Architecture vs Urban Planning

[maymummy22]

DD has applied to study architecture at uni and has had a couple of offers but one uni has instead offered her urban planning. Urban planning isn’t a degree she’d looked at but she is most interested in sustainable design and how spaces - internal and external - are used by people and how buildings enhance the environment and community. It seems that a 1st degree in either architecture or urban planning can lead to an MA in either so neither route shuts off later opportunities but is it easier to go from one to the other? And given her interests is there a compelling reason to do one or the other? TIA

I know a few architects and they don't enjoy the job. 2 have left. Urban pla ring is far more useful for jobs around the country and world IMO - more transferable and woth changes to Public Health hopefully incoming could be linked up.

I know loads of architects who love their work and are successful. Depends who you know and what work they get. The biggest issue is the ups and downs of the economy.

@maymummy22 DH is FIStructE and FICE. No one could ever do that now. Also some other Fellow too! We just have ended up with compartmentalized employees and no one seeing the whole picture or having the skills to resolve problems. Or sometimes even see them!

I am a qualified town planner and my husband is a qualified architect. Happy to answer any questions?
Our jobs are quite different and although we didn't know each other at uni, from discussions our courses sound very different too.
From her interests I would suggest the architecture course (or maybe even an urban design course). Planning (the type I do anyway) is not particularly design focused. I might be discussing other people's designs but I don't do any myself (which suits me). My husband would not find my job creatively fulfilling though.

This is a major problem absolutely everywhere. Subject specialisms often exist for historical reasons eg there is compelling evidence that dentistry (oral health) is absolutely key to general health yet it is separated from paediatrics and general practice. Depending on which country you study in, the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, geology...) have different frontiers and contours.

Architecture has been ravaged as a profession by the construction sector which is driven by profit-maximisation.

@Ceramiq Evert business sector exists to make a profit. Architects exist to make a profit. Of course it’s possible to do this but not all businesses are successful, but some are.

@jeanne16 I know loads of people who are paid very well by housebuilders and construction companies. Some of their grad schemes pay very well too. Some will have in house architects and others don’t. Construction is a range of talents but the professionals tend to be paid pretty well. The issue has always been job security. DH’s company used to get loads of work from the director merry go round.