Program Overview

Landscape Architecture Program

The Landscape Architecture program is a multidisciplinary field that weaves together design, environmental systems, sustainability, construction knowledge, land and water conservation, and place making to create designed outdoor living spaces.

Program Overview

This program is perfect for individuals who are passionate about design, plants, and the natural environment, and who dream of creating parks, trails, theme parks, and urban landscapes. It is also suitable for working professionals in the state of California who would like to become landscape architects but are not able to attend a full-time graduate program.

What You Can Learn

In this program, you can learn to:

• Master the fundamentals and principles of design through modeling and drawing
• Understand the design processes and drawing techniques to create landscapes
• Artfully combine science and natural processes into beautiful and functional landscape designs
• Analyze problems in terms of design and physical form
• Become aware of the various dimensions of professional practice, including management and professional ethics
• Learn the history and practice of garden and landscape design

Program Structure

The program is a 3-year, low-residency, hybrid/in-person program, with no option for an accelerated track. Students are required to attend in-person class meetings, and the number and duration of these meetings will vary depending on the course syllabus, format, instructor, and learning objectives.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of 111 total quarter units, including 105 units of required core courses and a minimum of 6 units of elective coursework. The curriculum is structured as a series of design, technical, and theoretical courses, beginning in the Summer and Fall quarters and taking three years to complete.

Required Courses

The required courses include:

• Introduction to the Landscape Design Professions
• Design Graphics 1: Drafting and Drawing of the Built Environment
• Design Graphics 2: Communication for Site Analysis, Conceptual and Site Design
• Design Graphics 3: Digital Rendering and Presentation Drawings
• Landscape Design 1: Site Design Basics
• Landscape Design 2: Site Design
• Landscape Design 3: Advanced Site Design
• History of the Designed Landscape
• Landscape Design 4: Environmental Analysis and Planning
• Landscape Design 5: Planting Design
• Landscape Design 6: Concept Development
• Grading and Drainage
• Plant Studies I: Trees
• Plant Studies II: Shrubs
• AutoCAD 1
• AutoCAD 2
• Irrigation/Water Conservation
• Landscape Construction Methods and Materials
• Landscape Construction Drawing I
• Landscape Construction Drawing 2
• Human Factors in Landscape Architecture
• Professional Practices in Landscape Architecture
• Landscape Design 7: Advanced Design Studio
• Capstone Project Seminar
• Capstone Project Studio

Elective Courses

Students must complete 6 units of elective coursework, with options including:

• Introduction to SketchUp for Landscape Architects
• An Introduction to Digital Workflow for Designers
• Rhinoceros
• Sketching and Plant Identification
• Sponge Cities: How Green Infrastructure Can Save Urbanization
• Beginning Stormwater Management
• Regenerating Essential Goods and Services in America's Urban Landscapes
• Firescaping: Protecting Communities With Fire-Resistant Landscapes
• The Study of Trees
• Management of Urban Trees
• Introduction to Horticulture
• General Botany for Gardeners
• Soil and Plant Nutrition
• California Natives

Related Programs

Related programs include:

• Arboriculture specialization
• Gardening specialization
• Horticulture certificate
• Plants for the Landscape specialization

Cost and Fees

The estimated program tuition is $29,660, with an application and candidacy fee of $200 and estimated textbooks and materials costing $5,500.

Admission Criteria

Students must have at least a bachelor's degree to be eligible for the program. Those without a bachelor's degree can apply for conditional certificate application requirements.

Benefits

Certificate candidates enjoy benefits including priority on landscape architecture program course waitlists, access to quarterly program newsletters, advising appointments with the program manager, and access to Handshake, UCLA Career Center's online job board.