Want to be an Architect?

On other occasions, I’ve written about the benefits of having a BA in History & Theory of Architecture regardless of the profession one intends to pursue. But it’s also a fact that HTA is an excellent first degree for people who wish to become architects, and I wanted to talk about that option as well.

To be an accredited professional architect requires that one have an M.Arch degree. Many assume that the only way to qualify for an M.Arch is to do a B.Arch, but this is not correct. In fact, having an undergraduate degree in a different discipline can be extremely beneficial.

There are several M.Arch programs in Canada – including one here at Carleton – that are designed for students whose undergraduate degree is something other than a B.Arch. These programs exist because the profession recognizes that a successful architect needs a lot of skills besides design prowess, and that people with backgrounds in other disciplines can bring fresh ideas and vision to the field.

A degree in HTA is ideal preparation for such a program. We study the full range of architectural history, and explore how the built environment has served human needs, expressed human values and solved (or failed to solve!) human problems for the last few thousand years. And in studying this, our students learn to read carefully, look closely, research thoroughly, think critically and communicate effectively about the subject we all love – architecture.

My colleague in the School of Architecture, Inderbir Riar (whose first degree was in fact a B.A.), told me a little while ago that a recent guest speaker they’d had in the School – a prominent Ottawa architect – was asked what he looks for most of all in a new hire. To the surprise of some, his answer was “literacy.” I’m sure that presupposes that every graduate of an M.Arch program will have design skills. What sets the cream apart from the milk in that job market is communication skills – the ability to read critically, write effectively, think on one’s feet and be persuasive in a cover letter, project proposal and across a meeting table. These are all outcomes of a well-rounded education – also known as the Bachelor of Arts.

Everyone who graduates with an M.Arch will have design chops. If you want to stand out, consider combining them with the intellectual and communication skills that a B.A delivers – especially a B.A. in an obviously relevant field like History & Theory of Architecture.