Master of Landscape Architecture
M.L.A. PATH A CURRICULUM
The Path A program allows students with liberal arts degrees to obtain a first professional degree in landscape architecture. This requires three years plus a four–week introductory summer session. Each semester's work consists of a design studio with supporting history, theory, construction, and natural systems courses.
A total of eighteen elective credits are required. Six of those credits (two courses) must be taken in the Department of Landscape Architecture. The remaining credits may be taken in any department of the University. We recommend that the electives be used to develop an area of deeper expertise, such as in design theory, historic preservation, ecological design and planning, infrastructure design, or urbanism. Students may undertake an independent study with a faculty member as one of their electives, but those wishing to take more than one independent study must petition the faculty to do so.
In the final year, students may elect to undertake an independent studio. Students may also choose to undertake a two–semester design thesis project. In this case, L AR 821 (Research Methods) must be taken in the fall semester in order to develop a thesis, identify one or more faculty advisor(s), and prepare a theoretical basis for the spring term independent studio. We encourage these options as a step towards students’ developing their own design positions, and building a uniquely tailored point of departure for their professional careers.
PATH A COURSE REQUIREMENTS
FIRST YEAR
Summer Session
- ALAR 5010 Introduction to Design (1)
- ALAR 5020 Introduction to Design Graphics (1)
- ALAR 5030 Intro to Design Theory and Analysis (1)
- Total Credits: 3
Fall Semester
- LAR 5120 Advanced History of Landscape Design (3)
- LAR 5370 Natural Systems and Plant Ecology (4)
- LAR 6010 Foundation Studio I (6)
- LAR 6410 Representing Landscape (2)
- SARC 6000 The Common Course (1)
- Total Credits: 16
Spring Semester
- LAR 5140 Advanced Theories of Modern Landscape Architecture (3)
- LAR 5340 Earth Work (3)
- LAR 6020 Foundation Studio II (6)
- LAR 7340 Site Assembly (3)
- LAR 6420 representing Landscap II (1)
- Total Credits: 16
SECOND YEAR
Fall Semester
- LAR 6710 Studio Workshop (2)
- LAR 5460 Landscape Digital Media (2)
- LAR 7010 Foundation Studio III (6)
- LAR 7350 Water Works (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 16
Spring Semester
- ALAR 7020 Design Research Studio I (6)
- LAR 5380 Planted Form and Function (4)
- LAR 7320 Regenerative Technologies (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 16
THIRD YEAR
Fall Semester
- LAR 8100 Design Research Seminar or Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
- LAR 8010 Comprehensive Studio (6)
- LAR 8320 Professional Practice (3)
- Total Credits: 15
Spring Semester
- ALAR 8020 Design Research Studio II or ALAR 8995 Independent Studio (6)
- LAR 5330 Sites and Systems (3)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 15
Degree Total: 97
Notes:
1. ELECTIVES: Eighteen credits required of which six credits must be in LAR program.
2. All of our students have access to the ecotech curriculum as well, which we have developed to integrate contemporary ecological theory into our teaching of techniques and materials to advance design explorations.
3. Students may elect to undertake a thesis in their final year. If so, ALAR 8100 (Research) must be taken in the fall semester in order to develop a thesis, identify a faculty advisor(s), and prepare a theoretical basis for the spring term thesis. ALAR 8100 counts as one of the student’s elective courses.
M.L.A. PATH A ADVANCED STANDING CURRICULUM
Students with accredited baccalaureate or masters degrees in architecture are admitted with advanced standing and generally complete 63 hours of course work for the degree, depending upon the extent to which technical courses in landscape architecture were included in their architectural studies. The following program is representative, but may vary according to individual interest and prior work.
PATH A ADVANCED STANDING COURSE REQUIREMENTS
FIRST YEAR
Fall Semester
- LAR 5120 Advanced History of Landscape Design (3)
- LAR 5370 Natural Systems and Plant Ecology (4)
- LAR 7010 Foundation Studio III (6)
- SARC 6000 The Common Course (1)
- Landscape Representation Elective (2)
- Total Credits: 16
Spring Semester
- LAR 5140 Theories of Modern Landscape Architecture (3)
- LAR 5340 Earth Work (3)
- LAR 5380 Planted Form and Function (4)
- LAR 6020 Design Research Studio II (6)
- Total Credits: 16
SECOND YEAR
Fall Semester
- ALAR 8100 Design Research Seminar (IF PREPARING FOR THESIS) OR Elective (3)
- LAR 7350 Water Works (3)
- ALAR 8010 Comprehensive Studio (6)
- LAR 8320 Professional Practice (3)
- Total Credits: 15
Spring Semester
- ALAR 8020 Design Research Studio II or ALAR 8995 Independent Studio (6)
- LAR 5330 Sites and Systems (3)
- LAR Regenerative Technologies (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 15
Degree Total: 62
Notes:
Students may elect to undertake a thesis in their final year. If so, ALAR 8100 (Research) must be taken in the fall semester in order to develop a thesis, identify a faculty advisor(s), and prepare a theoretical basis for the spring term thesis. ALAR 8100 counts as one of the student’s elective courses
M.L.A. PATH B CURRICULUM
Students with accredited baccalaureate degrees in landscape architecture are admitted with advanced standing and normally complete the degree in four academic semesters. Their programs are tailored to their individual design and research interests. If an independent studio is pursued, it must be preceded by L AR 821 (Design Research Seminar). The following program is representative but may vary according to individual interest and prior course work. Students are encouraged to enroll in courses in all disciplines of the school and in related fields of study across the University.
