architecture vs. civil engineering (1 Viewer)

[pottsy44]

that was a very good post cyko. btw i had to pick up some drawings from hassell an architect firm today and architects are alot more laid back then the rest of the industry so if thats you that would be another advantage.

 

[xxPanDa]

i'm stuck between these choices too, right now, uni preferences due end of this month
are architects really laid back?
i heard they get low pay,
my friend even said they are stressed (but what does he know...)

but i've decided to choose archi anyway
but the low pay really concerns me..
can anyone clarrify this?

which one gets the job easier? cause i heard that there are many architects in aus
but then i read that architects will be needed!?!?

some of u have also suggested constuction management
hows the pay for that?

EDIT: i found some answers after going to this site
http://jobsearch.gov.au/joboutlook/default.aspx?PageId=AscoDesc&ASCOCode=2121
but i still want to see ur views

btw what uni course do u do to get this job $$$
http://jobsearch.gov.au/joboutlook/default.aspx?PageId=AscoDesc&ASCOCode=1221

d-o you think it will be practical to do a degree in both civil and architecture??

 

[cyko]

architects i'd say are more laid back, when they organise themselves well. lol in the case where u have a final model due the nxt day and u have yet to start, i believe thats when its alright to stress.

what would you prefer i suppose,
making models or doing mathematical calculations.

pay wise .. civil engineering is better. and there are more opportunities for civil engineering, there's more scholarships, there are more internships available.
however, referring to my previous post, it honestly all depends on what kidn of architects u want to be.

construction management is pretty dry although thats where the big bucks come in. my plans are to do architecture, and sub-major in project management anyway. getting a taste of both while still pursuing my architecture career.

don't let statistics and teachers and such worry you about the low pay. even in the case the pay might be low, i'd say architects have alot more fun than engineers

people can have their prejudices but architecture is tougher than civil i'd say. they just take into account the physical and mathematical side of construction. consruction management just covers the actual development of the building in which we design, working out budgets, making sure regulatiosn are followed and such, but that would usually be a follow up, as architects will tend to take them all into account in their design.

hope that helps.

 

[drewbrow1]

people can have their prejudices but architecture is tougher than civil i'd say. they just take into account the physical and mathematical side of construction. consruction management just covers the actual development of the building in which we design, working out budgets, making sure regulatiosn are followed and such, but that would usually be a follow up, as architects will tend to take them all into account in their design.

nothing is tougher than civil

in civil you will take the pretty little cardboard model that the architect gave you, then design the actual structure, then each element, then each connection. You'll tell the builders how to go about building it. You'll take care of all the legal stuff, the contracts and budgets. Then you'll maintain it until it gets pulled down.

Fun stuff.

Re: construction management, don't think you'll walk straight out of uni into a top job running a giant site. You'll probably end up in the same type of job as a civil grad majoring in construction management, only you'll have the constraint of limited technical and design skills.

 

[xxPanDa]

nothing is tougher than civil


Re: construction management, don't think you'll walk straight out of uni into a top job running a giant site. You'll probably end up in the same type of job as a civil grad majoring in construction management, only you'll have the constraint of limited technical and design skills.

would i be able to do the same with ARchitects WITH SUBMAJORS IN construction management?

looking at the low pays of archi
i was wondering if u could become one of those senoir executies, directors of archi firms?
or do u need to do some commerce degree to be at management levels?
do u need specific degrees for management jobs?

why do u guys think Civil engineering's cut off UAI is lower the than archi?

 

[drewbrow1]

would i be able to do the same with ARchitects WITH SUBMAJORS IN construction management?

looking at the low pays of archi
i was wondering if u could become one of those senoir executies, directors of archi firms?
or do u need to do some commerce degree to be at management levels?
do u need specific degrees for management jobs?

why do u guys think Civil engineering's cut off UAI is lower the than archi?

You know that the most common undergrad degree for top CEO's is engineering right? Clicky here (pdf), hit the first 'educational background' link.

After three years working in engineering, you'll already be the boss of some grad students. Another fifteen years and you'll be in charge of anywhere from 5 to 1000 people.

