Landscape Architecture Program

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http://www.arch.utk.edu/academic/landscape/larch.html

Ken McCown, MArch, BLA - Illinois, Program Chair

Mission Statement

The core values of the graduate landscape architecture program at University of Tennessee are based on a design-centered curriculum that promotes ethical imperatives, critical thinking, and sustainable practices. These values of landscape stewardship are expressed in the cultural, political, and regional realities of designed and naturally occurring landscapes. The program is committed to preparing students for leadership roles in the professional practice of landscape architecture, and in related career paths.

Landscape architecture is an intercollegiate program composed of faculty from the College of Architecture and Design, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and related colleges and disciplines. Faculty in the College of Architecture and Design and the College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources are responsible for the core curriculum.

More information on the graduate landscape architecture program, application process, and deadlines is available on the College of Architecture and Design website, under Academic Programs (see link above).

The graduate landscape architecture program offers three degrees: the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), the Master of Arts in Landscape Architecture (MALA), and the Master of Science in Landscape Architecture (MSLA). The three landscape architecture degree options are distinguished from each other by the number of credit hours required, the focus of study, and the nature of each degree’s thesis.

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) is a design based professional degree that concludes with a design thesis or a capstone design project. The MLA has a first-professional track (MLA-Track 1) that is designed to prepare students as critically engaged and well-trained practitioners, and a post-professional track (MLA-Track 2) that provides opportunities for research-oriented studies in sub-disciplines, as well as self-directed research in alternate areas of interest.

The Master of Arts in Landscape Architecture (MALA) and the Master of Science in Landscape Architecture (MSLA) are for students who hold a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree in any field or a first professional degree in landscape architecture and wish to pursue research-oriented studies in landscape architecture with a humanities or science focus respectively, but do not seek to be registered professional practitioners.

Students pursuing the MLA-Track 2, the MALA, or the MSLA will work primarily with faculty members engaged in research and scholarship relevant to current issues and opportunities in the field. Faculty interests that contribute to curricular specialization areas focus on issues of environmental stewardship and include; civic infrastructure; natural resources and urban environments; history and theory/criticism; visualization/representation.

Retention in the program is contingent upon evidence of satisfactory progress toward the degree. Individual student progress will be reviewed each semester by the program chair. The Graduate Landscape Architecture Program Committee will review any questions regarding progress.

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