Comparison between Civil Engineering and Architecture course

By Shamsul Husain

When it is a matter of choosing a career in the field of civil engineering or architecture, one has to know the basic differences between the two which includes the difference of working environments, career scope, core subjects and future prospects in these two fields. Though these fields are similar in many aspects but there are differences which makes them unique and individual fields.

The nature of civil engineering is more mathematical and thus detailed structural designs, structural analysis, construction and maintenance is the responsibility of a civil engineer.

On the other hand, the nature of architecture is more artistic and towards the utilization of space to produce a good architectural design (A Plan or A Map or A Drawing) simultaneously keeping high aesthetic value, compatibility with building bye-laws and ekistics’ principles. There are scientific principles involved but not as much as those are involved in civil engineering.

Note: This article is just indicative, for a basic knowledge and is not all complete in any sense. One can find more varieties in projects, activities, posts, courses/programs and scope than written here.

The similarities:

Both the professionals work for the same industry and same output, only their roles are different. Civil engineers and architects are concerned with the same kind of environments. Roads, canals, tunnels, railways, aqueducts, bridges, dams, water tanks, different types of buildings, parks, cinema halls, shopping malls etc. all are parts of artificial environments. The natural environments are rivers, mountains, valleys, etc.

Basic Difference

Civil Engineering: The application of scientific principles to civil things to design, construct and maintain the artificial environments is civil engineering in which the maintenance of natural environments is also included. A civil engineer is not concerned with drawing the plan (Map or Plan is generated by architects). 

Architecture: Architecture is basically an art form for planning, drawing, designing, utilizing the space and keeping good aesthetic appearance in the above said environments. Architecture does not include that much of mathematics and physics practice. Basic drawings, foundation plans and structural drawings are the responsibility of an architect.

Scope of Civil Engineering And Architecture

A very wide scope exists there for civil engineering and architecture professionals. They are together involved in many different types of projects. A project requires many different activities associated with these people. Projects may be related to the high rise buildings, skyscrapers, tunnels, roads, bridges, water works, canal systems, drainage works, steel structures, etc.

Civil engineers are concerned with preliminary surveys, measurements, execution of projects at the sites, structural design making, quantity surveying, supervision, planning site activities, procurement of materials, billing, construction safety, structural detailing of steel, etc. Civil engineers work under the posts of surveyor, quantity surveyor, estimator, billing engineer, structural designer, procurement manager, planning engineer, site engineer, quality engineer, etc. Once they get promotion on the basis of experience or qualification, they lead the teams under the manager post. Project manager, deputy project manager, assistant project manager, etc. posts.

Architects are concerned with planning, architectural drawing, architectural designing, structural drawing, utilization of space, application of building bye-laws, application of principles of science of human settlements (ekistics), interior design, aestheticity of environment, pleasant appearance, etc. They work as architect (designation) and an architect may have specific roles depending upon the post at which he is hired. An architect working in the landscape architecture specifically can be entitled with the designation of landscape architect and in this way other designations are also created. A post graduate architect working in industrial design is architect (industrial design). An architect with an MBA or PGDM or managerial experience can be designated as an architectural manager.

Education

The programs range from a certificate to post doctoral in India and abroad. A PhD degree is basically not required if you are not working in academics. But in some cases it is useful if you are working in R&D departments of government or private sector. An MBA or PGDM is also useful, if you think to work like a coordinator or planning manager etc. Future prospects are very high and these fields present lucrative careers.

The core subjects of civil engineering are design of reinforced cement concrete structures, design of steel structures, theory of structures, structural analysis, concrete technology, etc. The other papers include surveying, water resources systems, irrigation engineering, soil mechanics, public health engineering, etc. Some applied papers are engineering mathematics, engineering physics, engineering chemistry, applied mechanics, strength of materials, etc.

The core subjects of architecture are structural design (timber, steel and RCC), architectural design (building drawing), theory of architecture and architectural drawing (geometrical drawing). The other papers are art studio, history of architecture, building materials, mathematics, mechanics of structures, building construction, CAD, etc. Architecture students don’t study applied physics and applied chemistry papers.

Jobs For Civil Engineers And Architects

Civil Engineering:

Certificate holders in civil engineering (ITI) like surveying and draftsmanship can go for surveyor, draftsman-civil and structural-detailer posts. A civil diploma engineer can work as a site engineer, surveyor, billing engineer, structural-detailer, draftsman-civil, quantity surveyor, etc. After a bachelor degree (B Tech/ BE/ Associate Membership Qualifications) the variety of jobs increases, for example, post of a structural designer can be had after B Tech/ BE/ AMIE only. For a better future in design & analysis, research & development, hydraulics & fluid mechanics, soil mechanics, environmental engineering, etc. one should go for a master degree (M Tech or ME). In academics, doctoral and post doctoral level programs have their own importance. Disciplines in master degree are hydraulics, soil mechanics, structures, hydrology, planning, environmental engineering, etc.

Architecture:

Certificate holders in architecture (ITI) can assist the architect as an assistant to architect. Diploma holders in architectural assistantship can go for assistant architect and draftsman posts. A B Arch/AMIIA degree holder can become an architect to work in planning and drawing for industry, residential or commercial buildings, landscape etc. After a master degree (M Arch/ MURP/ MCP/ M Plan/ M Tech (Planning)/ M Des/ AITP/ etc.) they can have more variety of jobs, personal consultancy management and scope for research and academics. In academics, doctoral and post doctoral level programs have their own importance. Disciplines in master degree are urban design, industrial design, architectural conservation, planning, landscape architecture, building engineering & management, etc. Planning field has further more specializations like transport planning, urban and regional planning, etc.

Certifications

Certifications help professionals in upgrading them. One can find details through relevant websites. A few are listed here.

• CEng
• PE
• IntPE
• IGBC-AP
• LEED-AP

Salary

Salary is dependent on professional proficiency, subject knowledge, school of graduation, company and need of the hour. Moreover, in general, civil engineers are equipped with more knowledge than architects in terms of complex mathematics, analysis and structural design and so they are paid more than architects. But it all depends on proficiency and innovativeness that can make you like La Corbusier. An ordinary fresher architect in India gets a salary around Rs. 20,000. An ordinary fresher civil engineer in India gets a salary around Rs. 30,000.

Note for aspirants

The aspirants who are good at drawing and a bit of mathematics with some innovative ideas about planning and drawing the above said environments, they should go for architecture.

Aspirants with awesome knowledge of physics, chemistry, mathematics and a great interest towards structural design and construction should go for civil engineering.

One should check the institute or university for recognition before taking an admission.

About the author:

Shamsul Husain has thirteen years of experience in different spheres of civil engineering which includes working as an apprentice, drawing assistant, civil site engineer, surveyor and lecturer. Hussain is qualified with AMIE (I), Diploma in Civil Engineering (University Polytechnic, AMU-Aligarh) and BA (Major) Mathematics of IGNOU.