Product Description

What do architects do?

What are the educational requirements for architects?

What does an architectural internship involve?

How does one become a licensed architect?

What is the future of the architectural profession?

Get the answers to these key questions in Becoming an Architect. This completely up-to-date guide to today's careers in architecture provides a clear and concise survey of the field and offers advice for navigating a successful career. Filled with interviews and insights from leading architects, the book covers everything from educational requirements and design specialties to registration requirements and the many directions in which a career in architecture can go.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20129 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780471709541
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
"Waldrep brings the perceptions and narratives of dozens of students and practitioners as he defines the role of an architect. He gives a number of valuable resources for architects, including professional organizations and websites, and lists accredited architecture programs in the US and Canada." (Book News, February 2008)

From the Inside Flap
Becoming an Architect is the definitive guide to obtaining the skills and education necessary to be an architect. This hands-on book features complete coverage of the three central components of becoming an architect—education, experience, and exam. Waldrep guides the reader through the major hurdles of graduating with an accredited professional degree in architecture, gaining experience through an internship, and passing the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).

Culled from years of experience guiding eager students along the path to becoming professional architects, Lee Waldrep covers everything aspiring architects needs to know—from helpful information on the profession, design specialties, and educational and registration requirements to advice on finding a job and the many career options in architecture.

Dozens of in-depth interviews and career profiles with practicing architects give insightful, authoritative perspectives on numerous specialties and alternative paths that one can pursue with an education in architecture.

In her Foreword, Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, the 2006 AIA national president, writes, "This book recognizes the breadth and depth of architect's responsibilities and possibilities. It recognizes that architects' are uniquely placed by virtue of their education and experience to understand and mitigate the complex predicaments of the twenty-first century. This book is a fundamental beginning to a life of accomplishment as an architect."

Packed with helpful, accessible information, Becoming an Architect is an essential guide for anyone entering or considering the architecture profession.

From the Back Cover
Becoming an architect answersthese key questions:

What do architects do?

What are the educational requirements for architects?

What does an architectural internship involve?

How does one become a licensed architect?

What is the future of thearchitectural profession?

Here is the completely up-to-date guide to today's careers in architecture—a clear and concise survey of the architecture field and advice for navigating a successful career. Filled with interviews and advice from leading architects, it covers everything from educational requirements and design specialties to registration requirements and the many directions in which a career in architecture can go.

Customer Reviews

A MUST read for those considering a career in architecture
My son knew at an early age that he wanted to pursue a career in architecture. Lacking first-hand experience I tried to help him research what the career was all about. I wish I had this book early in the process. We ended up interviewing architects on our own, reading articles, college rankings, etc. Going in I assumed the CAD/CAM / math / physics aspect would dominate; while important, I soon found out that the artistic / sketching / creative aspect is equally important. As this book so beautiully points out however, the value of intangibles such as "creative problem-solving" and "ability to communicate abstract ideas" outweigh pure technical or artistic skills. Dr. Waldrep skillfully weaves the thoughts and experiences of 49 professionals from diverse backgrounds in architecture to help fill in the knowledge gaps about the career - and may I say - what a broad career! After reading the book you will be impressed with the fact that a career in architecture is a never-ending learning experience with a myriad of "career spokes" springing from the hub of the core disciplines. We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Waldrep for artfully constructing this launching pad of thought-provoking gems from the bright lights of the architecture industry.

Blazing the Architectural Trail
Have you ever been frustrated with the lack of knowledge about architectural careers out there? Does everyone you speak to seem to have no idea where to start or what to do to end up where you picture yourself being? Unfortunately, this is one of the many pitfalls of architecture and until recently prospective architecture students have been left to fend for themselves and blaze a trail over and over again. However, things may be about to change for the better! For over twenty years Professor Lee Waldrep has been conceptualizing this all encompassing guide to Becoming an Architect. Now, finally here, this book serves as the ultimate counselor in pursuing the ever elusive career in architecture!
From his days as a freshman in high school Prof. Waldrep had fantasized about becoming an architect. After years of hard study through high school and college, he graduated with two degrees in architecture and moved on to work in a firm for three months before he realized that the career he had spent over 10 essential years of his life working towards was not right for him. At this point he decided to dedicate his life to helping prospective architecture students achieve their goals by one day becoming eligible to sit for a licensing exam. Thus, this guide came about.
This book is a MUST for anyone even half considering pursuing a career in architecture. Waldrep acts as a personal mentor guiding you though the many paths that could lead to becoming a licensed architect. He does this by starting early, setting you on the right path and keeping you there from your pre-high school days into college and continues to guide you towards your licensing exam after graduation.
Emphasis is placed on the high school and college years as the decisions made and courses taken will have the most impact on one's future. Helpful tips and insights such as "...take art, drawing, and design classes rather than architectural drafting or CAD. Your interest in architecture may surface due to a drafting course, but drafting is not as helpful in your skill development as art classes." (p.73) and "...seek out architects and ask them for their opinion about the schools you are considering for admission." (p.103) line the pages and practically force feed you a one way ticket to the profession of your dreams. In addition, many resources are explained and made available for those looking into the career. Summer and after school opportunities are highlighted, and a constant feed of advice from young men and women well on their way to becoming architects provides the prospective student with real world, first hand experience.
However, Waldrep's guidance does not terminate after graduation. This book is almost relentless in ensuring you a position in the field! Prof. Waldrep goes on to present ideas for post-graduate students and make sure they are absolutely certain at picking the right job, internship, or work opportunity for them.
It is made clear that there are numerous ways to reaching the students overall goal. The hard part is selecting the proper path for the individual. Useful acronyms such as A.R.C.H.I.T.E.C.T. assist in the decision making process and lay a floor plan to be built upon and extended later.
When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, Waldrep is there to offer first hand experience on what to do. He writes and lists exactly what is needed to get things done. What he does not directly explain is covered by the numerous contributions and interviews from the nation's top architects. The insight of so many architects and graduate students makes this book an absolutely essential resource to all who seek a position in the field of architecture.
So why blaze a trail that has been grown over so many times before? This book is a bike path sure to speed you through the thick and confusing vegetation towards your destination. The secrets of architecture are revealed! My only regret is that I hadn't found it sooner!

Very good information from a wide range of voices about architecture as a career
One of my daughters is very interested in becoming an architect and this is an ideal book for her. I think any young person of even an undergraduate college student considering this career path will find this book very helpful.

I appreciate that the book asks and answers the most likely questions a young person will ask or should ask about the career. Even more I appreciate that the author has brought in a broad range of practicing architects to answer than and share their views. This range of opinions and suggestions is quite helpful. It also has the benefit of being interesting.

There are five chapters, the first provides some definition of what an architect is by talking about the wide range of things architects do, and helps the prospective architect think through if such a career is for them. The important skills of architects are also discussed.

Chapter two talks about the education of an architect and even gets back into childhood toys, books and activities. For the high school student considering this career they suggest which courses are most beneficial for the student. They also discuss the licensing, paths to various degrees and what they are needed for. Appendix B also gives a list of accredited architecture programs. There is also information about the application programs and academic enrichment.

Chapter three talks about how to gain experience as a student, how to get noticed, what hiring companies look for, and moving towards licensure. Chapter four helps the student design her career and what the options are. Chapter five lets the participants in this book speak about their wide range of views of the future of architecture. Appendix A provides a resource list for architects - professional organizations, institutions, community service, recommended reading, and websites.

All great stuff, very readable, and with lots of interesting illustrations and photographs.

Very good!