Program Overview

Master of Landscape Architecture Program

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in landscape architecture, emphasizing design justice, environmental equity, and community collaboration. The program aims to empower candidates with the knowledge, skills, and ethical values necessary for exceptional and equitable landscape design and practice.

Program Overview

The MLA program at IIT is centered on Design Justice, recognizing the importance of environmental and social justice in landscape architecture. The program is distinctive, being the sole accredited Landscape Architecture Program in the vibrant city of Chicago, the third largest city in the United States. The curriculum is uniquely shaped by the urban context, offering courses that delve into the complex landscape challenges of the twenty-first century.

Mission

The mission of the MLA program is to advance environmental and social justice through innovative design and deep global engagement. The program believes in landscape architecture education as a journey toward environmental and social justice through design, the knowledge of plants, and direct exchanges and experiences with the living world.

Learning Objectives

The MLA program aims to provide students with a comprehensive education in landscape architecture, empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and ethical values necessary for exceptional and equitable landscape design and practice. The program's learning objectives include:

• Design Excellence: To develop students' design expertise within the distinctive context, empowering them to create innovative, aesthetically compelling landscapes that transcend functional requirements.
• Environmental Stewardship: To instill a solid commitment to environmental equity, prioritizing the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment through design.
• Community Collaborations: To promote meaningful community collaborations, emphasizing understanding and involving communities in design projects, addressing cultural, social, ecological, and economic aspects.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: To encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, recognizing the complexity of contemporary landscape challenges and fostering innovative, holistic solutions.
• Global Perspective and Cultural Competence: To cultivate a global perspective and cultural competence, exposing students to international design practices and diverse cultural perspectives.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted without conditions to the Master of Landscape Architecture program, an applicant is required to have prior college-level coursework in freehand drawing, biology, and earth science (geology, physical geography, hydrology, etc.). Candidates lacking these prerequisites may be admitted on the condition that they complete the required coursework before enrolling.

Course List

The MLA program requires a total of 75 credit hours, including:

• Required Courses (66 credit hours):
  • LA 501: History, Theory, and Criticism I: Landscape Architecture Theory
  • LA 502: History, Theory, and Criticism II: Landscape Architectural History
  • LA 503: History, Theory, and Criticism IV: Advanced Contemporary Theory -- Case Studies
  • LA 504: History, Theory, and Criticism III: Landscape Architecture Research Seminar
  • LA 514: Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture I: Entrepreneurship and Practice
  • LA 516: Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture II: Landscape Architecture and Time
  • LA 525: Design Media I: Drawing and Modeling the Landscape
  • LA 526: Design Media II: Digital Media
  • LA 541: Landscape Architecture Studio I: Processes
  • LA 542: Landscape Architecture Studio II: Site and City
  • LA 543: Landscape Architecture Studio III: Comprehensive Landscape Architecture
  • LA 544: Professional Independent Studio IV
  • LA 546: Landscape Architecture Studio VI: Metropolis
  • LA 565: Ecology and Materials Workshop I: Plants and Planting
  • LA 566: Ecology and Materials Workshop II: Earthworks and Infrastructures
  • LA 567: Ecology and Materials Workshop III: Planting Design and Construction
  • LA 568: Ecology and Materials Workshop IV: Constructing the Urban Environment
• Elective Courses (9 credit hours):
  • Select nine credit hours of Landscape Architecture electives

Master of Landscape Architecture with Advanced Standing

The Master of Landscape Architecture with Advanced Standing program requires a total of 60 credit hours, including:

• Required Courses (48 credit hours):
  • LA 501: History, Theory, and Criticism I: Landscape Architecture Theory
  • LA 503: History, Theory, and Criticism IV: Advanced Contemporary Theory -- Case Studies
  • LA 504: History, Theory, and Criticism III: Landscape Architecture Research Seminar
  • LA 516: Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture II: Landscape Architecture and Time
  • LA 525: Design Media I: Drawing and Modeling the Landscape
  • LA 541: Landscape Architecture Studio I: Processes
  • LA 542: Landscape Architecture Studio II: Site and City
  • LA 543: Landscape Architecture Studio III: Comprehensive Landscape Architecture
  • LA 546: Landscape Architecture Studio VI: Metropolis
  • LA 565: Ecology and Materials Workshop I: Plants and Planting
  • LA 567: Ecology and Materials Workshop III: Planting Design and Construction
  • LA 568: Ecology and Materials Workshop IV: Constructing the Urban Environment
• Elective Courses (12 credit hours):
  • Select three credit hours of Landscape Architecture electives
  • Select nine credit hours of Landscape Architecture/Architecture electives

Electives

The MLA program offers a range of elective courses, including:

• Media:
  • GIS
  • Flash
  • Animation
  • Parametric (Revit)
• History and Theory:
  • Specific designers, periods, themes
• Current electives:
  • Urban planning
• Research:
  • As per individual student and faculty interests

The Master of Landscape Architecture program at IIT is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in landscape architecture, emphasizing design justice, environmental equity, and community collaboration. The program aims to empower candidates with the knowledge, skills, and ethical values necessary for exceptional and equitable landscape design and practice.