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Interested in the Landscape Architecture Major?

Contact the BSLA Program Director Patricia McGirr (mcgirr@larp.umass.edu) to learn more. Visit Undergraduate Admissions to apply to UMass Amherst as undergraduate student.

Current UMass students can also make an advising appointment with Prof. McGirr, then declare the major. 

 

About the Program

Landscape Architects combine science and art to design beautiful outdoor spaces that nurture the earth, enrich lives, and bring communities together. The Bachelor of Science Program in Landscape Architecture at the University of Massachusetts is strongly influenced by its unique New England setting. Massachusetts is now the fifth fastest growing state in the nation—it is a sunbelt state in terms of its growth needs and problems—and this pattern characterizes much of our region as well. Because of this, landscape and planning issues assume critical significance for both the immediate and long-term future.

Our program focuses on visual, physical, ecological, and cultural problems encountered in the urbanizing landscape. Its primary objective is to educate and train professionals who are prepared to engage future design problems and advance the state of the art. A diverse and internationally recognized faculty is involved with education and research activities in landscape planning, design, and computer applications.

Our fundamental concern is the wise use of land and natural resources. As the public becomes increasingly aware and sophisticated about environmental issues, opportunities for professional landscape architects increase rapidly. The landscape industry across the state is booming through historic preservation, recreation and other public construction; in addition, there is extensive business and residential building in the private sector. Each of these developments requires professional expertise in landscape architecture, and our program is designed to meet this tremendous need.

The BSLA is a STEM-designated program.

 

Objectives

Landscape architecture at the University of Massachusetts is a professional degree program. Upon graduation you will have the knowledge and skills necessary to work in private or public practice. There you will apply the information, processes, and techniques of landscape architecture to design future landscape settings which are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally suited for implementation. Specifically, the program seeks to provide:

  • A working knowledge of the information, processes and techniques used in the landscape design and planning professions.
  • The capacity to verbally and graphically communicate with specialists in other arts and relevant social, natural, and physical sciences.
  • An understanding of the cultural determinants of human behavior and the social, political, economic, and legal institutions which influence land use and design decisions.
  • An understanding of the essential physical and ecological determinants which shape appropriate land use and design decisions.

 

Degree Requirements

Design Studio Sequence (11 courses)

In this sequence, the core of the landscape architecture program, students learn the principles, methods, processes, and techniques of landscape architecture design. Each half-semester (seven- week) studio poses progressively more complex challenges. A different instructor teaches each studio, ensuring a diverse range of project types, scales, and points of view.

  • LandArch 201 Studio I: Fundamentals: Spaces & Landscape Media
  • LandArch 202 Studio II: Spaces & Places in Context
  • LandArch 203 Studio III: Designing with Plants
  • LandArch 204 Studio IV: Designing with Landform
  • LandArch 301 Studio V: Recreation and Open Space Design
  • LandArch 302 Studio VI: Residential Garden Design
  • LandArch 303 Studio VII: Toward Sustainable Multi-Family Housing & Significant Open Space
  • LandArch 304 Studio VIII: Sustainable Commercial and Institutional Design
  • LandArch 401 Studio IX: Urban Design: Sustainable Urban Systems
  • LandArch 402 Studio X: Urban Design: Design Development
  • LandArch 494LI Studio XI: Senior Capstone (14 weeks)

Natural and Cultural Factors Sequence (3 courses)

This set of lecture classes acquaints students with the natural and cultural processes that shape the landscape. They cover the theories and knowledge that explain and inform how planning and design can better serve human and environmental goals in regards to ecological, economic and social concerns.​

  • SUSTCOMM 335 Plants in the Landscape
  • LANDARCH 547 & 547L Landscape Pattern and Process with Lab
  • SUSTCOMM 574 City Planning

Professional Skills Sequence (6 courses)

In this sequence, students develop the skills and knowledge required to implement landscape architectural projects. Included are courses in graphic and written communication, landform manipulation, construction materials, site engineering, computer-aided design, and professional practice.

  • LANDARCH 191A Graphics
  • LANDARCH 294A/298C Construction Materials with Lab
  • LANDARCH 313 Site Engineering
  • SUSTCOMM 314 Writing in Comm Development & Landscape Arch (Junior Year Writing)
  • LANDARCH 494A Professional Practice
  • LANDARCH 583 Digital Design Representation

History Sequence (2 courses)

This sequence provides students with the knowledge of built works of the past and present, and the social, economic, technological, and aesthetic forces that influenced their design and construction.

  • SUSTCOMM 543 History I: Ancient to Medieval World
  • SUSTCOMM 544 History II: Renaissance to the Present

 

Departmental Honors (DH)

Departmental Honors (DH) tracks are Advanced Scholarship Tracks of Commonwealth Honors College (CHC), available in most majors.  They are recommended for students who wish to undertake advanced research within their majors, especially those who intend to pursue graduate study in the discipline of their major.  Students may complete DH as part of the full CHC curriculum, which includes Honors General Studies, or they may complete DH alone. All DH students are members of CHC. 

 

Minors

Students might want to consider an academic minor to complement their Landscape Architecture major. Minors that BSLA students have completed in recent years include: 

 

Study Abroad

 

Get a global perspective on design and culture! Study abroad is an excellent opportunity to exapnd your understanding of landscape architecture and the world. Spending the semester abroad will expand your horizons and your knowledge. Nothing will look the same again!

The best place in the BSLA curriculum to study abroad is the junior year or fall semester of the senior year. Generally, the study abroad courses must include a design studio to replace the studio that you would have been taking at UMass that semester. Other classes taken abroad may vary depending on what program you are attending and what courses they offer. 

You have options of where to study. Places where our students have studied in the past are: 

Discover other programs and find out how to apply at the International Programs Office.

The cost of each program may vary.

 

Finances

For a complete list of student fees and a per-credit hour breakdown of tuition rates, please refer to the Bursar's Office Undergraduate Tuition and Fees Page.

Financial support is available through the university and through the college. Information can be found at the following links: 

https://www.umass.edu/financialaid/undergraduate

https://www.umass.edu/sbs/scholarships

 

Licensure

The Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst qualifies you to become a licensed landscape architect. The requirements for licensure may vary from state to state. See more about the licensing requirements at the ASLA website or Massachusetts Board of Statutes and Regulation

The Landscape Architecture program at UMass Amherst currently has four faculty that are licensed landscape architects. View Faculty Profiles

 

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) program at UMass Amherst is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB)