Landscape architecture is the art of designing landscapes, gardens or other outdoor spaces for a specific purpose. The U.S. is the home of landscape architecture with the American Society of Landscape Architects having been in operation since 1899. It is vital to gain the correct qualifications before you undergo a career in landscape architecture. A number of U.S. colleges offer courses in landscape architecture.
The City College of New York
The City College of New York is a college at City University of New York on a campus in Manhattan, New York. The college has its own school of architecture, called The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture, which offers two master's programs in landscape architecture: a three-year program for those taking the subject for the first time and a two-year course for those who already have an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture. The former contains modules on field ecology, botany and planting design while the latter looks at design research and urbanism.
Applicants for these courses must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and be able to submit a portfolio of their previous work. The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture does not offer part-time or evening courses.
Boston Architectural College
Formerly known as the Boston Architectural Center, the Boston Architectural College in Massachusetts has 1,000 students as of March 2011. The college is home to The Landscape Institute, which offers courses in a number of landscape fields, including design, history and preservation. It offers both bachelor's and master's degrees in landscape architecture. The bachelor program is six-years long and covers the history and theory of landscape architecture. The master's program is five years long and contains summer course work and a final thesis. Boston Architectural College does not require a portfolio from its applicants. The college does not have campus residences.
College of Environment and Design
Part of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, the College of Environment and Design was voted the best landscape architecture school in America by LandscapeOnline.com. It offers both a bachelor's and a master's degree in landscape architecture. The bachelor's degree is a five-year course that contains a summer internship, senior project and studies of the theory and practice of landscape architecture. The master's degree, first offered by the college in 1954, lasts between one and three years depending on the student's level of experience. All students applying for these courses must have a computer with Windows 7 installed. Students who successfully apply for the courses will pay a differential tuition fee.
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
The College of Environmental Science and Forestry is part of the State University of New York and has its own Department of Landscape Architecture. The department offers a master's degree in landscape architecture, which lasts three years, and a bachelor's degree lasting five. The master's degree looks at community design, cultural landscapes and urban ecology. The bachelor's program contains modules on research methodology and professional practice as well as a final thesis. Both of these degrees are accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Students wishing to apply for the master's program must have a 3.0 GPA and a degree in a relevant field. Both courses contain the potential for study and internships abroad.
