Coursework covers everything from the technical side of architecture, structures and materials, to the more conceptual side, design methods and aesthetics, and professors build their own syllabi and assignments to cover it. A significant part of the job is evaluating studio work, which tends to be more hands-on and subjective to grade than a typical exam. Some roles are purely teaching-focused, while others combine classroom instruction with original research and publication. A Master of Architecture or a PhD in a related field is the typical path in, and the work involves close, regular contact with students both in lectures and design studios.
Pros
High upside earning potential, up to $159k
Substantial independent judgment over course and studio direction
Solid floor pay of $58k even at entry
Cons
Only about 900 positions nationwide, with slower than average growth (2%)
Requires a Master of Architecture or PhD, a long graduate-education path
Above-average hours, often exceeding a standard 40-hour work week
A typical day
Studio afternoons are the heart of the week: four hours moving desk to desk through twenty students' half-built models and pinned-up drawings, asking the question each project needs rather than giving the answer — the pedagogy of architecture is critique. The morning before held a lecture on structural systems and a stack of thesis proposals to read. Reviews near semester's end mean full days of juried pin-ups where students defend work to visiting critics the professor recruited. Around teaching: their own scholarship or practice — a journal article on housing typologies, or a small built project that keeps the teaching honest — plus committee work and accreditation documentation.
Tasks at the job
Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as architectural design methods, aesthetics and design, and structures and materials.
Evaluate and grade students' work, including work performed in design studios.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and you work in close physical proximity to coworkers or the public for much of the shift.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure, and you're expected to exercise significant independent judgment day to day. The work is highly structured, following set procedures.
Education necessary or common
Master of Architecture or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in a related field
Common college majors
Architecture (B.Arch/M.Arch, then often a post-professional degree or PhD)
Licenses & certifications
Architect license (common and credibility-building, not universal)