Accelerated Programs : Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning : UMass Amherst

The department offers fast-track undergraduate and graduate degree paths. Learn more about these options below:

4+1 Master of Regional Planning

Students enrolled in any four-year undergraduate program (any major) at UMass or other member of the Five Colleges can apply to enroll in a graduate-level regional planning course. This "4+1 MRP" option puts students on a path to earning a Master of Regional Planning (MRP) degree at UMass in just one year, as opposed to two.

UMass's BS in Sustainable Community Development especially enables 4+1 MRP option.

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Hear from a 4+1 Graduate

Lydia Jankowski shares her experience in the 4+1 MRP program and how she's pursuing her interests through a research project on local rock climbing communities.

4+2 Master of Landscape Architecture

Students enrolled in the four-year BS in Sustainable Community Development (SCD) program can apply to enroll in graduate-level landscape architecture courses, which allows them to earn credits toward the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree at UMass. This "4+2 MLA" track puts SCD students on an accelerated path to earn an MLA degree in just two years, as opposed to three years.

Graduate-level Course Application Guidelines for SCD Students

Please submit your application for attending graduate-level courses in Landscape Architecture to MLA Program Director, Frank Sleegers, [email protected].

Application Deadline: March 15th

A successful participation in graduate-level MLA courses in your Senior year/ successful graduation with the BS in SCD (Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Community Development) prepares you for being admitted to the MLA Program and entering the 2-year program. This is equivalent to students that entering the MLA Program with a non-LAAB accredited Landscape Architecture degree as described in the MLA Handbook. The permission to attend graduate-level courses in Landscape Architecture does not mean that you are accepted as a graduate student. You have to formally apply to the Graduate School in the winter of your Senior Year with the February 1 deadline. Your application will be reviewed, and a conditional decision will be made during February by the MLA Admissions Committee. The Graduate School will have the final word after your successful completion of all requirements of BS in SCD.

Qualifications and Deliverables

GPA 3.0 or better
Portfolio of visual creative work
Two letters of recommendation from 1.) Program Director SCD and 2.) Faculty that teaches in the BSLA Program

Find more information about the MLA program here.

MLA 4+2 Program Timeline

Spring Semester Junior Year	Application for participation in graduate-level LA courses, Deadline: March 15 Decision: By April 1
Fall Semester Senior Year	Participation in graduate-level LA courses following the curriculum of the MLA 3-Year Program First Professional Degree
Winter break Senior Year	Formal Graduate School application to MLA Program, Deadline: February 1 (Portfolio, 2 Letters of Recommendation etc. ) Continuing MLA program with the status of conditionally accepted
Spring semester Senior Year	Participation in graduate-level LA courses following the curriculum of the MLA 3-Year Program First Professional Degree Qualified finishing of all MLA courses, outstanding SCD courses, and BSSCD degree
Summer after Senior Year	Final Graduate School Decision
Fall Semester after Senior Year	Continuing MLA Program equally to students from a non-LAAB accredited Landscape Architecture degree as described in the MLA Handbook. Full Graduate Student status
MLA Degree	After completion of course work as described in the MLA Handbook and a minimum of 48 credits

More Fast-Track Options

The BS in Sustainable Community Development can be completed in 3 years with some summer work.

The AS in Science in Landscape Contracting degree can provide a strong entry to the BSLA, SCD or other bachelor degrees. Consult Michael Davidsohn ([email protected]) to learn more.

To learn more, contact

Peter Dunn

BS Sustainable Community Development Program Director & Academic Advisor; Accelerated Master's Program Coordinator

Peter Dunn, PhD, is a lecturer in regional planning at UMass Amherst, where he teaches both undergraduate and graduate students interested in creating better communities. Prof. Dunn is the program director and academic advisor for the undergraduate Sustainable Community Development program. He also coordinates the 4+1 MRP and 4+2 MLA accelerated master's programs.

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Accelerated Programs

4+1 Master of Regional Planning

Hear from a 4+1 Graduate

4+2 Master of Landscape Architecture

More Fast-Track Options

Interested in the 4+2 MLA or 4+1 MRP?