The low pay for architects is only as a graduate. After a few years, you'll end up on a pay scale that reflects how good you are. If you anticipate sucking, do civil eng, because after three years working in public sector you get an automatic promotion to ~ $60,000pa.

USNW civil eng is lower because there are about 80 vacancies in the course every year. The cutoff reflects what they think is the minimum standard of intelligence needed to get through the course.

 

[xxPanDa]

You know that the most common undergrad degree for top CEO's is engineering right? Clicky here (pdf), hit the first 'educational background' link.

After three years working in engineering, you'll already be the boss of some grad students. Another fifteen years and you'll be in charge of anywhere from 5 to 1000 people.

The low pay for architects is only as a graduate. After a few years, you'll end up on a pay scale that reflects how good you are. If you anticipate sucking, do civil eng, because after three years working in public sector you get an automatic promotion to ~ $60,000pa.

USNW civil eng is lower because there are about 80 vacancies in the course every year. The cutoff reflects what they think is the minimum standard of intelligence needed to get through the course.

wow thanx, i was originally finking of doing architecture, now i'm considering civilll...
i like the idea of automatic promotion

 

[Meistro]

Civil ftw. Although i dont know how people keep getting these mixed up. I have 6 friends form my old school who do arch so i pretty much have info from both sides. Civil essentially focuses on march larger projects, were looking towards bridges, dams, even highways. My course seems to have a ridiculously heavy emphasis on environmental aspects even though its a seperate degree to environmental engineering. Its pretty maths oriented, so if you dont liek maths steer clear. Theres learning about testing the strength and integrity of materials, lots of piddly little formulas. As yet we havent really done any major "design", but there alot of planning...almost urban design really. My friends in the arch facukty are heaps focused on design, its all very arty imo. Just theyre two very very different courses. If you like maths, like logic, want a job with decent pay and demand at the end of it go for civil. But then again if youre arty farty to arch. Ive allready had 3 close friends want to transfewas they made the mistake that civil was arch when its not and theyre miserable here. but hey, i like it... and honestly i feel smarter than arch students. But once again VERY VERY different!! Seriosuly read up on what both degress really involve.. if you think theyre the same you really havent done your homework/
edit: btw UNSW is very much where its at for engineering. plus there are scholarships available if you look for them.

 

[Surly Duff]

That pretty much kills the theory that you're Pierotte then.

 

[velox]

civil engineers are always saying 'bloody architects' So be a civil eng

 

[Surly Duff]

Only because architects put objects like Mobius Strips in their designs. They're just a bit too hard to engineer.

 

[daman]

yeh but civil engineers are retarded nerds, and no girls. architects are hot with social lives...

 

[jemsta]

hmm civil engineers being blamed for bridge collapse just like the one in montreal

 

[velox]

bs civil has its fair share of hotties as long as u go to uts or usyd, unsw loses by default of having its majority as asain

yeh uts has girls in engineering as the uai is so low.

 

[daman]

yeh uts has girls in engineering as the uai is so low.

are you stupid? im doing engineering at uts and theres about 2% mutt girls.

as in theres only like 2% girls and they arent very special. lolz.

plus all the shit about engineers being massive alcohol drinkers is really quite sad. its nothing to gloat about and just makes them sound sad. i dont enjoy being classed as an engineer because they have a shit image.

 

[Dash]

<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->i cant seem to decide between the two. i've read all the course descriptions and spoken to all the academics and still the two courses seem too good to differentiate between. like they both appeal to my tastes.

ive put engineering as my first preference however i always wanted to be an architecture and recently ive been watching this show on tv, "property ladder" on the lifestyle channel (kickass show), and now im leaning towards property development.

the thing i didnt like about architecture was the artistic side of it like the dandy drawing stuff because i aint good at it and i dont enjoy things im not good at

the thing i like about civil engineering was the planning/development of large urban areas

just in case i live my life in regret of not taking up architecture i was wondering if i could hear the students opinions on their courses

so finally: what are the good and bad points of civil engineering and architecture?

p.s i know this may not be the most appropriate place for this thread, but hey i need some opinions

To answer your question... At unsw, both courses are tough!

