The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) is a design-oriented degree that offers 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 is a post-professional research-oriented design 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 research-oriented specialization related to landscape architecture design or professional studies.
The MLA-Track 1 is largely designed to prepare students as critically engaged and well-trained practitioners. 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. Once advanced standing is determined, as little as two years may be required to complete the Path B program.
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.
- 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. Path B applicants with a pre-professional landscape architecture or landscape design degree who wish to apply for advanced standing must show prior design work in the portfolio.
- The general portion of the Graduate Record Examination is required of all applicants. Applicants 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).
- 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.
Path A
Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 16 hours of undergraduate preparation, and 79 hours of graduate course work including 6 hours of LAR 500 (Thesis) with a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis.
Non-Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 16 hours of undergraduate preparation, 79 hours of graduate course work including 6 hours of LAR 570 (Capstone Studio) with a public presentation and oral defense of the capstone project.
Path B
Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 63 hours of graduate course work including 6 hours of LAR 500 (Thesis) with a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis.
Non-Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 63 hours of graduate course work including 6 hours of LAR 570 (Capstone Studio) with a public presentation and oral defense of the capstone research project.
Electives
Path A and Path B options require five directed electives chosen from an approved list of courses. No more than 3 directed electives may be in a single curricular specialization area. A minimum of 12 hours of directed electives in the discipline or open electives must be taken at the 500 level. Curricular specialization areas are linked to faculty interests and address current issues and opportunities in the field. Faculty interest areas are described in the introduction to the graduate landscape architecture program above. Students should consult their advisor on elective selection.
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.
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 is required of all applicants. Applicants 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).
- In his/her application, each candidate must identify 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).
Thesis Option: Requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate course work including 6 hours of Landscape Architecture LAR 500 (Thesis) with a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis.
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