Architecture & landscape design degrees and programs

Blending creative skill and technical ability, architecture and landscape professionals design structures and spaces relied on by the public. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that most architects can be found in professional design firms.

Blending creative skill and technical ability, architecture and landscape professionals design structures and spaces relied on by the public. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that most architects can be found in professional design firms.

A five-year professional bachelor's degree in architecture is generally required for both architects and landscape architects, though if you already have a bachelor's degree, you may enroll in a master's degree program. Architects take courses in principles of space and aesthetic elements of design to help them create beautiful, functional spaces. Architecture & landscape design courses also give students a solid foundation in building structures, mechanical engineering principles and computer-aided drawing or drafting programs.

Surprising careers for architecture & landscape design degree graduates

Not all architects work in design firms. About 21 percent were self-employed in 2010, according to the BLS, bidding and working for individual clients. The federal government is a surprisingly large employer for architects: Landscape architects might design government parks and lands, while architects could be placed in charge of government buildings or community planning. With the BLS projecting big gains for architects between 2008 and 2018--20 percent for landscape architects and 16 percent for architects--this is one career where training now can help you build your future.