Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) ~ Engineering Entrance Guide

Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)

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The Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) is an undergraduate academic course designed to fulfill the academic component of professional accreditation bodies, to be followed by a period of practical training prior to the professional examination and registration. A bachelor's degree or diploma in architecture is needed to become a qualified architect.

The degree is awarded for a course of study, which lasts up to five years. In some cases, a B.Arch can only be undertaken after having undertaken a three-year generalist architectural degree, in which case, it may be as short as two years. Some architecture institutes using this bi-partite structure have re-badged their B.Arch. programs as M.Arch. degrees.

Bachelor of Architecture in India

The basic eligibility criteria for undertaking B.Arch. in India is 10+2 (senior secondary Class XII) or equivalent referred to as the qualifying examination from a recognized Board/University with a minimum of 50% marks in Science subjects (Mathematics, Chemistry & Physics). Besides this, the candidate must qualify an entrance examination.

Entrance Exams: Admission to first year of Five years full time undergraduate course in Architecture (Bachelor of Architecture) in different colleges of India is through National, State level and University entrance examinations.

The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) conducts a national level entrance examination- All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) on an All India basis for selection to undergraduate courses in B. Architecture and B. Planning in government and private colleges. The test consists of Mathematics, an Aptitude Test and a Drawing test. The National Aptitude test in Architecture (NATA), the online test with drawing exam is organized by the National Institute of Advanced Studies and Architecture in close association with the Council of Architecture (COA). NATA scores are used by admissions authorities of several unaided & Government aided schools / colleges of Architecture, to ensure common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants. NATA tests aesthetic sensitivity, critical thinking, perception, observation and architectural awareness.

Selection to architecture courses at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT's) is through the national level Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Private institutes conduct their own entrance exams. Various Universities and states also conduct separate entrance exams for admission to their architecture and engineering colleges.

Duration & Course Content: The B.Arch. degree programme is of 5 years duration and includes a period of practical experience. The apprenticeship (generally for one semester) has to be done under a practicing architect. The B. Arch degree develops the theoretical foundations and gives some practical insight on which a student later hones proficiency and functional accuracy.

Course content of B.Arch. programmes includes architectural design (drawing and painting), acoustics, surveying and levelling, estimating and costing, construction methods, materials management, history of architecture, draftsman ship, environmental planning, applied mechanics, structural designing, computer applications etc. Some colleges teach architecture-related software packages such as AutoCAD and 3D Studio Max.

Apart from the degree course in B.Arch, Diploma in architecture is also available in some colleges as either full time or part time. It generally takes seven years to complete the part-time diploma courses.

After completing B.Arch, the candidate if he wishes can opt for post graduation i.e Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) that is of 2 to 3 semester duration. At the postgraduate level one can specialise in domains like construction management, town planning, interior design, naval architecture, landscape designing, building engineering and management etc.

Doctoral programmes (Ph.D) can be undertaken after M.Arch. or with a B.Arch. plus five years experience in professional practice or research or teaching.

Interpersonal Skills: A successful architect requires special qualifications like designing talent, business sense, social awareness and legal knowledge. They must have superior communication and drawing skills, keen observation, vivid imagination, creativity, ideas and the ability to visualise. Other qualities include leadership, managerial ability, resourcefulness and capability to work as a team. They must also possess good understanding of the various aspects of building technology to be able to design for varying needs under different conditions. Computer literacy also is needed for writing specifications, two- and three-dimensional drafting, and financial management. Knowledge of CADD is essential.

Basic training prepares an architecture graduate to design and execute any type of building or complex.

Architecture Colleges in India:

Given below is a list of reputed Architecture Schools of India. If you think this list is incomplete and we are missing any good college, kindly mail us at administrator@engineeringentrance.info