What are the differences between civil engineering and architecture? Understand here!

The process of choosing a career must be done very carefully. After all, he has a great influence on the professional future. In addition, there are professions, such as civil engineering and architecture, with similarities and differences that must be carefully analyzed.
The more a student is well informed about the assignments of the careers with which he has more affinity, the greater the chances of making the right choice. Therefore, it is very important to know the market of the profession in which you intend to work in the future.
In this post, we are going to highlight the functions performed by civil engineers and architects, their graduation trajectory, the striking differences between the two areas and aspects to be observed when choosing a profession. The goal is to help you clear up all your doubts about both careers. Check out!
Know the actions of the civil engineer
The civil engineer is responsible for designing, managing and executing works. It can also act in the construction of houses, apartments, dams, streets, roads and viaducts, for example.
This professional can do home and building renovations. And it must accompany all phases of the work, such as soil analysis and the choice of foundation types. In addition, he has the task of checking the installation of the electrical and hydraulic networks of a house.
Another attribution is to verify important items for carrying out a work, such as costs, deadlines and quality. The engineer must prioritize the safety of a construction or renovation, analyzing aspects such as temperature, wind and the resistance of the materials used.
See the trajectory of the civil engineer in college
To become a civil engineer, it is necessary to take a higher education course lasting 5 years. The curriculum is more focused on Exact Science subjects, such as calculus, technical drawing, applied physics and mathematics.
Disciplines related to the areas of geotechnics (study of soils, rocks and foundations), sanitation and transport are also offered. With the intention of training more complete professionals for the job market, the course offers classes in social sciences, administration and economics.
Students can also study drawing and architectural projects to complement their training. To finish graduation, you need to do an internship and deliver the course completion work.
It is certainly essential to have an affinity with physics and mathematics in order to assimilate the knowledge offered during graduation, which is essential to obtain a prominent position in your career.
Stay informed about what the architect does
Organizing and designing spaces to make a home more comfortable and beautiful are some of the architect’s tasks. This professional is responsible for coordinating the construction or renovation of buildings and houses, preparing the plan and establishing the materials to be used during the work.
The way residents can use the property and how the furniture will be spread around the residence are aspects that must be worked on by the architect. Taking care of the quality of acoustics, lighting and ventilation is yet another attribution of this professional, who needs to analyze the environmental impacts to be caused by a work.
Undeniably, it is a career that requires quick thinking, a lot of creativity and good communication. One of the reasons is that the client must be convinced that the activities to be carried out during the work are the best to achieve the expected results.
Find out about graduation in the area
The diversity of subjects is one of the hallmarks of the architecture course, as students have disciplines from the Exact and Human Sciences. The first semester is characterized by a more theoretical content. In it, classes are offered in anthropology, aesthetic fundamentals, history of architecture and mathematics.
In the second, the priority is the practical classes that cover several segments, such as:
- architectural design;
- construction of buildings;
- environmental comfort;
- cost projects;
- structural systems.
Students also receive guidance on how to use software that shows how environments and buildings will look after construction or renovation. On average, graduation is completed in 5 years. Only those who complete an internship and hand in their final course work receive a diploma .
Understand the differences between civil engineering and architecture
Although they may carry out activities in common, such as the execution of projects for construction and small renovations, architects and engineers have marked differences in professional attributions.
Restoration works related to historical heritage can only be carried out by trained architects. They may also work with interior design and landscaping.
In the case of graduates in civil engineering, they are exclusively responsible for building roads, bridges and viaducts. In addition, they have a wide variety of options to enter the job market, being able to work in the sanitation and transport sectors.
Based on assignments related to both careers, it’s easy to see that architects need to have a greater focus on creativity in order to gain the trust of clients.
Regarding engineers, it is necessary to have a lot of organization and affinity with mathematical calculations. This is because they must be very precise when defining the amount of materials and the time that will be spent for the execution of a work.
Think about the characteristics of each profession before making the choice
It is not easy for a student, in some cases, to define the career he will pursue in the future. It is quite common for a young person to have doubts about choosing civil engineering or architecture. One of the reasons is that the two professions have similarities in some actions.
To make the ideal choice, it is essential to analyze the differences between the two areas. Thus, it will be easier to check which career you have more affinity. Those who are very familiar with the Exact Sciences tend to opt for one of the various branches of engineering.
In the case of those who like Exact Sciences and Humanities, the tendency is to choose the profession of architect. If you have a great capacity for improvisation and good taste to make a house more beautiful and well organized, architecture can be a very interesting alternative.
Those who are able to easily manage material and human resources and manage budgets easily are advised to choose engineering to achieve professional success.