Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors
What are the major differences between these majors?
Im considering one out of these three majors: Architecture Construction Engineering Civil Engineering What are the major differences between them? (especially the engineering majors)Which engineering relates most with architecture(building design)? I'd also like to know which engineering course would work best towards becoming a general contractor?
Public Comments
- Architecture emphasizes design -- external appearance as well as interior and traffic flow -- although engineering realities are important. (Frank Lloyd Wright, however, was famous for designing wonderfully lovely homes with leaky roofs.) Construction Engineering emphasizes techniques and skills required to build things ... usually buildings (although you should check the curriculum at the schools you're interested in, as they could emphasize other construction, like factories, refineries, power plants etc.) Civil Engineering concentrates on understanding the forces that are encountered in buildings, roads, bridges and other structures ... as well as the design and properties (e.g. strength, toughness, plasticity ...) of materials used to ensure the safety and integrity of such structures. CEs are concerned not only with the building materials and structural design, but also with the design and stability of the foundation and soil/pilings that lay beneath. A general contractor would benefit from being familiar with all three diciplines, of course. But I'd think that a "Construction Engineering" major would give you the best preparation for a career as a building contractor.
- Architecture is, first and foremost, an artistic occupation. If you don't have taste, don't become an architect. We have enough awful architects, already. But if you like architecture (as in "the art of building"), why bother with hands down stuff like dirt moving, cement mixing and asphalt pouring? General contractors, OTOH are mostly project managers and accountants. They have to make sure that materials and people are in place and the work is on time and budget. In return he gets a cut from the total project cost. I think you really will have to decide if you like art, hands on work or accounting best... your interests are pulling you into VERY different directions.
- If you concentrate on Civil Eng, you will get exposure to the other two. Construction Eng is typically just a specific discipline within Civil Eng. If you want to design how the building looks, Arch is the way to go, but if you want to design how the building will be constructed and make the Arch's dreams a reality, then Civil Eng is the way to go. As for becoming a GC, a Bachelors in Civil Eng or a Civil Eng Tech would be good. Concentrate on the construction courses such as project management, scheduling, estimating, construction law, contracts, and any process classes showing how things are constructed. Also basic structural courses such as timber, concrete, masonry, steel. These will give you exposure to the codes required. If you end up doing a lot of the engineering work, you can go into advanced structural stuff. If your only goal is to become a GC, then I would recommend a lot of field experience, possibly a Civil Eng Tech degree, and maybe something to do with business. Long story short: I would enroll in Civil Eng and see how I like it. Find a couple schools you'd be interested in and check out the curriculum and if you would be interested in the classes. Here are a couple useful links, some of the curriculum has changed but it's still a great school: http://www.cee.mtu.edu/BSEE/BSCE.html http://www.cee.mtu.edu/advise/Documents/BSCE%20Flowchart.pdf
