How do I prepare for landscape architecture?

09 Apr.,2024

 

High School

To prepare for a college program in landscape architecture, you should take courses in English composition and literature; social sciences, including history, government, and sociology; natural sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics; art; computer-aided design; and mathematics. If available, take drafting and mechanical drawing courses to begin building the technical skills needed for the career.

Postsecondary Training

A bachelor's or master's degree in landscape architecture is usually the minimum requirement for entry into this field. Undergraduate and graduate programs in landscape architecture are offered in various colleges and universities. For a list of programs that are accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), visit https://www.asla.org/schools.aspx. According to Design Intelligence, the following schools were ranked as having the best bachelor of landscape architecture degree programs in 2019–20:

  1. Pennsylvania State University
  2. Louisiana State University
  3. Cornell University
  4. University of Georgia
  5. Ohio State University

Courses of study usually focus on six basic areas of the profession: landscape design, landscape construction, plants, architecture, graphic expression (mechanical, freehand, and computer-based drawings), and verbal expression.

Hands-on work is a crucial element to the curriculum. Whenever possible, students work on real projects to gain experience with computer-aided design programs and multimedia simulation.

Other Education or Training

The American Society of Landscape Architects offers a variety of continuing education classes that cover topics such as green roofs, site planning, security design, and historic preservation. Contact the society for more information.

Sketch by Laurie Olin, FASLA for a New Columbus Circle in New York City / © OLIN

What Do Landscape Architects Do?

Landscape architecture combines art and science. It is the profession that designs, plans and manages our land. Landscape architecture has strong roots in the U.S.

The actual term landscape architecture became common after 1863 when Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed New York's Central Park. Today, landscape architects deal with the increasingly complex relationships between the built and natural environments.

Landscape architects plan and design traditional places such as parks, residential developments, campuses, gardens, cemeteries, commercial centers, resorts, transportation facilities, corporate and institutional centers and waterfront developments.

They also design and plan the restoration of natural places disturbed by humans such as wetlands, stream corridors, mined areas and forested land.

Their appreciation for historic landscapes and cultural resources enables landscape architects to undertake preservation planning projects for national, regional and local historic sites and areas.

Working with architects, city planners, civil engineers and other professionals, landscape architects play an important role in environmental protection by designing and implementing projects that respect both the needs of people and of our environment.

Meeting human needs by making wise use of our environmental resources is work that is in demand today and will continue to be needed in the future.

How do I prepare for landscape architecture?

ASLA Your Path to Landscape Architecture

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