An introduction to architecture class will cover many areas, including design principles, history, landscape architecture, building technology and the cultural factors involved in designing a structure. The course may include lectures, field trips, films and demonstrations. An architectural history course will cover the progress of architecture and landscape techniques from ancient times through the modern era. These history classes can be a part of your degree program, or you can major in architectural history.
Design courses typically focus on computer-aided drafting for both commercial and residential design strategies. A good course will use industry standard equipment and provide hands-on training as well as theoretical concepts. These courses will also emphasize mathematics, career management and communication processes.
Once the design is completed, the construction process begins. This requires extensive training on the part of the architect. Some of the necessary courses include such varied topics as the history of concrete, construction field management, construction law, construction methods and materials, project cost management, site safety, electrical codes, fire protection systems, construction estimating, planning for building permits, plumbing system design and HVAC design.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 141,200 architecture jobs in 2008, with 20 percent of those being self-employed. The Bureau expects the demand for architects to grow faster than other jobs, on average, through at least 2018. However, the number of aspiring architects may be much larger. The bureau suggests that an architectural student who works in an architectural firm while taking classes will have an advantage.