PATH B COURSE REQUIREMENTS
FIRST YEAR
Fall Semester
- LAR 7010 Foundation Studio III (6)
- LAR Elective (3)
- LAR Elective (3)
- LAR Elective (3)
- SARC 6000 The Common Course (1)
- Total Credits: 16
Spring Semester
- ALAR 7020 Design Research Studio I (6)
- LAR 5140 Advanced Theories of Modern Landscape Architecture (3)
- LAR 7320 Regenerative Technologies (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 15
SECOND YEAR
Fall Semester
- ALAR 8100 Design Research Seminar (prerequisite for ALAR 8995) or Elective (3)
- ALAR 8100 Comprehensive Studio (6)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 15
Spring Semester
- ALAR 8020 Design Research Studio II or ALAR 8995 Independent Studio (6)
- LAR 5330 Site and Systems (3)
- LAR 8320 Professional Practice (3)
- Elective (3)
- Total Credits: 15
Degree Total: 61
Notes:
1. Two electives must be taken within the Department of Landscape Architecture and the remaining elective credits may be taken in any program of the University.
2. Students may elect to undertake a thesis in their final year. If so, ALAR 8100 (Research) must be taken in the fall semester in order to develop a thesis, identify a faculty advisor(s), and prepare a theoretical basis for the spring term thesis. ALAR 8100 counts as one of the student’s elective courses.
Ecotech Curriculum Description
The Landscape Architecture faculty revised our curriculum in technology to re–center it around contemporary ecological knowledge and cutting–edge techniques. We wanted to eliminate the conceptual boundaries that too often prevent students and practitioners from seeing the processes of ecological flow as dynamics that can be integrated with the processes of making and building. Now, we teach about relevant ecological processes at the same time as we help students gain skills in creating, detailing, and constructing landscapes. This seemed especially important given changing scientific conceptions of ecology–from theories of equilibrium and climax to an emphasis on dynamics and regime shifts — as well as emerging technologies related to climate change, stormwater management and brownfield remediation.
We begin this sequence with a course in plants that is ecosystem–centered and introduces landscape ecological concepts; earthwork (grading) that emphasizes soil conservation and an understanding of soil as a living medium that supports plant growth and rainwater infiltration; and site assembly (materials and construction techniques) that introduces water–related innovations in materials, as well as green roofs and green walls. In the second year, students take an urban hydrology course that focuses on the latest innovations in design (LAR 7350), as well as the performance and cost issues that drive strategic innovations. They also take a brownfield remediation and design course (LAR 7320), to prepare themselves for urban infill challenges as well as addressing coastal and rural sites that have a previous industrial use. Spring of second year includes a new blended course in which we teach planted form alongside urban ecology, to make sure our students learn to achieve both ecological and aesthetic performance goals at the same time. The third year offers students a course in professional practice that ties previous coursework together using the documents used to build landscapes, as well as an understanding of the strategic envelope created by municipal codes. The sequence ends with an advanced course on urban water and transportation infrastructure that introduces the language of asset management and public finance as well as an intensive focus on design innovations that support multi–functionality and quality of life (LAR 5330).
The ecotech courses are taught by our full–time faculty members as well as lecturers with special expertise.. In addition to lectures and field trips, these courses continue to include guest speakers who are experts in emerging sustainable and green technologies. The faculty encourages students to consider elective courses taught by faculty across the School of Architecture that build on this eco–tech foundation. We also direct students to courses in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Environmental Sciences to gain specialized skills in ecosystem, infrastructure, and hydrological analysis.
Ecology and Technology courses
- LAR 5330 Sites and Systems: Infrastructure
- LAR 5370 Natural Systems and Plant Ecology
- LAR 5380 Planted Form and Function
- LAR 5340 Earthwork
- LAR 7340 Site Assembly
- LAR 7350 Water Works
- LAR 7320 Regenerative Technologies
- LAR 8320 Professional Practice
INDEPENDENT STUDIO AND INTERDISCIPLINARY OPTIONS
The final semester of design course work provides the student with the opportunity to investigate an area of special interest through an independent studio, an interdisciplinary studio, or an advanced landscape architecture studio. If the student undertakes an independent studio in the spring term, it must be preceded by L AR 8210 (Design Research Seminar). Students work closely with a faculty advisor in the development of a thesis and the exploration of its design implications.
ACCREDITATION
The Graduate Program in Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.) is accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board.
ADMISSION
Students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, both with and without prior study in landscape architecture, are admitted to this graduate degree program.
Students without background study, who constitute the majority of the student body, follow the Path A curriculum. Normally, they complete the degree requirements in six semesters, plus a prerequisite summer session studio taken before the first fall semester. Prior to enrollment, students are encouraged to become familiar with the discipline through reading and/or coursework in the history of landscape architecture, drawing or ecology.
Students with degrees in architecture and landscape architecture can be granted advanced standing and may complete the degree requirements in four semesters. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in architecture undertake the Path A advanced standing program. Applicants with professional undergraduate degrees in landscape architecture (B.L.A. or B.S.L.A.) follow the Path B program.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS
The Certificate Program in Historic Preservation are open to all graduate students.. Admission is subject to the approval of the Chair of the Department of Architecture and the Program Director. Students must also meet all requirements for admission to, and completion of, the Master of Landscape Architecture Program. Students are expected to meet the program requirements within the normal curricula of each path.. Please see Historic Preservation for more information.