Program Overview

Introduction to the Landscape Architecture Program

The profession of landscape architecture is primarily involved with the design, planning, and protection of the natural and developed environments. The five-year program in landscape architecture is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board and recognized by the Landscape Architects Technical Committee of the California Board of Architectural Examiners.

Academic Program

The program offers a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, with an emphasis on a process-oriented approach to design and planning while developing an awareness and sensitivity to community and human values as they relate to environmental conditions. Students majoring in landscape architecture acquire technical competencies and creative design skills through a range of projects which represent the breadth of the profession.

Program Names

• Landscape Architecture: BLA, Minor

Undergraduate Program

The five-year program in landscape architecture is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board and recognized by the Landscape Architects Technical Committee of the California Board of Architectural Examiners. The program offers transfer students an accelerated curriculum to speed their time to graduation while fulfilling degree requirements.

Degree Requirements and Curriculum

The program requires the completion of a series of courses, including design fundamentals, landscape ecology, and site engineering techniques. Students must also complete a senior design project that demonstrates their ability to integrate design theory, landscape architectural principles, and project resolution.

Courses

The program offers a wide range of courses, including:

• LA 101: Introduction to Landscape Architecture: Introduction to the profession of landscape architecture and orientation to the department curriculum and learning processes.
• LA 170: Principles of Design Communication: Overview of design communications for landscape architects incorporating the principles, techniques, skills, and tools used in design generation, exploration, review, and implementation.
• LA 202: Design Fundamentals I: Introduction to the principles, methods, and elements of two- and three-dimensional design in order to communicate intended concepts and meanings.
• LA 203: Design Fundamentals II: Continuation of ideas introduced in LA 202 with the introduction of environmental and visual perception, including three-dimensional site design and landscape architectural design principles.
• LA 204: Design Fundamentals III: Continuation of ideas introduced in LA 202 and LA 203 with the introduction of the principles of design theory, landscape ecology, and technical applications.
• LA 211: History of Landscape Architecture: Ancient Civilizations through Colonial America: Philosophies and ethics of important personalities and events of landscape architecture explored from recorded time through colonial America.
• LA 212: History of Modern and Contemporary Landscape Architecture: Philosophies and ethics of important personalities explored through the twentieth and twenty-first centuries of landscape architecture.
• LA 218: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Learn the fundamental concepts and functions of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using the ArcGIS platform.
• LA 220: Landscape Ecology: Concepts, Issues, and Interrelationships: Concepts, theories, and techniques related to landscape analysis, ecology, planning, and design with an emphasis on landscape assessment, sustainability, land health, environmental protection, and restoration, and natural resource management.
• LA 221: California Plants and Plant Communities: Introduction to the horticultural characteristics and landscape design potential of California native plants, California plant communities, and associated vernacular plants.
• LA 241: Site Engineering Techniques and Applications: Introduction and application of the techniques, methods, principles, and criteria for site engineering and landform design.
• LA 242: Implementation Strategies: Introduction and application of the methods, principles, and criteria for landscape implementation.
• LA 243: Materials and Techniques of Landscape Construction: Introduction to the properties, uses, and inherent qualities of the fundamental materials of landscape architectural concerns and associated construction techniques and processes.
• LA 270: Selected Topics: Directed group study of selected topics.
• LA 317: The World of Spatial Data and Geographic Information Technology: Foundation for understanding the world through geographic information as well as the tools available to utilize spatial data.
• LA 320: Design Theory for Landscape Architects: Complements the material and knowledge presented in the history of landscape architecture, architecture, and art courses.
• LA 330: Cultural Landscapes: People, Places, and Ethical Decisions: Investigation of the complexities and interrelatedness of culture, environment, and ethical decisions.
• LA 349: Advanced Planting Design: Advanced examination of the theories and applied principles of planting design.
• LA 350: Advanced Landscape Construction: Examination and application of advanced landscape construction techniques.
• LA 370: Professional Practice: Issues related to the practice of landscape architecture incorporating processes, procedures, and outcomes of professional practice.
• LA 371: Internship: Involvement in a work setting related to landscape architecture.
• LA 400: Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates: Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems.
• LA 401: Research Project: Research methods in landscape architecture and proposal writing techniques.
• LA 402: Design Theory and Exploration Focus Studio: Exploration and application of design theory, exploratory design process, and form exploration to design and planning projects.
• LA 403: Natural Environments Design Focus Studio: Assessment, exploration, and integration of landscape ecology, sustainability, and environmental planning to design and planning projects.
• LA 404: Cultural Environments Design Focus Studio: Assessment, exploration, and interpretation of cultural values, issues, and landscapes to design and planning projects.
• LA 405: Project Design and Implementation Focus Studio: Development, exploration, and integration of project design and implementation strategies to design and planning projects.
• LA 406: Interdisciplinary Design Studio: Design studio with a focus on interdisciplinary modes of practice and collaborative approaches to design.
• LA 431: CAD and Digital Media Communications (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of computer-aided drafting (CAD) skills in coursework, project planning, and design studio courses.
• LA 432: Landscape Ecology Applications (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of landscape ecology principles in project planning and design studio courses.
• LA 433: Cultural Environments (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of culture, environment, and personal ethics in coursework, project planning, and design studio courses.
• LA 434: Project Design and Implementation (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of project design principles and implementation strategies in project planning and design studio courses.
• LA 435: Professional Practice (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of professional practice principles and techniques in planning and design studio and internship courses.
• LA 436: Traditional and Digital Media Communications (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of graphic communication and presentation skills in coursework, project planning, and design studio courses.
• LA 437: 3D Digital Design Communications (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of 3D digital graphic communication and presentation skills in coursework, project planning, and design studio courses.
• LA 438: GIS Application to Design Projects (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist integration and application of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial information into focus design studio courses.
• LA 439: Planting Design (ILC): Integrated Learning Course (ILC) to assist the integration and application of plant selection, use, and appropriateness in planning and design studio courses.
• LA 461: Senior Design Project Focus Studio: Comprehensive landscape architectural design and research project showing professional level competency in the integration of design theory, landscape architectural principles, and project resolution.
• LA 470: Selected Advanced Topics: Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students.
• LA 471: Selected Advanced Laboratory: Directed group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students.
• LA 482: Evaluating Social and Behavioral Factors for Open Space Design: User-oriented approach to open space design.
• LA 483: Special Studies in Landscape Architecture: Special issues and problems through research, field trips, seminars, and other forms of investigation and involvement.
• LA 485: Cooperative Education Experience: Part-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest.
• LA 495: Cooperative Education Experience: Full-time work experience in business, industry, government, and other areas of student career interest.
• LA 520: Design with Cultural Landscapes: Examination of the designed landscape as a representation of culture.
• LA 521: Ecological Urban Design: Examination of cities as ecosystems, urban ecology theories, concepts, and techniques at the site scale.
• LA 531: Information Graphics for Landscape and Urban Studies: Conversion of raw sets of data into compelling narrative presentations that are communicated visually and effectively to specific design and planning audiences.
• LA 538: Advanced GIS Application to Projects: Integration and application of GIS skills to planning and design projects.
• LA 585: Cooperative Education Experience: Advanced study analysis and part-time work experience in student's career field.
• LA 595: Cooperative Education Experience: Advanced study analysis and full-time work experience in student's career field.

