Landscape Architecture Major, MLA

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) is a design-oriented degree, which can be pursued along two tracks. The MLA-Track 1 is a first professional degree for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree in fields of study other than landscape architecture or a related design field including landscape design, architecture, urban design, and interior design. The MLA-Track 2 (MLA II) is a post-professional degree for students who already hold a first-professional degree in Landscape Architecture from an LAAB accredited program or the international equivalent The MLA-Track 2 offers post-professional students opportunities for specialization related to landscape architecture design, research, or professional studies.

Master of Landscape Architecture-Track 1 (First Professional Degree)

The MLA-Track 1 is designed to prepare students to be critically engaged designers with the ability to employ a wide range of knowledge and skills in order to become leaders in the field. Two curricular paths are available in this degree track.

• Path A is designed to accommodate students who have no previous formal study in landscape architecture. 
• Path B is designed to accommodate students with a bachelor’s degree in landscape design or students in related design fields like architecture, urban design or interior design. Any advanced standing in this path is determined on a case by case basis dependent upon the specific courses and content a student has already completed. Once advanced standing is determined, as little as two years may be required to complete the Path B program.
• Path B – Advanced Standing Option is designed specifically for students in the BArch program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. To pursue this option, students must apply for acceptance to the Landscape Architecture Program in the Spring Term of their 4th year. This application must include all of the materials listed below which are required for admission to this degree track (see Admissions to MLA – Track 1 (First Professional Degree).

Admission to MLA-Track 1 (First Professional Degree)

Submit online application to the Graduate Admissions Office. In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s minimum requirements, the following specific admission requirements must be met.

• A bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA and a minimum of 12 credit hours of humanities courses from an accredited college or university are required. International applicants must have an equivalent four-year degree and 3.0 GPA.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.
• Letter of Intent. This letter should indicate why the applicant is interested in pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture at UTK. Students are strongly encouraged to touch on the following points:
  • cite examples of your experiences that demonstrate the personal ambition necessary to succeed in landscape architecture at UTK.
  • discuss your primary motivations for pursuing a degree in landscape architecture.
  • explain why the School of Landscape Architecture at UTK is the preferred program for you to launch a career in landscape architecture.
• Design Portfolio.
  • Students with prior design education or training must submit a portfolio illustrating evidence of creative work and design skills.
  • Students without prior design education or training may submit a portfolio if they feel it will help their overall application.
• The general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended but not required. Applicants choosing to take the test should take the GRE at least one semester in advance of application for admission.
• Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Recommended overall TOEFL scores are a minimum of 92.
• A personal on-site interview is desirable but not mandatory.

Candidates with a GPA less than 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission when evidence of exceptional promise is identified.

Admission to MLA - Track 1 – Path B – Advanced Standing Option (First Professional Degree)

Students in the Advanced Standing Option at UTK must submit an online application to the Graduate Admissions Office in spring of their 5th year. At this time students must meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirements.

Candidates with a GPA less than 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission when evidence of exceptional promise is identified.

Requirements for the MLA-Track 1 (First Professional Degree)

Path A

Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 16 credit hours of undergraduate preparation, and 88 credit hours of graduate course work including 6 credit hours of LAR 500  (Thesis) with a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis.
Non-Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 16 credit hours of undergraduate preparation, 88 credit hours of graduate course work.

Path B

Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 58 credit hours of graduate course work including 6 credit hours of LAR 500  (Thesis) with a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis.
Non-Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 58 credit hours of graduate course work.
Advanced Standing Option: Requires a minimum of 58 credit hours of graduate course work.

Master of Landscape Architecture -Track 2 (Post-Professional Degree)

The MLA-track 2 provides opportunities for research-oriented studies in sub-disciplines, as well as self-directed research in curricular areas of specialization related to faculty interests. Examples of curricular specialization areas are described in the introduction to the graduate landscape architecture program above.

Admission to MLA-Track 2 (Post-Professional Degree)

Submit online application to the Graduate Admissions Office. In addition to meeting the Graduate School’s minimum requirements, the following specific admission requirements must be met.

• A first-professional Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from an LAAB accredited program with a 3.0 GPA or equivalent and a minimum of 12 credit hours of humanities courses from an accredited college or university are required. International applicants must have an equivalent first professional degree and 3.0 GPA.
• An essay addressing intent and expectations for study in the program.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A portfolio illustrating evidence of visual creativity and/or graphic capabilities. Applicants with a professional landscape architecture design degree must submit a portfolio that includes prior design work.
• Candidates with a GPA less than 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission when evidence of exceptional promise is identified.
• A personal onsite interview is desirable but not mandatory.
• The general portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended but not required. Applicants choosing to take the test should take the GRE at least one semester in advance of application for admission.
• Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take and pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Recommended overall TOEFL scores are a minimum of 92.
• In his/her application, each candidate must propose a specific area of research aligned with the general goals of the landscape architecture graduate program and the research interests of the standing faculty, not limited to the Colleges of Architecture and Design (COAD) and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR).

Requirements for MLA-Track 2 (Post-Professional Degree)

Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of graduate course work including 6 credit hours of Landscape Architecture LAR 500   (Thesis) with a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis.

Non-Thesis Option:  Requires a minimum of 42 credit hours of graduate course work including three approved design studios.

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Dual MLA-MArch Program - Landscape Architecture / Architecture

The School of Architecture and the School of Landscape Architecture offer a dual degree program leading to the conferral of both the Master of Landscape Architecture and the Master of Architecture degrees. The dual program can be accomplished with approximately 54 fewer credit hours of coursework than would be required to earn both degrees separately. Information and requirements for the dual program can be reviewed at Dual MLA-MArch Program - Landscape Architecture - Architecture .