MLA Public Information 2025

Program Mission Statement

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning (LARP) provides sustainable solutions to complex problems. We educate outstanding students, serve diverse communities, and undertake influential scholarship. We seek to exemplify a new generation of professionals and educators who work collaboratively across disciplines and cultures. This provides leadership to find regenerative, equitable and beautiful designs, spatial and social practices.

The Master’s of Landscape Architecture (MLA) Program provides an excellent and professionally-accredited education and training in the discipline of landscape architecture. Students learn the fundamentals of the theory and practice of landscape architecture, including the history, principles, techniques, and materials of landscape design. Social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of everything we teach: we create sustainable planning and landscape design solutions to the most vital problems of the twenty-first century, including global urbanization, climate change, and other social and environmental issues as they relate to the built environment.

Accreditation

The first Professional MLA degree at the University of Massachusetts is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). The most recent review was in Spring 2023 and the next accreditation review is scheduled for Spring of 2029. 

Program Overview

The Master of Landscape Architecture Program prepares students to become leaders throughout the broad range of professional activities which define the profession. For more information about the Master of Landscape Architecture Program objectives, curriculum, degree requirements, and admission requirements, please visit the MLA Program Webpage and read the MLA Program Handbook.

Program Goals

The program seeks to provide: 

• An understanding of the history of people's relationships to the land, and of the fundamental theories of planning and design intervention.
• An understanding of the physical, cultural, and biotic forces that influence environmental design.
• Opportunities to creatively engage a broad range of real contemporary problems in planning and design.
• A working knowledge of the information, processes, and techniques used in the landscape planning and design professions.
• The ability to communicate with specialists in other design fields and in relevant social and natural sciences.

Faculty

There are 11 core faculty in the Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) Program. Four of the faculty are licensed landscape architects; four hold PhDs; and ten hold MLA degrees. Ten faculty are full-time.

The MLA Program Director is Frank Sleegers ([email protected]).

Estimated Annual Costs

The chart below lists estimated costs for UMass Amherst graduate students for the 2025-26 academic year. Costs are for calculated for 12 months and full-time graduate enrollment (9 credits).

*Additional fees may apply for first term enrollment. Tuition and Service Fees are assessed on a per credit basis. See the Bursar's Website for detailed information about graduate tuition and fees. Financial Aid assumes half time enrollment with an assistantship for initial aid packages. Contact Financial Aid Services to explore additional aid eligibility for your situation.

**New England Regional Student Program (NERSP) offers a tuition break to New England residents enrolled in certain programs not offered by the public colleges and universities in the student's home state. Billed costs will reflect the full out-of-state tuition and the New England Regional discount. Learn more about the New England Tuition Break Program here:  https://nebhe.org/tuitionbreak/

***Financial Aid assumes graduate students will reside off-campus; however, there are on-campus housing options for graduate students. Please note that area rents can vary widely, depending on the number of bedrooms, number of roommates and market conditions. This estimate is based on an average rent per bedroom of $1,469/month. A standard practice for new renters is to provide an initial security deposit equivalent to one month's rent, in addition to the monthly rent payments.  Information regarding off campus housing availability can be found here: https://www.umass.edu/offcampuslife/

****Fully benefited GEO-eligible students receive 100% tuition discount and a partial credit for mandatory fees. Benefits and stipend amounts are stated in the GEO contract. Financial Aid awards are presumed GEO eligible. If you do not have an assistantship, please contact Financial Aid Services to discuss additional financing options.

Estimated Cost of Landscape Architecture Studio Supplies

The average annual cost for landscape architecture studio supplies is $1500. This cost is not included in the chart above.

To learn about printing and plotting costs, as well as computer requirements for landscape architecture students, please visit https://www.umass.edu/landscape-planning/technology-resources-0. 

Financial Aid and Scholarships

UMass Amherst offers different types of financial aid for graduate students, including loans and graduate assistantships. Please consult the UMass Graduate Financial Aid website for more information. Please contact your Graduate Program Director for more information regarding graduate research and teaching assistant positions. 

For a list of scholarships offered through the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, please visit https://www.umass.edu/landscape-planning/financial-aid-scholarships. 

MLA Student Retention and Graduation Rates

*MLA students typically have a 3-year graduation rate.

MLA Alumni Employment One Year After Graduation

Each year, the UMass Amherst MLA Program distributes a survey to members of the previous year's graduating class (i.e., a survey sent in 2025 collects responses from students who graduated in 2024.). The chart below shows survey results for MLA alumni employment one year after graduation.