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.