College of Architecture

Curriculum in Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture is a profession providing land planning, design and management services. The profession is guided by a special concern for creating, through design, environments that are both supportive of human use and well being, as well as protective of the physical and ecological resources of the landscape. The ethic of the profession is based upon a comprehensive approach to design that balances concerns for sustainability of the environment with those of enhancing human experience and quality of life. Sustainability addresses the complex impacts of social, technological, and economic forces on the environment. Human experience is enhanced by integrating concerns for harmonious social interaction and the richness of the natural landscape into the development of our cities, towns and rural areas.

Land design considerations are directed toward the arrangement of human use areas and activities to provide the most advantageous relationships of function and safety, while retaining appropriate features of the environment as integral elements of the developed landscape. Practitioners of the profession provide services at a wide variety of scales which include the design of small urban parks and plazas, the planning and design of university and office park campuses, and the preparation of development guideplans to direct the growth and management of natural areas and resources.

The program is nationally accredited and offers a professional degree--the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.). The curriculum stresses problem-solving process, design and communication, construction technology, resource management, and business and professional skill development. Students are exposed to both hypothetical and realistic studio design projects providing a sound theoretical and practical background for entering the profession. The department strives to provide studio projects that are executed in collaboration with students in related design professions and to create opportunities to explore practice issues with visiting professionals. Students have an opportunity to apply and develop their skills in preparation for post-graduation employment through a summer internship program. Graduates are qualified to begin practice as entry-level professionals in private practice or with government agencies, or to pursue advanced studies in landscape architecture, urban and regional planning or other related fields.

Because of the important role of computing in the disciplines housed within the College of Architecture, all entering students are required to possess a portable, network-ready personal computer capable of running software appropriate to their academic program. Financial aid is available to assist students in their computer purchases. No student will be denied admission to Texas A&M University based on an inability to purchase a computer. Additional information is available on the college website at archone.tamu.edu.

FRESHMAN YEAR
First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
ENDS 101 Design Process (3-0) 3   ENDS 150 Survey of Arch. History II (3-0) 3
ENDS 105 Design Foundations (1-4) 3   ENGL 104 Comp. and Rhetoric (3-0) 3
LAND 200 Intro. to Land. Arch. (1-0) 1   MATH 142 Business Math. II (3-0) 3
MATH 141 Business Math. I (3-0) 3   Natural sciences elective2   4
U.S. history elective1   3   *KINE 199 Required Physical Activity (0-2) 1
*KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity (0-2) 1       14
    14        
SOPHOMORE YEAR
First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
COSC 253 Const. Materials and Methods I (3-0) 3   COMM 203 Public Speaking (3-0) 3
LAND 240 History of Land. Arch. (3-0) 3   LAND 255 Land. Arch. Communication II (2-4) 3
LAND 254 Land. Arch. Communication I (2-4) 3   POLS 207 State and Local Government (3-0) 3
POLS 206 American National Government (3-0) 3   RENR 205 Fund. of Ecology (3-0) 3
U.S. history elective1   3   RENR 215 Fund. of Ecology Lab (0-3) 1
    15   Computer elective   3
            16
JUNIOR YEAR
First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
ENGL 210 Technical Writing (3-0) 3   GEOL 320 Engineering Geology (3-0) 3
HORT 206 Woody Ornamental Plants (2-2) 3   HORT 308 Landscape Plant Material (2-2) 3
LAND 318 Landscape Design I (2-7) 4   LAND 319 Landscape Design II (2-7) 4
LAND 329 Landscape Const. I (2-4) 3   LAND 330 Landscape Const. II (2-4) 3
Elective 3   3   LAND 340 Land. Arch in America (3-0) 3
    16       16
SENIOR YEAR
First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
GEOG 311 Cultural Geography (3-0) 3   LAND 321 Landscape Design IV (2-9) 5
LAND 310 Landscape Theory (3-0) 3   LAND 331 Landscape Const. III (2-4) 3
LAND 320 Landscape Design III (2-9) 5   PHIL Environmental Ethics (3-0) 3
PLAN 414 Sustainable Communities (3-0) 3   PLAN 415 Urban Issues (3-0) 3
Elective 4   3   Elective 3   3
    17       17
SUMMER WORK
LAND 300 Summer Practice 5
FIFTH YEAR
Semester Away (Th-Pr) Cr     (Th-Pr) Cr
LAND 420 Landscape Design V (3-9) 6   LAND 421 Landscape Design VI (2-9) 5
Electives 3   6   LAND 442 Professional Practice (3-0) 3
    12   LDEV 467 Land Development (3-0) 3
        Elective 3   3
            14
NOTES:
  1. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum.
  2. CHEM 101, GEOL 101, GEOG 203/213 or PHYS 201 or BOTN 101.
  3. Electives must be selected in consultation with the student's departmental advisor.
  4. The environmental elective is to be selected from the following list: AGRO 301, 302; COSC 320; HORT 335, 425, 435; LAND 461; FRSC 302; RENR 375, 410, 470; RLEM 320, 316.
  5. Successful completion of LAND 300 required in addition to above curriculum. This course will be scheduled in consultation with the student's advisor.

A grade of C or better is required in all College of Architecture courses (ARCH, ARTS, CARC, COSC, ENDS, LAND, LDEV, PLAN and VIST) to satisfy Landscape Architecture degree requirements.

* See University Core Curriculum, item 7.