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Architectural Engineering Research Paper

In partial fulfillment of Pre-Engineering
............................
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By
Lydia .
April 25, 2014








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Lydia ..
Mr.
Pre-Engineering
25 April 2014
Architect Career Research Paper
Architecture is a unique field of engineering given that it combines technical sciences and
art. Out of all the fields of engineering, architecture would be the best fit for me because my
strengths are in math, science, and art. Architecture is a field that merges many disciplines,
including engineering, history, design, mathematics, and physics. Becoming an architect
involves completing a degree of architecture at an accredited school and obtaining a license of
practice. Completing this process would be a challenging experience, but the results would be
well worth the challenge.
Architecture is the specific field of engineering that designs buildings, including the
interior and exterior spaces of buildings. An architect can engineer the structure of a building, or
design the appearance of the building. Typically, architects will meet with clients, estimate
needed inputs for a project, prepare drawings and documents, and manage contracts. As the
project begins construction, an architect will visit the work site to make sure contractors are
following the design and meeting all standards. For any single project, an architect will work
with many people, including the client, other architects and engineers, and contractors. An
architect will often collaborate with civil engineers and structural engineers, along with workers
of related occupations, such as urban planners, landscape architects, and interior designers.
The work environment for an architect is also unique in that architects do not spend all of
their time in an office or just outdoors. While a lot of time is spent at the office meeting with
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clients, planning, drawing, etc. architects also spend time at construction sites to ensure
everything is running according to plan. An architect may work for an architectural firm or be
self-employed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1 in 5 architects are self-
employed. Becoming self-employed would allow for a more flexible work schedule.
There are many requirements to be fulfilled to become an architect. A licensure in
architecture is required to professionally practice architecture. To obtain a license, one must first
complete a degree in architecture, gain actual experience though internship, and pass the
Architect Registration Exam. In addition, the degree must be an NAAB-accredited program.
According to the National Architectural Accrediting Board, accreditation is necessary because,
The accrediting process is intended to verify that each accredited program substantially meets
those standards that, as a whole, comprise an appropriate education for an architect. At present,
35 states require architects to have a professional degree from one of 123 schools accredited by
the NAAB ("Architects").
On the topic of accredited schools of architecture, there are plenty of options. Utilizing
the NAABs website, I found five schools in Pennsylvania that have an accredited degree
program in architecture. These five schools are: Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State
University, Temple University, Drexel University, and Philadelphia University. On the following
page is an attribute matrix comparing these five schools in various areas.





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School Name Program Tuition Costs*
Room and
Board*
Additional
Costs*
Total Cost*
Carnegie Mellon
University
5 year program with
studio work and
multi-disciplinary
education
$48,030 $7,280 $8,512 $63,822
Penn State
University
5 year program with
a study-abroad
program in the
fourth year
$16,090 $10,090 $7,386 $33,566
Temple
University
Foundation studies
in years 1 and 2,
concentration studies
in years 3 and 4
$16,122 $8,074 $2,434 $26,630
Drexel University
2 years of full time
coursework, 4 years
of co-op work
$44,646 $14,367 $8,469 $67,482
Philadelphia
University
5 year academic
program with a
focus on innovation
and sustainability
$32,990 $10,540 $6,246 $49,776
*All cost estimates apply to the 2014-15 school year, with on-campus living arrangements. All information was found at
each colleges respective website. Detailed sources are listed on the Citations page of this essay.

