So, I've been accepted into Pratt Institute's Bachelor of Architecture program. Now, the initial excitement has worn off, and I'm feeling very...anxious. The price tag is terrifying, even though my family assured me that they'd support me as best they can.
Anyways, I'm getting off track. I was just wondering if, in the professional world, an accredited bachelor's degree would cut it? It seems that a lot of architects push for a Master's. I'm just wondering if that is a generally unspoken requirement/advantage.
I really want to try architecture, it involves a lot of what I've always loved doing. Is it natural for upcoming college students to be so nervous?
I'm rambling.
Thank you for taking the time to read through that mess. :-)
Research how much you will make AND what architects actually do (draft blueprints) before you say "I'll do what I love doing." Trust me just research some of the posts of truly unhappy people in this forum before you make a decision.
Just want to add, if your wish is to earn good money (compared to other top paying professions like software engineering etc) right after a bachelor's degree in architecture, just quit. If your intention is to earn good money right after a Master's degree in architecture, just quit right now. If your intention is to earn good money right after getting licensed in architecture, quit right now also. It will take years, if not a decade or more, to earn an income comparable to other top paying professions.
It will take years, if not a decade or more, to earn an income comparable to other top paying professions.
Most architects will never catch up with what they probably would have earned in a better paid profession, mainly because most end up working for someone else because they don't have the connections and/or marketing ability to attract clients for themselves.
This is just not an economically viable profession for a typical middle class or working class person. Beware all who enter here.
If the degree is a Bachelor of Architecture, a BArch, which Pratt appears to offer, then you do not need to get a Masters degree to become a licensed architect and practice.
Many firms will hire you with a BArch. Some firms may be elitist or weird and overlook anyone w/o a Masters, but they would likely not be firms you want to work for anyway with an attitude like that.
If you want to make a lot of money in architecture - which, as noted, is not a high-paying field - you might consider getting the BArch and taking some business classes as electives during that process, then *if* you decide you want a Masters degree going the MBA route and going into real estate development. I know plenty of wealthy RE developers; most do not have an architecture degree, but being able to control both design and financing of your own projects is potentially a really good way to make money. Like this guy: Jonathan Segal. He's a sexist prick and pretty much a total assjerk but you can't deny he's doing very well financially! And his designs are better than a whole lot of crap that other people are getting rich building, so I give him credit where due (he's still a jerk, but is laughing at people like me who say so while he rolls around on his bed of money).
I have a 5-year BArch and love having it. Also Pratt is a good school, and once you have been there a couple years doing well academically there will likely be options for financial aid via grants, scholarships, teaching assistantships, etc, so you can try to keep your loan debt low that way.
To circle back to the original question, that didn't have much to do with money or having a financial feasible career (which is possible, no matter what you read on Archinect), the OP asked if a BArch would work as a professional degree. Assuming its a traditional five year BArch, then Donna above is correct and you can work and get licensed without any other degrees/Masters. I have a 5-yr BArch and never looked back - for me, it was the right degree at the time. Good luck
Jun 4, 17 8:56 pm ·
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Can you practice architecture with an accredited bachelor's degree?
Hi all,
So, I've been accepted into Pratt Institute's Bachelor of Architecture program. Now, the initial excitement has worn off, and I'm feeling very...anxious. The price tag is terrifying, even though my family assured me that they'd support me as best they can.
Anyways, I'm getting off track. I was just wondering if, in the professional world, an accredited bachelor's degree would cut it? It seems that a lot of architects push for a Master's. I'm just wondering if that is a generally unspoken requirement/advantage.
I really want to try architecture, it involves a lot of what I've always loved doing. Is it natural for upcoming college students to be so nervous?
I'm rambling.
Thank you for taking the time to read through that mess. :-)
Go study abroad for free or very cheap. Most American schools are there to profit off your education. Its no secret.
^ True.
Try Germany for instance...free education for everyone.
Research how much you will make AND what architects actually do (draft blueprints) before you say "I'll do what I love doing." Trust me just research some of the posts of truly unhappy people in this forum before you make a decision.
Just want to add, if your wish is to earn good money (compared to other top paying professions like software engineering etc) right after a bachelor's degree in architecture, just quit. If your intention is to earn good money right after a Master's degree in architecture, just quit right now. If your intention is to earn good money right after getting licensed in architecture, quit right now also. It will take years, if not a decade or more, to earn an income comparable to other top paying professions.
It will take years, if not a decade or more, to earn an income comparable to other top paying professions.
Most architects will never catch up with what they probably would have earned in a better paid profession, mainly because most end up working for someone else because they don't have the connections and/or marketing ability to attract clients for themselves.
This is just not an economically viable profession for a typical middle class or working class person. Beware all who enter here.
If the degree is a Bachelor of Architecture, a BArch, which Pratt appears to offer, then you do not need to get a Masters degree to become a licensed architect and practice.
Many firms will hire you with a BArch. Some firms may be elitist or weird and overlook anyone w/o a Masters, but they would likely not be firms you want to work for anyway with an attitude like that.
If you want to make a lot of money in architecture - which, as noted, is not a high-paying field - you might consider getting the BArch and taking some business classes as electives during that process, then *if* you decide you want a Masters degree going the MBA route and going into real estate development. I know plenty of wealthy RE developers; most do not have an architecture degree, but being able to control both design and financing of your own projects is potentially a really good way to make money. Like this guy: Jonathan Segal. He's a sexist prick and pretty much a total assjerk but you can't deny he's doing very well financially! And his designs are better than a whole lot of crap that other people are getting rich building, so I give him credit where due (he's still a jerk, but is laughing at people like me who say so while he rolls around on his bed of money).
I have a 5-year BArch and love having it. Also Pratt is a good school, and once you have been there a couple years doing well academically there will likely be options for financial aid via grants, scholarships, teaching assistantships, etc, so you can try to keep your loan debt low that way.
Good luck!
To circle back to the original question, that didn't have much to do with money or having a financial feasible career (which is possible, no matter what you read on Archinect), the OP asked if a BArch would work as a professional degree. Assuming its a traditional five year BArch, then Donna above is correct and you can work and get licensed without any other degrees/Masters. I have a 5-yr BArch and never looked back - for me, it was the right degree at the time. Good luck
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