Texas
college sTudenTs
wHo sTudY aT an accredITed scHool
of arcHITecTure can become
I recommend advanced placement sTudenT members of THe Texas Try a Little of Everything
math, not regular academic courses.”
socIeTY of arcHITecTs and be
Educators encourage students interested in
Architecture & Construction to take a few
Choosing Career Electives
elIgIble To serve on ITs commITTees.
courses in each of the three programs of
Your electives offer the opportunity study in the cluster. Even if you never pick up
to focus your studies on one of the three Pursue skill Certification a hammer or saw, you need to know how a
programs of study in Architecture & Classroom instruction in particular construction building is put together.
Construction. These classes will differ trades is sometimes paired with work-based Architecture & Construction classes may
according to the program (see “Program learning opportunities that can help students lead you in a direction you never imagined.
Profiles,” page 12) you choose. work toward certification in particular skills. Historic preservation, for example, is a hot
Construction career electives include Organizations such as the National Center field as communities seek to refurbish older
Electrical Trades, Bricklaying, Plumbing, for Construction Education and Research structures. Another growing area is “green
Welding, and Stone Masonry. (NCCER) and the National Occupational construction,” which takes environmental
Electives in the Design & Pre-Construction Competency Testing Institute conduct factors, such as energy consumption and
program of study include Drafting, Interior certification testing. The NCCER maintains a pollution, into account as new residential
Design, and Landscaping. national registry (www.nccer.org/credentials/ or commercial developments are planned,
Students in the Maintenance/Operations nationalregistry.asp) of student transcripts built, and maintained.
program can take classes such as Home and certificates of completion that can be
Maintenance and Improvement, and Building referenced by potential employers when
Maintenance. students enter the workforce.
S P o T L I G H T
SCHooL CoNStRuCtIoN
Architects-to-be Launch Their Careers at
Dallas Skyline Career Development Center
T
hese students are career focused,” says
Tom cox. He’s director of the dallas skyline
career development center architecture program,
and he says the students participating show a
special dedication. “They have chosen a career in
architecture & construction,” he says, “and they are
learning the skills to be successful in their career.” time reaching that goal. “some cluster
“when they go to college, students in the skyline third and fourth periods you take all architecture students travel great distances to get to
program know that architecture is not easy,” says courses,” says odamah. skyline,” he says. “If students spend an hour
samuel odamah, a former skyline student now “architects come to school to give tutorials traveling each way, every day, they are serious
studying architecture at the university of Texas at and critique student work,” says cox. “we offer about their education.”
arlington. “of the maybe 50 students who started a mentorship program called ace (architecture, odamah sums up: “skyline taught me what I
the skyline program in the ninth grade, only nine or construction, engineering) to our seniors to give needed to do to prepare for my career choice. we
10 completed it.” them insight into the building industry.” learned about the different schools of architecture
That’s because the program is so rigorous. cox says the program is a perfect fit for the type in Texas, the history of architecture, and the
“The first part of the school day you take classes of person who’s always known what he or she architect registration exam. I started college
in the courses required for graduation, and then in wants to do, and who doesn’t want to waste any ahead of my peers.”
Page 13
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