With the consistent building of new hotels and villas, the Caribbean, and better yet our country, is not unfamiliar with the need for architecture. The proper development and vision for a building, big or small, is crucial to the future of it. In this month’s post, the respective routes will provide you with careers you can pursue in Architecture as well as some technical pathways that can be beneficial.
Skip to Sections
Academic Routes Technical RouteAcademic Routes
Before you start an academic course, there are a few things that you should consider:
- Entry requirements
- Subjects you need for the career(s) you have in mind
Be sure to speak to us at Brain Food TCI, or any other career advisor you may have access to, if you need assistance where entry requirements are concerned.
Secondary and Post-secondary towards Higher Education
Most, if not all, high schools require you to do CXCs, GCSEs, or any other equivalent to be able to excel to Higher Education (college/university). In institutions in the Caribbean, such the University of the West Indies, you are required to have 5 CXC (CSEC & CAPE) OR iGCSE & GCE subjects, including Mathematics and English.
If an institution does not have any of these examinations listed when searching what is required, search for equivalencies through their admissions page or contact them directly for more information. Also, some courses may require you to have certain subjects other than Mathematics and English that are compulsory when entering the course. Be sure to check the entry requirements to know exactly what is required.
Higher Education
As mentioned earlier, CXCs and/or other equivalents are required to proceed to this level. In higher education, you can obtain:
Undergraduate
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
Postgraduate
- Master’s Degree
- Ph. D.
Depending on your journey and your career choice, you can decide how far you need to go in terms of further education. You do not need to pursue a Master’s degree or Ph. D. unless it is required based on your career choice.
Architecture-related Courses
University of Technology (Jamaica)
The UTECH is home to a Bachelor’s course in the Architectural Field:
B.A. Architectural Studies (Caribbean School of Architecture)
This four-year programme comprises five subject areas (Design Studio, History and Theory, Technology, Design Computing, and General Electives] to prepare the students for design, research and technology.
Entry requirements for this programme require a minimum of five subjects for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) / General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary-Level / Certificate from other equivalent entities. The compulsory required subjects are Mathematics and English Language.
What is also required is a portfolio of original work demonstrating your best artistic and creative expressions. To learn more about entry requirements for this course and other information, click here. To learn more about the portfolio requirements, click here.
Some careers that can be obtained from studying this course are:
- Interior Architects
- Architects
- Urban Designers
- Landscape Architects
- Project Assessors
B.Sc. Civil Engineering
The course is designed to provide an educational programme of basic and specialised engineering knowledge that would be necessary for its graduates to be proficient in recognized specialties of civil engineering, namely, Construction, Structural Engineering and Environmental Engineering. The information that is taught will provide graduates with the tools that will make them successful in the period following graduation and help to prepare them for eventual licensure as Professional Engineers.
Some careers that can be obtained from studying this course are:
- Civil Engineer
- Site Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Construction Civil Engineer
For more information on the course, click here. For entry requirements, click here.
To see more posts like these, subscribe for monthly updates:
University of the West Indies (St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago)
The department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management includes some courses that can be useful in the Architectural field. The courses in this department focus on areas of priority and new themes within research that have been identified and are pursued. The focal points of the research cover areas in geomatics, geodesy, land administration, spatial analysis, geoinformatics, spatial and settlements planning the environment and ecosystems. These courses are designed to cover areas such as:
- Mapping, monitoring, and modelling land use/cover dynamics for the sustainable management of natural resources and the environment;
- Urban structure and urban form in the Caribbean; and
- Global climate change, climate change and food security, sea level change.
B.Sc. Land Management
This course aims to provide the individual with expert training, and to be able to graduate as a valuation surveying professional who will be proficient in the principles and concepts of valuation surveying within the framework of land management, in support of the Caribbean region’s socioeconomic and environmental goals and objectives and well as architectural planning. Their objective is to:
- Apply appropriate skills to satisfy a growing need for effective land valuation and land management in support of economic, environmental and social goals;
- Interact with other key professionals in the construction industry to support national, institutional, and individual physical development goals; and
- Advance research and application in land valuation, land management, land administration, and land economy, both regionally and locally.
For more course information, click here and see page 44.
For information on entry requirements, click here and see page 4.
B.Sc. Civil with Environmental Engineering
Completing this course will develop the individual’s skills in the engineering sub-disciplines and project management. It also offers specialisation in the five sub-disciplines within your final year of study. What it is designed to do is to give the individual knowledge, understanding, and the ability to initiate and carry out civil infrastructure projects. These projects will allow you to:
- Critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete) to make judgments;
- Frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution (or identify a range of solutions) to a civil or environmental engineering system or design problem;
- Communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Entry requirements would require you to have Cape units I & II with at least grade 4 in Mathematics and Physics or Chemistry, (CSEC in Chemistry) OR GPA 3.0 – 3.4 – COSTAAT/UTT/UTECH/BCC. For more information on the entry requirements, click here and see page 3. For a course break down, click here and see page 37.
Technical Routes
Internships & Volunteering
Participate in local volunteering and Architectural-related programs.
It is encouraged that you take local opportunities in Architectural-related programs. Even if it’s volunteering with departments that contribute to the cause, take the small opportunities right in front of you.
Here are potential options to seek volunteering opportunities:
- Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning
- Architectural Companies within the country (e.g. RA Shaw Designs Ltd.)
The technical routes in this field are quite similar but 100% practical. With the option below, you can obtain skills and experience that can lead you to a successful progression in the field and make it easier to get your foot in the door.
Projects Abroad provides intel to help you find volunteer opportunities suited for your area of choice and country of choice. Particularly in architecture, there are many volunteer building projects that you can volunteer for, whether in the summer or in your free time. On this website, you can find just about anything, including volunteer programs in conservation in Costa Rica. To learn more and get involved, click here.
From the information provided, you can start right here in your region and at home. Feel free to embark on those opportunities. Always remember to embrace all opportunities near or far.
Resources
Below is a list of YouTube videos that will bring some insight to Architecture, its functionality, and just some looks at various styles of Architecture from the Architectural Digest.
Brain Food TCI 