Req 5 — Career Exploration
Careers in Architecture
Architecture is much more than just one job. The field includes a wide range of career paths — some focused on design, others on technology, construction, or the environment. Here are careers to explore for this requirement.
1. Architect
An architect designs buildings and oversees their construction. They work with clients to understand what a building needs to do, create designs that meet those needs, produce detailed construction documents, and visit construction sites to make sure the building is being constructed correctly.
Education: A professional degree in architecture (typically a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture or a Master of Architecture after a 4-year undergraduate degree). After graduating, architects must complete the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) — about 3,740 hours of supervised work — and pass the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), a series of six exams.
Skills: Design thinking, drawing and modeling (both by hand and with software like AutoCAD and Revit), knowledge of building codes and structural systems, communication, and project management.
Salary range: Median salary is approximately $82,000 per year, with experienced architects at large firms earning significantly more.
2. Landscape Architect
A landscape architect designs outdoor spaces — parks, campuses, residential gardens, public plazas, waterfront areas, and trail systems. They shape the land, select plantings, design water features, and plan how people move through outdoor environments.
Education: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in landscape architecture from an accredited program. Most states require licensing, which involves completing supervised experience and passing the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE).
Skills: Knowledge of plants, soils, hydrology, and ecology; site planning and grading; CAD and geographic information systems (GIS); understanding of accessibility standards.
Salary range: Median salary is approximately $73,000 per year.
3. Interior Designer
An interior designer plans the layout and design of interior spaces. They choose materials, furniture, lighting, and color schemes to make rooms functional, safe, and attractive. Interior designers work on homes, offices, restaurants, hospitals, and retail spaces.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in interior design from an accredited program. Many states require certification or licensure. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam is the industry standard certification.
Skills: Space planning, color theory, material selection, building codes (especially fire safety and accessibility), CAD software, and client communication.
Salary range: Median salary is approximately $62,000 per year.
4. Urban Planner
An urban planner designs the layout of entire communities — not individual buildings, but neighborhoods, cities, and regions. They decide where to put roads, parks, schools, and commercial areas. They balance growth with preservation, transportation with walkability, and economic development with environmental protection.
Education: A Master’s degree in urban planning or a related field. Certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is common. Some entry-level positions accept a bachelor’s degree.
Skills: Data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), public speaking and community engagement, knowledge of zoning laws and regulations, long-range strategic thinking.
Salary range: Median salary is approximately $79,000 per year.
5. Civil Engineer
A civil engineer designs the structural systems that keep buildings standing — foundations, beams, columns, and load-bearing walls. They also design infrastructure like bridges, roads, dams, and water systems. Architects and civil engineers work closely together on every major building project.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (4 years). Licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) requires passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, gaining 4 years of supervised experience, and passing the PE exam.
Skills: Mathematics (especially physics and calculus), structural analysis, knowledge of building materials, CAD software, project management.
Salary range: Median salary is approximately $89,000 per year.
6. Construction Manager
A construction manager oversees the actual building process. They coordinate workers, manage budgets and schedules, order materials, ensure safety compliance, and solve problems that arise on the construction site. They are the link between the architect’s vision and the finished building.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in construction management, construction science, or a related field. Certification from the American Institute of Constructors (AIC) or as a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) is valued by employers.
Skills: Leadership, budgeting and cost estimation, scheduling, knowledge of building codes and safety regulations, communication, problem-solving under pressure.
Salary range: Median salary is approximately $101,000 per year.
Choosing One to Explore
After you have identified three careers, pick the one that interests you most and dig deeper. Use these questions to guide your research:
Career Deep Dive
Questions to answer about your chosen career
- What degree or certification is required?
- How long does the education and training take from start to finish?
- What does a typical workday look like?
- What are the most rewarding parts of this job?
- What are the biggest challenges?
- What is the job outlook — is demand for this career growing?
- Why does this career interest you personally?
Preparing for Your Counselor Discussion
When you meet with your counselor, be ready to share:
- Three careers you researched (with a brief description of each)
- One career in depth — the education, training, and experience it requires
- Why it interests you — connect it to your own skills, interests, or experiences
Your counselor is not looking for a memorized list of facts. They want to hear your genuine thinking about what draws you to this career and whether you can see yourself pursuing it.
Congratulations — you have worked through all five requirements. But the learning does not have to stop here.