Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.)

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Program Coordinator/Contact

Don Burger, Associate Professor
School of Design
Horticulture and Forestry 102A
605-688-6704

Program Information

Landscape Architecture is the art of design, planning, and management of outdoor spaces for human use and habitation. Cultural and scientific knowledge are applied to the use and arrangement of natural and man-made elements with concern for resource conservation, stewardship, and the environment. Graduates work in a wide variety of areas in the landscape industry, as designers and planners in public and private practice, and as environmental designers and managers.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the Landscape Architecture program will be able to:

Collect and analyze site-related data and attributes.
Synthesize findings and analysis into design program and decisions.
Develop and analyze different design concepts and points of view.
Apply knowledge and skills to address a design problem and provide appropriate solutions.
Develop and lead community engagement/improvement projects.
Consider diverse perspectives and user groups when making design decisions.
Address issues of diversity and equity through the design process.

Academic Requirements

Landscape Architecture students must maintain at least a major GPA of 2.6 and an overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the duration of the program. A grade of a “C” or better is required in all ART, ARTE, ARTH, GDES, DSGN, LA, ARCH, ID and technical elective course requirements.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

The Landscape Architecture Program is fully accredited through the LAAB. Students seeking licensure and certification may consult their advisor and visit www.CLARB.org for more information on requirements.

Course Delivery Format

The program provides coursework through hands-on and face-to-face learning in lecture, studio, and field-based settings.

Requirements for Landscape Architecture Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: SGR #1 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity:
SGR #3 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity: ART /DSGN 121 - Design I 2D (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3 and SGR #4 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #5 Mathematics:
MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5] Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences:
BIOL 101-101L - Biology Survey I and Lab (COM) [SGR #6] Credits: 3
and SGR #6 Elective Credits: 3

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Requirements: 3

AHSS 111 - Introduction to Global Citizenship and Diversity Credits: 3
Capstone course in the major discipline
Upper division coursework Credits: 33

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Landscape Architecture specifications.

School of Design Requirements

DSGN 110 - Creative Thinking Credits: 3
DSGN 121 - Design I 2D (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3 (SGR #4)
DSGN 452 - Design Capstone Credits: 2

School of Design Electives

Select 6 credits from the list below. Students are required to take any 6 credits from the ART, AHSS, ARTH, or GDES courses in the list below. Contact the School of Design advisor for approval of additional courses. Credits: 6

AHSS 110 - Introduction to Museum Studies Credits: 3
ART 111 - Drawing I (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ART 112 - Drawing II (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ART 122 - Design II Color (COM) Credits: 3
ART 123 - Three Dimensional Design (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ART 231 - Painting I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 241 - Sculpture I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 251 - Ceramics I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 281 - Printmaking I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 492-592 - Topics (COM) Credits: 1-9 (3 credits required) (Illustration)
ART 492-592 - Topics (COM) Credits: 1-9 (3 credits required) (Letterpress)
ARTH 211 - History of World Art I (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ARTH 212 - History of World Art II (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ARTH 312 - History of Graphic Design (COM) Credits: 3
ARTH 320 - Modern Art and Architecture Survey Credits: 3
ARTH 490 - Seminar (COM) Credits: 1-3 (3 credits required)
GDES 101 - Computer Graphics Credits: 3
GDES 207 - Interactive Design I Credits: 3
GDES 216 - Typography Credits: 3

Major Requirements

LA 101 - Ecology and the Built Landscape Credits: 3
LA 132 - Seeing and Drawing the Land Credits: 3
LA 231 - Digital Drafting and Mapping Credits: 2
LA 232 - Digital Representation Credits: 2
LA 242 - People and the Environment Credits: 3
LA 251 - Site Analysis Credits: 4
LA 252 - Site Planning Credits: 4
LA 331 - Landscape Architecture Site Engineering Credits: 3
LA 332 - Landscape Architecture Construction Detailing Credits: 3
LA 341 - Public and Social Place Design Credits: 3
LA 342 - City Planning Credits: 3
LA 351 - Community and Housing Design Credits: 4
LA 352 - Planting and Ecological Design Credits: 4
LA 389 - Travel Studies Credits: 1-3
or LA 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12 (3 credits required)
or LA 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship (COM) Credits: 1-3 (3 credits required)
LA 431 - Landscape Architecture Construction Processes Credits: 3
LA 441 - Recreation Design Credits: 3
LA 442 - Professional Development Credits: 2
LA 451 - Urban Design Studio Credits: 4
LA 452 - Capstone Studio Credits: 4 (Capstone)

Technical Electives

Students shall select a minimum of 9 credits of Technical Electives. All technical electives must be approved by advisor. Credits: 9

ARCH 241 - Construction History [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ARCH 382 - Travel Studies Credits: 1
ART 111 - Drawing I (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ART 123 - Three Dimensional Design (COM) [SGR #4] Credits: 3
ART 231 - Painting I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 241 - Sculpture I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 251 - Ceramics I (COM) Credits: 3
ART 281 - Printmaking I (COM) Credits: 3
GDES 101 - Computer Graphics Credits: 3
GDES 203 - Animation Foundations I Credits: 3
GDES 216 - Typography Credits: 3
HO 311-311L - Herbaceous Plants and Lab Credits: 3
ID 209 - Human Factors and Behavior Credits: 3
ID 215 - Interior Design Materials Credits: 3
ID 216 - Light and Color Credits: 3
ID 341 - History of Interior Design I Credits: 3
ID 377 - Design Presentation Strategies Credits: 2
ID 415 - Contract Documents Credits: 2
LA 491 - Independent Study (COM) Credits: 1-3
LA 492 - Topics (COM) Credits: 1-4
LA 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12
LA 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship (COM) Credits: 1-3

Supporting Coursework

HO 111-111L - Introduction to Horticulture and Lab Credits: 2, 1
HO 255-255L - Woody Plants and Lab Credits: 4

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
System General Education Requirements	30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements	3 Credit Hours
School of Design Requirements*	14 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	69 Credit Hours
Supporting Coursework	7 Credit Hours
Electives**	0 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.