Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Program Overview

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at Newcastle University is a two-year full-time postgraduate conversion course that equips students with the skills and knowledge to design and manage landscapes. The program emphasizes ethical and sustainable approaches, preparing graduates for careers as landscape architects, urban designers, and other landscape-related professionals. The MLA is candidate accredited by the Landscape Institute and provides students with a high-quality learning experience through a combination of design studios, lectures, and workshops.

Program Outline

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Degree Overview:

• The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) at Newcastle University is a full-time postgraduate conversion course focusing on the theories, methods, and practice of landscape architecture.
• The program equips students for professional practice in a landscape-related discipline.
• It is designed for graduates in other disciplines who wish to qualify and work as professional landscape architects, as well as those with international landscape qualifications seeking professional studies in the UK.
• The MLA provides students with the necessary skills to design and manage the landscapes people live and work in, ranging from private gardens to urban squares and city regions.
• The course is intellectually stimulating and looks at history and design theory, alongside pressing contemporary issues such as the climate crisis, social justice, and rapid urbanization.
• Successful graduates will be able to:
• Demonstrate advanced understanding and critical thinking about landscape architecture.
• Integrate knowledge and skills from different areas of the curriculum.
• Gain advanced knowledge of historical and theoretical perspectives on landscape.
• Develop insight into philosophies and ideologies underpinning different approaches to landscape.
• The program has candidate accreditation from the Landscape Institute (LI) and is applying for full LI accreditation status upon graduation of the first cohort.

Outline:

• The MLA is a two-year full-time program.
• It is organized around a core of design studios, where students acquire specialist knowledge in areas like site planning, land modeling, landscape construction, planting design, and visualization.
• The course also covers intellectual and practical skills, including presentation techniques and design thinking.
• Students will engage with contemporary issues and learn to apply their skills to real-world projects.
• The program culminates in a Design Thesis project, allowing students to showcase their acquired knowledge and skills.
• The course is structured as follows:
• Year 1:
• Conceptualising Landscape (10 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 1: Strategies, Forms and Narratives for Contemporary Landscapes.
(30 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 2: City as Landscape (30 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 3: Materiality of Landscape (30 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 4: Design with Plants and Ecological Greenspace Management.
(30 credits)
• Climate Literacy: Tools for Action (20 credits)
• Academic Portfolio (20 credits)
• Architecture and Landscape Studies Critical and Comparative (20 credits)
• Year 2:
• Landscape Histories (10 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 2: City as Landscape (20 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 3: Materiality of Landscape (20 credits)
• Landscape Architecture Studio 4: Design with Plants and Ecological Greenspace Management (20 credits)
• Green Infrastructure, Landscape Planning & Nature Based Solutions (10 credits)
• Green Infrastructure, Landscape Planning and Nature Based Solutions (Project) (10 credits)
• Landscape Professional Practice, Planning and Law (20 credits)
• Design Thesis MLA (60 credits)

Assessment:

• The MLA program uses various assessment methods to gauge student learning and understanding.
These include:
• Design or creative projects
• Essays
• Practical lab reports
• Portfolios
• Reports
• Reflective logs
• Research proposals
• Written examinations
• Written exercises

Teaching:

• The MLA program utilizes a variety of teaching methods to engage students and facilitate learning.
These include:
• Online and in-person lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• The program is delivered by a team of experienced and qualified academics and professionals in the field of landscape architecture.
• Students are assigned a personal tutor to provide support and guidance throughout their studies.
• The program prioritizes a lively design studio culture, creating a thriving and creative environment for students.
• Students have access to modern facilities and resources, including well-equipped workshops, digital fabrication technology, and a molecular biology lab.

Careers:

• Graduates from the MLA program are well-equipped for careers in various landscape-related fields.
These include:
• Landscape architect
• Urban designer
• Environmental consultant
• Park and recreation planner
• Landscape project manager
• Landscape researcher
• The program also prepares graduates for further postgraduate study and research opportunities in landscape architecture.

Other:

• The MLA program is designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled landscape professionals.
• The program emphasizes ethical and sustainable approaches to landscape design and management.
• The program is committed to providing students with a high-quality learning experience and preparing them for successful careers in landscape architecture.