-oriented, although I did see a program for MA Design Management, which seemed intriguing. I'll look into those, thanks everyone.
It seems to me you have two separate paths to consider:
a) obtain a complementary degree that would give you entre to a more lucrative career in a field allied with design and construction -- e.g. real estate development; or
b) obtain a comlementary degree that would give you enhanced credentials within the profession of architecture.
Those are very different paths and not necessarily interchangeable. What you address in your 1:07pm post is the b) path. What you have to ask yourself is whether that particular path really will help you achieve what you seek in your career.
I'd suggest a degree in agricultural. Since you're already struggling with debt and a lack of work, you are probably going to need to grow your own food if you have any hope of eating after digging yourself even deeper in debt for another college degree.
Then again, joining the masses in deferral is probably better than joining the masses in delinquency, right?
Good call! I can't fathom the rational and logical thinking of going school to put off the loan payment ( at least temporarily ). or just part of the reason for going school again. I just don't get it. You already have a master degree, right? What else you need?
That's another very important factor that I'm considering. I would really prefer not to go back to school, but at this point I'm just trying to look into the options that I have, as my job search just isn't going anywhere.
@Tee002
Yeah, you'd think a masters degree would do the trick, but it just doesn't seem to be enough in this job market...
The First Law of Holes states that when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
Another design degree will get you more debt and probably little else. You're doubling down on a bad bet. There's very little demand for what architects do right now. That may or may not change.
Why don't you try some technical colleges to hone your skills in stuffs like Solidworks, BIM or GIS stuffs. It could help you to find the well-paid jobs probably not architecture. But you know what, as long as you have stable source of income, you can explore different options. The technical colleges are cheap and you may be able to push off paying off your debt a bit longer.
I applied for and was accepted (am attending if I can round up enough financial aid) California College of the Arts' MBA in Design Strategy. It's the program I've been waiting for, and why I am so thankful I didn't go to grad school right after undergrad.
I think programs like this are attracting professionals and students from all backgrounds who are going back to school 'out of the box' (in reference to Architenect's series' working out of the box') - I think it will become the norm rather than a trend moving forward.
Maybe a masters degree isn't the answer, per se... certificates are less expensive, usually focus on the core (no misc. classes), and might give you everything you need except the "i have a masters degree" credential. down and dirty, ready to do things in the workplace. its like adding a concentration to your M.Arch.
I actually asked this exact question about a year ago on archinect. I personally think that the best thing you can do to compliment any advanced degree is to find a way to make money. Some people have it in them, and some don't. If you find a way to make money, you'll be able to enter your field without the same barriers, and be more entrepreneurial in the process. I know architecture is a field that is hard to leave and dive back into, but perhaps picking up a trade, carpentry, computers, anything you can do while keeping your skills up will be more helpful than the lost time and money you spend chasing the degree. I think if you pick up a skill that could at all be useful to a firm down the road in any way, and keep up your design skills they will understand when you enter back into the profession, but I don't know...I haven't even started my M.Arch yet and come from a different profession, it just seems to make sense.
Graduate Degrees to Complement an Architectural Degree?
Hi all,
So I'm a 2011 MArch grad from KU who's been struggling for the past year to even land an interview, let alone find work. I've been surviving on what little freelance graphic design work I can get, but it's starting to dry up and my student loan bills aren't going away anytime soon. The further I go, the more it seems like the best option for me is to go back to school and expand my abilities with a degree that complements architecture well.
I'm very interesting in sustainability and humanitarian design, but I'm not really sure what degree options would be beneficial for those areas...but I'm also open to new suggestions.
So...any ideas?
-Ben
My default answer: MBA or MSRED
Attain the power to do things and you can decide what is done. Start at the bottom and you will always answer to the decision makers. Control from the top and can shape a future that you want and prioritize those values you feel are important.
^
What trace said.
What quizzical said about what trace said.
I think trace has that answer saved in a word document and just pastes it in whenever someone asks this question.
Hmm, I hadn't thought of pursuing something more business-oriented, although I did see a program for MA Design Management, which seemed intriguing. I'll look into those, thanks everyone.
Benjamin:
It seems to me you have two separate paths to consider:
a) obtain a complementary degree that would give you entre to a more lucrative career in a field allied with design and construction -- e.g. real estate development; or
b) obtain a comlementary degree that would give you enhanced credentials within the profession of architecture.
Those are very different paths and not necessarily interchangeable. What you address in your 1:07pm post is the b) path. What you have to ask yourself is whether that particular path really will help you achieve what you seek in your career.
I'd suggest a degree in agricultural. Since you're already struggling with debt and a lack of work, you are probably going to need to grow your own food if you have any hope of eating after digging yourself even deeper in debt for another college degree.
Then again, joining the masses in deferral is probably better than joining the masses in delinquency, right?
At least for now, yo!
@HandsumCa$hMoneyYo
Good call! I can't fathom the rational and logical thinking of going school to put off the loan payment ( at least temporarily ). or just part of the reason for going school again. I just don't get it. You already have a master degree, right? What else you need?
@Ca$hMoney
That's another very important factor that I'm considering. I would really prefer not to go back to school, but at this point I'm just trying to look into the options that I have, as my job search just isn't going anywhere.
@Tee002
Yeah, you'd think a masters degree would do the trick, but it just doesn't seem to be enough in this job market...
The First Law of Holes states that when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.
Another design degree will get you more debt and probably little else. You're doubling down on a bad bet. There's very little demand for what architects do right now. That may or may not change.
@Benjamin Tillman
Why don't you try some technical colleges to hone your skills in stuffs like Solidworks, BIM or GIS stuffs. It could help you to find the well-paid jobs probably not architecture. But you know what, as long as you have stable source of income, you can explore different options. The technical colleges are cheap and you may be able to push off paying off your debt a bit longer.
Is there a masters degree for marrying rich?
What the others said: MBA
I applied for and was accepted (am attending if I can round up enough financial aid) California College of the Arts' MBA in Design Strategy. It's the program I've been waiting for, and why I am so thankful I didn't go to grad school right after undergrad.
http://www.cca.edu/academics/graduate/design-mba
I am SO looking forward to this program!
I think programs like this are attracting professionals and students from all backgrounds who are going back to school 'out of the box' (in reference to Architenect's series' working out of the box') - I think it will become the norm rather than a trend moving forward.
Best of luck!
Maybe a masters degree isn't the answer, per se... certificates are less expensive, usually focus on the core (no misc. classes), and might give you everything you need except the "i have a masters degree" credential. down and dirty, ready to do things in the workplace. its like adding a concentration to your M.Arch.
I actually asked this exact question about a year ago on archinect. I personally think that the best thing you can do to compliment any advanced degree is to find a way to make money. Some people have it in them, and some don't. If you find a way to make money, you'll be able to enter your field without the same barriers, and be more entrepreneurial in the process. I know architecture is a field that is hard to leave and dive back into, but perhaps picking up a trade, carpentry, computers, anything you can do while keeping your skills up will be more helpful than the lost time and money you spend chasing the degree. I think if you pick up a skill that could at all be useful to a firm down the road in any way, and keep up your design skills they will understand when you enter back into the profession, but I don't know...I haven't even started my M.Arch yet and come from a different profession, it just seems to make sense.
You should try moving to a different country.