Bachelor of Architecture programme, or popularly known as the B.Arch course, is an undergraduate programme that certifies aspirants for professionally divulging in the practice of architecture. Architects are the craftsmen behind the creation of various constructions, ranging from astounding skyscrapers to precisely detailed structures. Practically, no structure is possible without the services of an architect. As the world economy continues mushrooming, the field of architecture has fanned into diverse aspects of modern design & architecture.
Various governmental, government-aided, self-financed and fully private institutions provide the Bachelor of Architecture course to aspirants. After completing the B.Arch programme, aspirants are required to register with C.O.A. (Council of Architecture) to start working as an architect in India. The Government of India formed the Council of Architecture under the Architects Act of the year 1972 to facilitate and manage architecture in the country.
All architecture schools and colleges in India necessitates candidates to undergo NATA (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) to qualify and pursue the Bachelor of Architecture programme offered by various institutions. The entrance examination aims at quantifying the aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking of candidates eyeing for Bachelors of Architecture. The B. Arch course is a full-time 5-year programme divided into 10 semesters. During each semester of the course, aspirants are obligated to undergo several theoretical and practical subjects that educate them with the knowledge and skills required for becoming a professional architect.
The prestigious B. Arch course requires candidates to have an excellent observation and calculation skills. Having good communication skills further helps the candidates. In addition, aspirants should have managerial skills and adept at making the best use of time and resources available.
Skills that are equally important as the dedication and passion required for B.Arch course are slated as follows:
· Accountability
· Creativity
· Effective Communication
· Enhanced Stamina
· Excellent Memory
· Group Management
· Irrational and Out-of-the-Box Thinking
· Observational Nature
· Patience
· Prompt Calculation Capability
· Sense of Responsibility
· Team Spirit
· Writing & Designing
Before candidates interested in B. Arch course make a move to apply at any of the various Indian institutions offering the professional undergraduate course in architecture, they need to understand and satisfy all the eligibility criteria. These prerequisites are there to make sure the candidates are ready to land their first step into the gratifying land of architecture.
Eligibility criteria for bagging an admission into the B. Arch course are summed up in the following list:
· Appearing and scoring at least 40% i.e. 80 marks out of the total 200 marks in the National Aptitude Test for Architecture a.k.a. NATA examination.
· Successfully completed higher secondary education or class 12th with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks with English and Mathematics as compulsory study subjects
OR
10+3 years diploma in any course from an institution recognised by the central or state government with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate
OR
Completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma, following 10 years of schooling, with not less than 50% marks and studied Mathematics as a compulsory examination subject during the diploma course
In addition to these criteria, some institutions providing B. Arch course might also impose age restrictions.
It is mandatory for students pursuing Bachelor in Architecture to appear as well as score passing marks in NATA. The national level entrance test has eligibility criteria of its own that candidates undertaking the test are necessitated to fulfil. The requirement criterion is slated as follows:
· Completed SSLC (class 10th) or equivalent examination or awaiting class 12th or equivalent examination result
· Completed 10+2 from a recognised state education board or an equivalent examination from a recognised institute with no less than 50% marks and Mathematics as a mandatory subject
· Completed a 10+3 years diploma course, in any stream, from a central or state government recognised institute with a minimum of 50% aggregate score
Bachelor of Architecture is one of the most lucrative undergraduate courses that prepare candidates to take up architecture as the metier. Architecture is a universal concept that applies to very diverse constructional plans, ranging from government-operated building projects to colony-building plans.
After successfully completing the 5-year Bachelor of Architecture programme, candidates have two alternatives to choose from. B. Arch candidates can decide to either put their skills to practical use or pursue a postgraduate degree in architecture in the form of Master of Architecture course. Both options provide candidates with many opportunities to append their architectural skills. Master of Architecture, unlike B. Arch course, provides candidates with the opportunity to study specialised forms of architecture.
A major part of the architectural jobs come in the government sector namely Archaeological Department, Ministry of Defence, National Building Organisation, Public Works Department, Town and Country Planning Organisation, Department of Railways, Public Sector Undertakings, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, and so on. In addition to these Local Bodies of construction works, Builder Firms, Architecture Firms, Housing Boards, State Departments, and Consultants might also require the services of an Architect.
Architects can also work with the construction firms that require them to design and implement architectural designs for the various projects. Architects are meant to clearly understand the client requirements and then devise an architecture plan that satiates both aesthetics and practicality of the project at hand.
Many architects might also decide to set up their own architectural firm or provide their services on an independent basis. These two options are also rewarding career choices, highly dependent on the skill set and repute of the architect deciding to do so. Candidates choosing to go for a particular architecture specialisation in Master of Architecture programme are further benefitted with opportune career choices. Several big construction and architectural firms seek architects with training in specialised forms of architecture.