Differences Between Civil Engineering And Architecture

Civil Engineering and Architecture: Similarities and Differences It is sometimes easy to confuse the two fields of civil engineering and architecture. Civil engineering and architecture have a lot of similarities and differences. There are overlapping parts to both fields. One of the fundamental differences between civil engineering and architecture is that civil engineers have a much broader application in the work field. Civil engineers can design a house, but an architect cannot design the infrastructure of a freeway system. The fundamental differences that architecture features are that an architect’s education is based on art more than science, whereas a civil engineer’s education, focuses on science more than art. This essay …show more content…
This is because one has to take advanced physics and many science classes in order to become a civil engineer. These classes are lengthy, costly and expensive. If one does not wish to design anything other than private structures, it does not make sense to pursue civil engineering because one would be in school longer than if one went into architecture as a major. The other fundamental difference is that civil engineers build large public infrastructures that are based on the necessity of safety, and not based on aesthetics. An architect’s main goal is to blend functionality with aesthetics. The main similarity between the two is that both require extensive mathematical knowledge in order to design. Geometrical principles apply to both equally. Therefore, in order to decide which path to pursue, one should consider whether aesthetics or function is one’s priority. If aesthetics is the choice, then one should not pursue civil engineering in college, but should study architecture. However, if the function is one’s priority, then civil engineering should be the major in college for such a person who desires to assist public