This chart depicts the type of program each college offers to earn a bachelors degree in
architecture, along with fees for tuition, room and board, and the total cost of one year of
attendance. Most of these colleges offer a five-year academic program focusing on architecture
and related studies. Temple University offers a four-year academic program that is less focused
on architecture. Drexel University offers a unique six-year program, with two years of full time
academic study and four years of part time academic study with an internship. Of these five
options, Temple University is the least expensive to attend, while Drexel is the most expensive to
attend.
Between these five schools, I chose to look further into Drexel University. Drexel is
ranked among the top 100 National Universities of America, and is ranked 7
th
place on the Up-
and-Coming Schools list ("Drexel University). Drexel is a private college located in
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel is interesting to me because not only is it an accredited
school of architecture, its 2+4 Option would allow me to earn a bachelors degree in
architecture while also gaining invaluable work experience through paid internships. According
to U.S. News & World Report, The average paycheck a Drexel student will take home after six
months is more than $14,500. This would be a huge advantage in multiple aspects. I would be
gaining experience in the field, not only helping to put me ahead of competition, but also
allowing me to be a step closer to obtaining an architectural license. In addition to these reasons,
I would also be earning money to pay for college tuition.
At Drexel, the total number of credits required to earn a bachelors degree of architecture
is 227 undergraduate quarter-term credits ("Architecture). With the total amount of tuition
cost estimated at $44,646, the tuition per credit is estimated to be about $196.68. There are a
multitude of required courses; most of these courses are strongly centered around architecture,
with only a few general studies required. These general studies include three english classes, two
math classes, two physics classes, one philosophy class, and various social science and
humanities electives. After these general studies, the course requirements become much more
focused on architecture. A total of sixty-three credits of architectural studio courses must be
completed, twenty-four credits of architectural thesis sequence courses, fifty credits of
professional architectural courses, twelve credits of architectural history and theory electives,
and nine credits of professional architectural electives. (For a complete list of all courses, please
refer to the Citations section of this essay).
The career outlook for architects is fairly positive. The employment rate for architects is
expected to grow by 17% from 2012 to 2022 ("Architects). As of 2012, architects occupy about
107,400 jobs. This number is expected to increase by 18,600 by 2022. The median annual wage
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for architects in 2012 was $73,090. The lowest 10% earned $44,600, but the highest 10% earned
over $118,230. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "strong competition for
internships and jobs in the field is expected due to a rise in the number of college students
graduating with professional degrees in architecture. There is an expected demand for architects
with knowledge of environmentally-friendly designs, so it would be advantageous to receive
such an education.
Overall, architecture would be a well-matched field of engineering for me because of its
focus in arts, sciences, and mathematics. There are plenty of options regarding education, with
five accredited universities alone located in Pennsylvania. Of these five schools, Drexel appeared
to be the best option for me because its six-year co-op architecture program would facilitate the
process of obtaining a license and would also give me an edge on job competition. The career
outlook for architects is expected to have increased competition, but still remain high in job
opportunities. Receiving a quality education in architecture will help ensure my success and
allow me to excel in my future career.









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Citations
"Accreditation." NAAB Website. National Architectural Accrediting Board, n.d. Web. 10 Apr.
2014. <http://www.naab.org/accreditation/home>.
"Annual Expenses." University Budget Office. Penn State University, 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.budget.psu.edu/CDSRedesign/cds.aspx?reportindicator=annualExpenses&L
ocation=UP&AY=20132014>.
"Architects." Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Jan. 2014.
Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-
engineering/architects.htm>.
"Architecture." 2013-2014 Catalog. Drexel University, June 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
<http://catalog.drexel.edu/undergraduate/collegeofmediaartsanddesign/architecture/>.
"Drexel University." U.S. News. U.S. News & World Report, 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
<http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/drexel-university-3256>.
"Financial Information for Prospective Students." Drexel Central. Drexel University, 2014. Web.
18 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/financing/prospective_students/>.
"Student Tuition & Fees." The HUB - Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Mellon University,
2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. <http://www.cmu.edu/hub/tuition/1415-undergraduate.html>.
"Tuition Rates / Tuition Calculator." Bursar's Office. Temple University, 2014. Web. 18 Apr.
2014. <http://bursar.temple.edu/tuition-and-fees/tuition-rates>.
"Undergraduate Tuition & Fees." PhilaU. Philadelphia University, 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.philau.edu/studentaccounts/undergraduate/undergradTutFee.html>.

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Citations (continued)
A complete list of required courses at Drexel University for a Bachelors degree in
architecture can be found at the following URL:
http://catalog.drexel.edu/undergraduate/collegeofmediaartsanddesign/architecture/#degreerequirements24text