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Landscape Architecture Education and Training


Landscape architecture combines art and science to design, plan and manage our land. Landscape architects design traditional places like parks, residential developments, school campuses, gardens, cemeteries, commercial centers, resorts, transportation facilities, waterfront developments and corporate and institutional centers. In 2009, 67 colleges and universities that were accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects offered undergraduate or graduate programs in landscape architecture. To enter this profession, one must earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture. Like with building architects, there are certain educational and training requirements for each State.

Depending on where a student is in their educational experience, they may or may not have to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited program. Also like building architects, most states require some form of professional experience through an internship or apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed landscape architect. Before the LARE (Landscape Architect Registration Exam) can be administered, prospective landscape architects must provide proof of both. Once licensure is gained, a majority of States require some for of continuing education to maintain the license. If a person would like to work for the Federal Government as a landscape architect, usually licensure is not needed, however, candidates should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture.

A landscape architect needs:

  • Sensitivity to landscape quality
  • Understanding of the arts and a humanistic approach to deign
  • Ability to analyze problems in terms of design and physical form
  • Technical competence to translate a design into a built work
  • Skill in all aspects of professional practice including management and professional ethics

To gain these skills and knowledge, one must pursue an undergraduate and/or graduate program in landscape architecture.

Undergraduate Programs

If a student wishes to become a landscape architect, they must hold one of two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) or a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA). Usually, these programs take 4-5 years of study for completion.

Graduate Programs

If a student has already earned an undergraduate degree in another field other than landscape architecture, he or she may then proceed and earn a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree. Generally, this will take an additional 3 years of full-time study for completion. If a student already holds an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture, he or she can easily earn their MLA in 2 years.

Prerequisite Courses

During high school, it’s important that a student pays extra attention in math, science, are and geology classes. Excelling in these classes, especially during high school can prepare a student for the curriculum during an undergraduate landscape architecture program. Classes that a student will need to take in preparation for a graduate program will include:

  • Surveying
  • Landscape Design and Construction
  • Landscape Ecology
  • Site Design
  • Urban and Regional Planning
  • Geology
  • Professional Practice
  • General Management
  • History of Landscape Architecture
  • Drawing or Art
  • Computer-Aided Design (CADD)
  • Model Building
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Video Simulation

Landscape Architecture Internships

Like with building architects, landscape architects are usually required to have some sort of experience before landing a job in an architecture firm. Many employers recommend that a prospective landscape architect completes a summer internship with an architecture firm during their undergraduate or graduate program. Internships allow a prospective landscape architect to hone their skills and how to gain an understanding of the day-to-day operations of an architect’s job, including how to win-over clients, gain clients, generate fees and work within a budget.

For licensure, in 2009 there were 49 States that required landscape architects to be licensed. In order to gain a license in any State, applicants need to provide proof of education, as well as 1-4 years of work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed landscape architect. However, it’s important that a student looks into the requirements for their particular State, as rules and regulations vary State-to-State. Some states call new hires interns, while some are called apprentices or inter landscape architects until they become licensed.

Landscape Architect Continued Education

Once a landscape architect is licensed, he or she then needs to continue their education every year before their licensure renewal date. To gain the correct amount of CE hours needed, licensed landscape architects can attend and complete workshops, seminars, formal university classes, conferences, self-study courses, or other courses.