What Can You Do with An Architectural Engineering Degree?

What is a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering Degree?

Architectural engineering is a discipline that tackles the principles of architecture and engineering. The primary purpose of studying this field is to create an efficient and aesthetically pleasing structure and solve complex engineering problems

This multidisciplinary field touches on different areas like the integration of construction engineering, structural systems, environmental control, building materials, and sustainable design practices. This type of engineer has the unique ability to merge the artistic vision of architects with engineering aspects and the technical knowledge of engineers.

Architectural Engineering in the Real World

In the real world, architectural engineering breathes life into our urban landscapes. It shapes the skylines of bustling cities, with each towering structure standing as a testament to human achievement. 

But it goes beyond mere aesthetics. Architectural engineering blends form and function, creating spaces that serve a purpose while captivating the senses. It merges the practicality of engineering with the elegance of design, ensuring that buildings not only stand tall but also stand the test of time.

From the tallest skyscraper to the humblest of residences, professionals in this field touch every aspect of our environment. It ensures structural integrity, safety, and functionality. It navigates the complexities of materials, lighting, acoustics, and energy efficiency. It embraces the challenges of urbanization, population growth, and climate change. It adapts, evolves, and shapes the world around us.

Career Path for Architectural Engineering Graduates

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering degree, you’ll be equipped with different skills and opportunities that will allow you to pursue different career paths. You can work in various sectors, which include architectural engineering firms, engineering consultancies, government offices, and even construction companies.

Here are the most common career paths for architectural engineering students:

Architectural Engineer

From the name of the degree itself, you can work as an architectural engineer after graduating with this degree. As such, your role will be to focus on the design and construction of buildings.

Your technical expertise in assessing building materials, analyzing structural and building systems, and integrating electrical and mechanical systems will be vital factors in building structures. Being adept at these factors allows you to ensure the integrity of a building’s design.

You will closely work with architects to translate their creative visions into functional, safe, practical, and efficient structures. Architectural engineers apply engineering fundamentals to ensure that buildings are structurally sound and meet state building codes and regulations. In addition, it is also their duty to focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.

If you want to pursue this career path, you should be ready to constantly collaborate with structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and other construction professionals to coordinate the different aspects of the project.

Sustainable Design Consultant

Pursuing a career as a sustainable design consultant means you’ll need to have a good understanding of environmentally conscious and energy-efficient designs. You will also focus on incorporating sustainable practices, materials, and technologies into your projects.

As a sustainable design consultant, your main goal is to minimize the environmental impact of your project, reduce energy consumption, and improve the comfort and well-being of the occupants.

To do this, sustainable design consultants conduct assessments of buildings and analyze factors like electrical systems, water efficiency, waste management, energy consumption, and indoor air conditioning. Once everything has been analyzed, a consultant will have to propose design strategies to improve all of these factors.

Sustainable design consultants often work with consulting engineering firms, construction engineering companies, and government agencies to develop green building certifications and ensure that projects meet sustainability goals and standards for things like fire protection. You’ll also need some knowledge of environmental engineering for this path.

Urban Planner

If you’re someone interested in shaping the development and design of urban areas, like cities, neighborhoods, and communities, this career path is perfect for you. Urban planners usually consider factors in engineering design such as land use, infrastructure, social and environmental considerations, transportation, and zoning regulations.

To be an effective urban planner, you need to understand the current state of urban areas, conduct research, and develop strategies to develop plans that promote sustainable and equitable development.

Your primary goal as an urban planner is to create a vibrant, livable, and resilient space that accommodates population growth and promotes efficient use of land. You need to accomplish this to ensure that you enhance the quality of life for residents.

Urban planners collaborate with real estate developers, licensed professional engineers and architects, construction managers, general contractors, and community members like building owners. This is to develop plans that will improve transportation networks, public spaces, housing, and economic progression.

These career paths within architectural engineering offer opportunities that will provide people with carefully planned, environmentally friendly spaces and structures.

Job Outlook After Completing an Architectural Engineering Bachelor Degree

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for this field is quite low. The BLS projects that employment for architectural engineering students in this field will be around 2% over the next decade.

Here’s a screenshot from the BLS site:

Salary Range for Graduates with a Degree in Architectural Engineering

Architectural engineering offers competitive salaries that reflect the high level of expertise and responsibility required in the field. While salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and job role, architectural engineering students can expect to earn a solid income.

Here’s a screenshot from Glassdoor:

You can see that the average salary is around $90,000 per year. But you should note that this salary is for mid-level jobs. If you’re starting out, entry-level jobs pay around $60,000 per year. If you’re looking for senior positions, then you’re looking at something around $120,000 per year.

You should remember that if you want to enter a mid-level or senior position, you will need to attend a graduate study program at a university of your choice.

Job Satisfaction Growth of Architectural Engineering Graduates

Architectural engineering is a fulfilling career path that allows professionals to make a tangible impact on the environment. The opportunity to contribute to iconic structures, collaborate with diverse teams, and solve complex design challenges brings engineers a sense of satisfaction. Additionally, the evolving nature of the field ensures continuous learning and growth, making it an exciting and engaging career choice for those passionate about design and engineering.

I gave it a score of 7.5 out of 10 since the job growth isn’t that high, even if the job satisfaction is 5 stars. Here’s a screenshot from Owl Guru:

Real-World Experience: How Do Architectural Engineering Graduates Fare in the Real World?

To gain a deeper understanding of the real-world experiences of graduates in this field, let’s explore some threads on Reddit that talk about this field.

