Impact of Studying Architecture on Students
Creating a successful career as an architect requires dedication, hard work and resilience. Students enrolled in architecture courses typically face a range of challenges, from dedicating enough personal study and creative time to understanding complex, often highly abstract concepts. For many students, this is the factor that leads them to consider dropping out.
Studies conducted in 2016 by the American Institute of Architects, showed that only 32% of architecture students successfully complete their courses. This rate is much lower than the completion rates of students enrolled in other fields of study. It is estimated that in 2020, only 28% of architecture students will have completed their studies.
One of the main reasons why architecture students drop out is the immense pressure that comes with the course. For example, the majority of architecture course curriculums are heavily project-focused, which means that students are under constant pressure to produce high-quality designs and be prepared to defend them. Furthermore, student workloads can be hard to manage, and some students struggle to balance theoretical, practical, and research components of the course.
Experts in the field also cite financial difficulties as a common cause of student discontent. Compared to tuition fees for other university courses, costs for architecture courses frequently exceed the established fee caps. Students may be faced with the unpleasant reality of accumulating a high amount of debt before even starting their first job in the field of architecture.
Additionally, the concern of making a successful career out of architecture can generate doubts in many students. The best architecture jobs, such as being a professional in firms and getting involved in large-scale projects, are often difficult to land and are typically limited. This means that many students realize when they are close to earning their degree that job prospects in their desired field are limited.
Finally, some students struggle simply with their level of commitment and the amount of hard work necessary to succeed. Creating success and artistic works of architecture require students to be able to appraise their work realistically, responding constructively to feedback. Many students battle with self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy, making it difficult to stay motivated.
Impact of Teaching and Learning Design
Poor teaching and learning design also contribute to the decision to drop out of architecture courses. Many architecture courses are taught in an overly theoretical manner, making it difficult for students to see how these teachings can be applied in the practical world.
In addition, learning design in architecture is often heavily orientated towards the written and spoken word. However, there is evidence from studies conducted within the architecture profession that suggest that visual representation of design is a much more effective way for students to learn and understand the concepts thoroughly.
Moreover, architecture students lack the necessary practical experience when learning design. Professional architecture designers rely heavily on their own experience as well as the knowledge of their colleagues when making important decisions or developing designs. However, this expertise has to be acquired before trying to make professional architectural works. It is important to note though, that most architecture courses do not consider the valuable need for practical experience when devising coursework.
Impact of the Industry
The architecture industry itself is also partly to blame for students dropping out of courses. The industry is still considered a competitive one, with few vacant positions available in the firms within large cities. This type of environment creates significant challenges for graduates hoping to make a career in the industry.
Furthermore, the industry does not often provide a viable career path for young architects. The conventional route involves working in smaller companies in smaller towns, where opportunities for growth are low or non-existent. This can often drive students to give up on their goal of pursuing an architecture career.
Also, the field of architecture is rapidly becoming more reliant on technology, which is often more reliable than people in the program. New software and techniques are being developed everyday, giving young architects more to learn and fewer opportunities to learn it in the field. This can make it more difficult for fresh architecture graduates to find a job and may often lead to students dropping out of their course due to feelings of inadequacy.
Impact of Mentorship and Support
The lack of an alternative channel of mentoring and support from faculty members is another contributing factor to why architecture students drop out. Architecture courses often treat the student as a product, or as a “number” rather than an individual person. This makes it impossible for students to receive the necessary guidance and psychosocial mentoring from the faculty.
Faculty members also struggle to make meaningful connections with their students in architecture courses. This connection is particularly important for architecture students as it allows them to better understand the course content, and encourages a more personal relationship with the faculty.
Moreover, architecture students are often left feeling unsupported when working on their courses. It is not uncommon for faculty members to be unhelpful when it comes to the practical side of the course, such as the design process. This lack of support can be extremely demoralizing to students and can easily lead them to believing they are unable to complete the course successfully.
Impact of Working Hours and Stress
The amount of hours involved in architecture courses can also be considerable and stressful, especially during the later stages of the program. Working long hours with irregular breaks can mean students are constantly overextended, leaving them little opportunity to take care of themselves throughout the duration of their course.
This excessive workload may also mean that the student’s studies takes a backseat, leading to a lack of progress or a poor grade. Likewise, stress from the workload can lead to poor performance and a lack of motivation to even begin tasks. In turn, this can lead to students eventually giving up on their studies and dropping out.
Finally, many architecture students are inundated with unrealistic expectations, leading to feelings of inadequacy. It can be easy to compare oneself to other students, leading to feelings of disappointment when their own performance is not to the same standard. This can cause students to give up and drop out.
Impact of Technology
Technology in the architecture industry is changing fast. New software, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Autodesk Revit, have made the design process easier and faster, yet more complex. The constant updating of this software can make it hard for architecture students to stay up to date, as the course content cannot keep up with the speed at which technology is evolving.
The fact that technology is constantly changing can affect learners’ motivation to learn, as the effort does not seem to be valued long-term. Students therefore may feel as if they are wasting their time as the knowledge they obtained in the classroom may no longer be valuable when they graduate.
Impact of Culture
The cultural aspect of architecture courses is also important to consider. There is not often a great deal of encouragement to pursue innovative ideas or demonstrate creativity in the classroom, discouraging many students who would otherwise flourish in an environment of creativity and passion.
In contrast, many architecture programs focus on the technical aspects of the course, which can often be intimidating and uninspiring. This often prevents many students from expressing their true potential, as they lack the ability to break from conventional and increasingly outdated teaching practices.
Impact of Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues such as low confidence, depression, and anxiety can also contribute to the problem of student dropout rates in architecture courses. Mental health can have a significant impact on performance, energy levels and motivation. If left untreated, these issues can cause students to become overwhelmed and slow progress in their course, or in extreme cases, lead to dropping out altogether.
Similarly, certain personality traits, such as those individuals characterized as “perfectionists”, tend to be at higher risk of dropping out. Many individuals perceived as perfectionists are extremely hard on themselves, expecting a perfect outcome from their work and can be too demanding of themselves. This pressure can be disabling, and in some cases, cause individuals to give up altogether.
