Students can read about new careers each month in the section below, or they can use the links at the top to play the DRAG AND DROP game, play the CAREER MISMATCH game or complete the CAREER INTEREST SURVEY. Elementary school is too early to decide on your future career, but it is not too soon to learn about the different kinds of work that people do. Your talents, interests, and hobbies can help you discover what careers may be the most rewarding for you in the future. To find information about the elementary grades at Utica Community Schools, click on the Parents link above. Career of the Month Architect We all need buildings to live and work. They protect us from the environment while giving us places to do the things. The people who design the buildings are called architects. Their designs need to be safe, affordable, and meet the needs of the people who will use the building or structure. Architects generally work in an office, but they do spend time at building sites to see how projects are progressing and to assist the builders with any questions or concerns they may have. If you are interested in becoming an architect, you’ll want to know that they generally work a lot of hours, usually more than 40 hours a week. You will also need to invest a lot of time and effort in your education. A career in architecture requires you to earn one or more college degrees. Generally, a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and a Master’s Degree in Architecture. You will also need to apply for an architecture license in the state where you will work. To receive your license, you will be required to pass an examination called the architect registration examination (ARE). It’s never too early to begin preparing for this career. If you are interested in becoming an architect, you should consider studying the following subjects during your pre-college school years: art, biology, drafting, ecology, English, mathematics, and social studies. Drafting courses are offered in high school and provide an opportunity to learn some of the skills to create buildings. Overall, architecture is a great career for those of you who enjoy drawing and sketching, designing, problem-solving, and working with others. This career resides under the career pathway of Engineering/Manufacturing & Industrial Technology. Check out these websites to find out more about architects: http://www.archkidecture.org/ http://hudson.acad.umn.edu/surprises/index.html http://www.ebuildingconnections.com/