If you are interested in Architect Jobs start here to get some background about the profession as a whole! The term "architect" originated with the Greek words arkhi (chief) and tekton (builder), meaning "master builder".

Architecture Jobs fulfill many different functions, so architects have a diverse set of jobs. While architects design buildings, they also oversee the planning and construction of the structure as well. Basically, the architects job is to take his clients vision for a building and "make it happen".

As with other professions such as medicine, law and education, architects must be licensed, as their decisions affect the publics health and safety. Licensing requirements for architects vary by field chosen and by location, as each state has its own licensing body. In 1919, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) was formed to make sure that there was parity between the states in the rules for licensure. Before any person can take the ARE (Architect Licensing Exam) they must fulfill 3 basic requirements- these are education, examination and experience, meaning at least a B.A. and a comprehensive internship- the ARE is administered by the NCARB.

In their training for Architect Jobs, architects learn all about various building codes for architectural design, and they also must have a thorough understanding of building materials and methods, both for design considerations and for cost and project management analysis. Usually, an architect works on a commission from a client such as a corporation or a government agency, on specific projects ranging from single buildings to whole developments and their surrounding areas. An architects day tends to be lengthy- projects run every day and are on tight deadlines, do the architect has to lead the "design team"- a team of engineers and specialists working on the project- through the phases of the project and ensure it finishes on time. While most of an architects work is completed in the office, they may take frequent field trips to a clients office or a work site, especially in the case of Landscape Architect Jobs.

Median income for an architect, according to the 2006-07 Occupational Outlook Handbook (from the US Department of Labor), median salary for an architect is about $63,000 per year, approximately the same rate of pay as an engineer. However, as with most other professions, intern architects working Architect Jobs make substantially less, and pay is commensurate with experience.

The need for architects, even in todays economy, continues to grow.

Architecture School

is definitely a strange place. Most of the folks I know at my architect school have some kind of extremely idiosyncratic vision of why they came there in the first place. For some people, it was all about some building that inspired them as a child. Perhaps they grew up in some gorgeous mansion. perhaps they went to one of the great museums of the world as a kid and were completely captivated by it. Whatever it was, a single building got them interested in the process of designing and building others.

For other people, architecture schools are part of a political mission. You wouldn't believe how many visionaries there are at an average architectural school. At the one I go to, they probably make up half the class. Some of them want to design buildings with the idea of providing beautiful and affordable housing to the poor, others to change the way we see space as a society.

For me, going to architecture school was part of a much more down to earth experience. As a matter of fact, you could say that I always had an interest in buildings. I grew up on a farm, in one of the last communities in this country that still practices barn raising. For me, architecture school was not the realization of a lifelong abstract dream, but rather a way to build on my early, hands on experiences with communal buildings.

I feel like this gives me a much clearer vision than many people in architecture schools nowadays. Your typical architecture school student has his or her head in the clouds. In some ways, this is a good thing. It is good to have a vision to unify your buildings. There are many things that buildings have to be. They have to be functional, structurally sound, and comfortable to occupy. They don't necessarily have to be beautiful. When they are beautiful, however, it is like a wonderful luxury for the city around. Although not everyone understands an architect's vision, they can tell whether or not he has one.

On the other hand, if you enroll in a school of architecture without any hands-on experience, you can lose track of the purpose behind what you are doing. Architecture is, after all, about providing spaces for people to live and work. Architecture school can teach you many things, but unless you go in with this understanding, you will never build with both elegance and practicality.

Design Schools In

When you want to go to school for any type of design program, you have to look around for the best school. This is a given, of course, but you have to really think about the reputation of the schools in question. Most of the schools that offer these courses are private schools, and they tend to cost more than your average college tuition. There are design schools in a lot of America?s major cities, but how do you know when you have found a good one?

I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, but I did not major in design. They have programs for fashion design and also many art design type classes. I knew quite a few people in these programs, and they had looked at a lot of different design schools in a lot of different areas before deciding to go to the Art Institute. Of all the design schools in the area, they felt this was the best one, even if it was one of the most expensive.

The great thing about most of these programs is that you can start to go to design schools in the middle of the year. Many colleges start up in fall, but most of these programs have four times a year when you may enter the program. This is great for someone who must delay school for a few months but does not want to delay for an entire year. I started in March myself, due to family issues, and was glad I didn?t have to wait an entire year to begin. Check with the design schools in your town to see if they offer this flexibility was well.

You can look online for design schools in your area, or in any area where you think you might like to go to school. If you think you want to go somewhere else for your college experience you should by all means do so. If you have lived in the northern part of the US for most of your life and would like to experience the beaches of Florida, you should look for design schools in the major cities of Florida. You will find schools in a lot of different places, and as long as they all have what you want in a program, you just have to decide where you want to live. Just don?t let location outweigh the quality of the programs they offer at that particular school.