Have you noticed how the growth in the number of institutions offering Architecture and Urbanism courses has been noticeable for some time? Consequently it is also the growth of the number of students. Exactly so it grows the number of graduates each year. This situation shows us some positive factors, being: a) greater access of the Brazilian population to higher education and b) greater importance and emphasis given to the career of architect.
In public universities, the Architecture and Urbanism course generally ranks among the ten largest competitions per job. For example, at USP (University of São Paulo), for the 2017 college entrance examination, the competition was 30.7 candidates competing for a seat at the FAU.
And why are we talking about all this? To demonstrate that despite the great demand for the Architecture and Urbanism course, not everyone who enters college knows exactly if it is in the right course. Many are even aware of the great or what you may find ahead. Well, this is not an exclusivity of this profession, it happens with all the others. However, it is important to demonstrate some ways for you to be sure that when choosing architecture, you can say with firmness: that is what I want for myself!
Below, you will check a little about the graduation and also the career of architect and urbanist.
THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
The starting point is: what am I doing here? What brought me here? Understanding the reasons that led you to choose Architecture and Urbanism is paramount. Some believe in vocation, after all, when they were six, they used to play with Lego. Others needed a vocational test in high school! There are those who have been directed by parents or teachers and are still delighted with the supposed “glamor” of the profession or because it seems legal to carry giant folders and tubes for college.
You need to know what led you to choose the course, but this factor alone does not mean anything. Many of those who believed in vocation when playing Lego may be disenchanted. At the same time, those who have been guided by their parents can do very well and love the course.
Therefore, it is interesting to seek to understand more about how graduation in architecture works, as well as the curriculum. In spite of varying between institutions, the axes are composed of disciplines linked to the history of the arts, social sciences, exact sciences, drawing and many projects. Therefore, to cope with college is important to have a very multidisciplinary profile.
Exactly, drawings, projects …
It is worth remembering that the Architecture and Urbanism course is part of the Humanities and Applied Social Sciences sub-area. But even so, the grid fails to contemplate matters with a focus on accuracy. Mathematics and calculations are essential when it comes to building structure, soil dynamics, resistance of materials, among others. However, you will not find pure calculations like that in a Civil Engineering course.
Regarding the need to know or not to draw the hand, there are currently countless computerized design programs. They assist and basically architects work today with software for their projects. But the drawing by hand is as if it were the soul of the architects. Electronic tools do not project for us, there needs to be at least the spirit of the sketch.
As for the projects it takes a lot, but a lot of patience for the construction of models, for example. In general, there is careful correction of teachers. It also requires good ability to work in a group, willing to spend hours on the project and know how to deal with collections and deadlines. Not to mention that according to a survey, the Architecture and Urbanism course is the one that most requires time for studies,
ARCHITECT AND URBANIST CAREER
There are several areas of activity in the career of architect and urbanist! During college, the ideal is to do internships in areas that you find interesting. It is also important to visit offices and even interview professionals.
The number of professionals graduated in Architecture and Urbanism grows, as much as their possibilities of action. Bioarchitecture, digital architecture, urbanism, professionals specialized in BIM among several others. In addition, of course, traditional construction projects. So there is a lot of good future in the career – despite the economic crisis, threats and high competition. However, during graduation, you need to find a direction and try to shape your professional profile.
Preparation for the job market goes well beyond the knowledge acquired in the undergraduate program. A good student and Architecture professional invests in free courses of improvement , in trips, in talks, in visits to fairs and exhibitions.
It is important to keep in mind that AU professionals are not only there to design large buildings or houses that may possibly be magazine covers. We are in a country with huge shortage of professionals in the area. Not even 5% of the Brazilian population has access to an architectural project! Therefore, the profession is capable of revolutionizing the Brazilian urban scenario, if we want and if circumstances help us. So the main goal of someone who chooses Architecture and Urbanism as a profession is to have the longing to build a better society. Having this mindset, certainly is already a big step.