Faculty

The faculty members of the Landscape Architecture program are:

• Beverly J. Bass: B.F.A., East Carolina University, 1982; M.L.A., University of Arizona, 2003. LEED Accredited Professional. Certified Arborist, Registered Landscape Architect, California.
• Ellen Burke: B.A., Vassar College, 1997; M.L.A., Harvard University Graduate School of Design, 2005.
• Miran Day: B.S.L.A., Chonnam National University, South Korea, 1994; M.L.A., University of Illinois, 2011. Registered Landscape Architect, Florida and South Korea.
• Omar Faruque: B.S.L.A., Texas A & M University, 1971; M. Arch., 1972. Registered Architect, Texas, and Landscape Architect, Texas and Indiana.
• Aaron C. Liggett: B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara, 2006. M.L.A., University of Arizona, 2013. Registered Landscape Architect, California.
• Christine E. O'Hara: B.A., Stanford University, 1987; M.L.A. University of Washington, 2002. Certificate in Preservation Planning.
• Joseph J. Ragsdale: B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1991; M.L.A., University of Virginia, 2000. Registered Landscape Architect, California.
• Ryan M. Sandwick: B.S.L.A., University of California, Davis, 2011; M.Sc., University of Glasgow, 2013.
• Cesar Torres-Bustamente: B.Arch., Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, 2000; M.L.A., RMIT University, 2005; Ph.D., 2009.
• David J. Watts: B.S.L.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1980; M.S.L.A., 2006. Registered Landscape Architect, Wisconsin.