Architecture students have no exams and they've always got some major assignment due thats stressing them out... so they're pretty much flat out while uni is on rushing to complete their assignments! ...and yes, most of them are artistically based, like modelling and painting etc...

Civil Engineering involves a lot of maths. But by no means is it purely mathematics! We have some pretty interesting courses relating to urban and rural infrastructure development and more. I guess the bad thing about civil is the amount of work that we get compared to the other courses... but if you're dedicated its a piece of cake...

I want to end up in property development as well... but that won't happen until you gain several years of experience in the building industry, so don't expect to graduate and go straight into developing town houses 4 profit... lol

Good Luck!

 

[Captain Gh3y]

are you stupid? im doing engineering at uts and theres about 2% mutt girls.

as in theres only like 2% girls and they arent very special. lolz.

plus all the shit about engineers being massive alcohol drinkers is really quite sad. its nothing to gloat about and just makes them sound sad. i dont enjoy being classed as an engineer because they have a shit image.

You mean students? Because I'm pretty sure the profession isn't considered to be full of drunkards.

 

[daman]

then why are you doing it then?

then then then then. pfft

because i was unaware of the social climate at the time of selection?

You mean students? Because I'm pretty sure the profession isn't considered to be full of drunkards.

thats cool

 

[daman]

ok lets see how good bos really is...

i am still undecided. i know i am being pedantic about the decision and overly critical but i still want to make the right choice.

let me explain some of my interests which lead me to choosing civil engineering.

i am really fascinated by my house:

• im intrigued by how the water and electricity is transported through my house. where the sewage goes, how all the neigbourhing houses piping is interconnected. so pretty much im interested in the utilities and infrastructure of houses/communites/cities
• im dazzled by the structure of my house. the brickworking is just really interesting to me. it may seem pretty daft but i like thinking about how it was laid, how deep the bricks are, how it all fits together. im also interested in how the walls were constructed, the insulation, the timber supports, the foundations of the house in the basement... etc
• im also interested in the architecture and design of my house e.g the living areas and how they are connected, the spaces, the design style at that time, the house orientation, the window positioning, the landscaping... etc
• im also interested in the little stuff, like joinery, finishes, materials ...

TV:

• i am glued to the tv when "Grand Designs" or "Property Ladder" comes on the lifestyle channel, or any other show of the sort. they are the best

• i also enjoy DIY. i pretty much renovated one of our bathrooms single handedly. it was good fun, i did all the electircity by myslef, i put up new gyprock and installed new water fittings. i liked it how as i tore down the walls the house was revealing itslef to me like, like a story. (i found receipts from a petrol station about two suburbs away, hand written, and dated circa 1970s, thought that was cool)
• i also think id enjoy management i.e project management, senior managerial positions, or just owning my own building/construction business

• so in summation im deeply interested in the fuctional and practical aspects of buildings. i dont know if this interest is limited to my house though, or if it would also be transferred to large scale public utility works (as a civil engineer)

does this sound like the interests of an engineer, an architect or a builder (a new contender)? does any body share my interests, or can relate to them?

thankyou to anyone who actually read this drawl and who can be bothered replying. it really helped in just getting it off my chest

i would like this thread to end now because its a constant reminder of my indecisiveness and im sure everything's been reiterated about 3 times already hahha.

cheers all

p.s this article shits me http://homepage.mac.com/herinst/sbeder/enged99.html

"The UK magazine Professional Engineering published an article entitled "Is there a bit of the Rain Man in every engineer?" linking engineers with children who have autism. Autistic children don't develop normal social relationships and they tend to wander off by themselves and play with mechanical things. The article said that engineers and autistic children shared various characteristics including strong visualisation skills, strong affinity with physical objects and being "less interested in social activities and communication." It cited a study by Simon Baron-Cohen, an autism specialist, which found that "the parents and grandparents of autistic children are twice as likely to be engineers as the national average for all occupations would suggest." In the sample of 820 autistic children's families there were 100 fathers who were engineers and 80 grandfathers (Dunn 1996)."

 

[xxPanDa]

i have one last Question.
i understand both degrees are tough
but which one do you think is harder?

i srsly cant imagine anything harder than maths beyond 4u mathematics