| Rapid urbanization and buildings turning into art forms | | | | school graduates and a three-and-a-half-year |
| has given a boost to architecture studies. Colleges | | | | graduate degree for those who already have a |
| and universities across the USA offer professional | | | | degree in another field. One should check on the |
| courses in architecture and related fields accredited | | | | accreditation status of the school before applying as |
| by the National Architectural Accrediting Board | | | | new architecture schools cannot have NAAB |
| (NAAB). This is an important requirement for being a | | | | accreditation until the first professional class |
| licensed architect. | | | | graduates.If still undecided, the best choice is the |
| The best route in being a registered or licensed | | | | Bachelor of Architecture programs, which allow |
| architect is a five-year Bachelor or Master of | | | | flexibility of the yearly components of (2+3, 1+4, |
| Architecture degree program. If hesitant or unsure of | | | | 3+2 or 4+1). This allows logical entry and exit points |
| career choice, opt for a four-year bachelor's degree | | | | from various phases of a full five-year program. The |
| and then move on to graduate school for a 2- or | | | | student's work is carefully reviewed before moving |
| 3-year Masters Degree program in Architecture. To | | | | onto the next phase: another architecture program, |
| be a licensed or registered architect one needs an | | | | institution or academic discipline such as landscape |
| internship in an architectural firm working under the | | | | architecture, industrial design, graphic design, etc.If |
| supervision of registered professionals, followed by a | | | | interested in further specialization get a |
| comprehensive examination.Different states have | | | | post-professional architecture degree in design |
| their own jurisdiction procedures. Some boards | | | | theory, health care facilities, preservation, interior |
| require a pre-professional degree in architecture or a | | | | design, solar design, etc. One minor hitch is that these |
| bachelor's degree in any subject. The National Council | | | | studies are not NAAB accredited. Study of |
| of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) follow | | | | architecture should not be cost deterrent. The |
| their own criteria for admission to licensing | | | | majority of schools and colleges offer financial aid. |
| examinations. Before applying to a college or school, | | | | Another way to save money on your architecture |
| check on the number of accredited programs being | | | | education is to take admission at a community or |
| offered, or on related degree programs such as a | | | | junior college, then move onto a more renowned |
| program in historic preservation or architectural | | | | college. Or you can opt for five-year program |
| engineering with an accredited professional | | | | offering logical curriculum decision points. Picking up |
| architecture degree program. The coursework is | | | | non-architectural disciplines such as behavioral |
| similar to accredited programs but problems arise at | | | | sciences, engineering (structural and mechanical), |
| the time of license. Sometimes a single school offers | | | | economics, CAD or computer-aided design, history or |
| several accredited professional degree programs, | | | | communication is an added bonus whether interested |
| such as a five-year undergraduate degree for high | | | | in buildings or landscape designs. |