Here’s an architectural engineer needing some advice from fellow engineers. Here’s the thread:

Architectural engineer needing job advice

In another post, a Redditor wanted to learn more about the key differences between an architect and an architectural engineer. Here’s the thread:

Is Architectural Engineering for You? (Factors to Consider)

If you’re still unsure about whether you should take this degree or not, here’s a checklist to help you decide:

Choosing the Best Place to Study Architectural Engineering

If you’re trying to pick a school for this degree, there are some factors you might want to consider. This includes curriculum, accreditation, and faculty quality. You need to look for a school that can offer hands-on learning opportunities and access to internships.

Curriculum

Knowing the curriculum for the degree before enrolling is important. This allows you to know what subjects you’ll be able to take and which specializations are available for you.

Knowing the curriculum also helps you carefully tailor the course you’re taking, which means you’ll get to pick the subjects that perfectly align with your interests.

Accreditation

Another factor to consider is the accreditation of the school you’re going to. You’d want to pick schools with accreditation from reputable organizations. This means you’re getting into a school that has passed the rigorous requirements of some engineering accreditation commission.

Faculty Quality

In addition, you also need to check out the faculty’s quality. A strong faculty would be a team of architectural engineers that have solid engineering education and professional engineering practice. You’d also want to check out the credentials of the faculty to ensure that they really know what they’re teaching.

Cost of Education

The cost of education is another crucial factor that will affect your decision. If a university offers expensive courses but their faculty quality, accreditation, and curriculum are not up to your standards, then you should immediately cross that school off your list.

When deciding which school to pick, always ensure that the cost aligns with the curriculum offered, current accreditations, and faculty quality. This is to ensure that you get what you paid for.

Pros and Cons of a Degree in Architectural Engineering

As with any degree, an architectural engineering program has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore some pros and cons to help you make an informed decision:

Pros:

• Exciting and creative career opportunities
• Blend engineering principles and architectural design
• Opportunities for innovation and sustainable design.
• Chance to work on diverse and challenging projects.
• Opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment.
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of architects and engineers.

Cons:

• Rigorous academic curriculum and demanding coursework.
• Long hours and tight deadlines during project phases.
• Potential for high levels of stress and pressure.
• Limited job opportunities in certain geographic areas.
• Possibility of dealing with budget constraints and client expectations.
• Balance between creativity and adherence to regulatory codes and safety standards.

These pros and cons are generalized and can vary based on individual experiences and preferences.

FAQs About Architectural Engineering

Are architects and architectural engineers the same?

No, architects focus on the design and aesthetic aspects of buildings, while engineers focus on the technical and structural aspects. So, an architecture degree is different from a degree in architectural engineering.

How long is the architectural engineering course?

The duration of an architectural engineering course varies depending on the country and degree level. Typically, it takes around 4-5 years to complete a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years for a master’s degree. The architectural engineering curriculum will typically focus on structural systems or structural engineering, building systems, and electrical systems.

What do architectural engineers do?

Engineers in this field use their technical and analytical skills to design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings. They ensure that buildings are structurally sound, energy-efficient, and meet safety standards. The most common concepts you need to master include:

• Structural engineering, structural analysis, and steel structures
• Building systems, building design, and construction of high-performance buildings and resilient buildings
• Electrical systems
• Project management
• Mechanical systems
• Energy systems and energy conservation
• Building design

What skills are needed to be an architectural engineer?

To be an architectural engineer, one needs a strong background in mathematics, physics, and engineering principles. In addition, strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are also essential. To be successful in this field, you will need a bachelor of science degree that provides formal training, prepares students, and teaches advanced interdisciplinary knowledge.

Final Verdict

A degree in architectural engineering offers a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise, allowing you to shape the future of our built environment. Whether you aspire to design breathtaking structures or ensure their structural integrity, this degree path opens doors to a fulfilling and rewarding career.

With a promising job outlook, competitive salaries, and the opportunity to make a positive impact, pursuing this degree can be an excellent choice for those passionate about the art and science of structural design.

Salary | Score: 9/10

The salary for entry-level jobs for engineers in this field is around $60,000 per year and around $120,000 per year for senior positions. This is the reason why I gave it a score of 9 out of 10.

Satisfaction | Score: 7.5/10

According to Owl Guru, the job satisfaction rating for this degree is 5 stars. However, job growth, which is also an aspect of job satisfaction, is low. So, I gave it a score of 7.5 out of 10.

Demand | Score: 7.5/10

From the BLS site, they projected 2% growth for architectural engineers. This means that it is slower compared to other fields. With that, I gave it a score of 7.5 out of 10.

X-Factor | Score: 8.5/10

Architectural engineers possess a unique X-factor that sets them apart in the realm of engineering. Their ability to seamlessly blend the principles of architecture and engineering enables them to envision and construct structures that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally sound. With their multidisciplinary expertise, architectural engineers bring a creative yet analytical approach to design, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and shaping the future of our built environment.

Final Score for a Degree in Architectural Engineering | Score: 8.125

Overall, a degree in this field scores highly in salary but adequately in demand and satisfaction. This means that it’s an excellent option if you’re really interested in pursuing a career that requires engineering fundamentals.

Alternatives to Architectural Engineering

While this degree offers a unique combination of skills, there are alternative paths you may consider within the realm of design and engineering. Some alternatives include:

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Urban Planning
• Construction Management

Remember to thoroughly research each alternative to determine which aligns best with your interests and career goals.