Landscape Architecture
The Landscape Architecture program is one of approximately 63 accredited programs in the United States. The curriculum is reviewed periodically by the nationally organized Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board and has been fully accredited since 1991.
Landscape architects provide a wide variety of professional services for individual clients, organizations, corporations, and government agencies. They are involved at every phase of the development of a site, from the initial discussion of ideas with the client through the supervision of construction for the project.
Master planning of parks, zoos, golf courses, playgrounds, and recreation areas are familiar projects for landscape architects. They may also design multifunctional areas for urban renewal projects, college campuses, industrial parks, new communities, natural areas, reclaimed lands, and wetlands.
Besides designing sites, landscape architects often select building locations, prepare cost estimates, initiate long-range planning studies, determine utility corridors, and prepare environmental impact statements for future construction. Whether specializing within a large firm of landscape architects or working in a small professional office, the landscape architect is often collaborating with other professionals, such as engineers, city planners, and architects.
Most landscape architects spend some of their time at the drawing board or computer. They also spend many hours in the field, investigating and analyzing potential project sites, developing field notes for design layouts, completing visual surveys, and supervising construction. It is at the computer and drawing board that projects are actually organized and shaped into a creative and imaginative solution. The work and responsibility of each landscape architect depends principally on individual interests and abilities. Opportunities may range from professional practice on a small scale to administration of governmental programs.
Those who plan careers in landscape architecture should be able to work independently, have a capacity for solving technical problems, be artistically inclined, and be willing to learn computer use. They should be prepared to work in the competitive environment of the profession, where great value is placed on leadership and the ability to work effectively with others. The range of interests and knowledge required in the profession of landscape architecture is broad; therefore, the courses required of students include many fields of study options.
Selective Admission
Admission into the first-year Pre-Landscape Architecture program is open to any student enrolled at NDSU. Transfer students are evaluated on the basis of courses taken and grades received. Upon completion of the first year, a selected number of students are admitted to the second year of the program. The basis for selection is institutional GPA and performance in first-year environmental design courses.
Special Notice
Students in the second year of the program will be required to purchase a laptop computer. Information on type of computer, software, purchase, and financing arrangements will be distributed to students prior to purchase.
Major Requirements
Major: Landscape Architecture
Degree Types: B.S. (Environmental Design) & B.L.A. (Bachelor of Landscape Architecture)
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: B.S. - 130; B.L.A. - 160
General Education Requirements
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| UNIV 189 | Skills For Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take UNIV 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| ENGL 326 | Writing in the Design Professions | 3 |
| or ENGL 357 | Visual Culture and Language | |
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): Select from current general education list | 3 | |
| Science & Technology (S): | ||
| Select from current general education list. A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. | 10 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): | ||
| ENVD 101 | Introduction to Environmental Design | 3 |
| ARCH 321 | History of Architecture I | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): | ||
| PSYC 111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| or SOC 110 | Introduction to Sociology | |
| ANTH 111 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): | ||
| ANTH 111 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
| Global Perspectives (G): | ||
| ARCH 321 | History of Architecture I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Major Requirements
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| Environmental Design Requirements | ||
| ENVD 130 | Drawing for Environmental Designers | 3 |
| ENVD 172 | Environmental Design Fundamentals | 4 |
| LA 231 | Landscape Architecture Graphics | 3 |
| LA 232 | Design Technology | 3 |
| LA 271 | Introduction to Landscape Architecture Studio | 6 |
| LA 272 | Parks & Open Spaces Studio | 6 |
| LA 322 | History of Landscape Architecture | 4 |
| LA 341 | Site Development and Detailing I | 4 |
| LA 342 | Site Development and Detailing II | 4 |
| LA 371 | Site Planning & Design Studio | 6 |
| LA 372 | Community Planning & Design Studio | 6 |
| LA 441 | Site Development and Detailing III | 4 |
| LA 471 | Urban Design Studio | 6 |
| LA 472 | Remediation & Planting Design Studio | 6 |
| LA 552 | Advanced Landscape Planning | 3 |
| PLSC 355 | Woody Landscape Plants | 3 |
| Landscape Design Requirements | ||
| LA 563 | Programming and Thesis Preparation | 3 |
| LA 571 | Environmental Planning Studio | 6 |
| LA 572 | Design Thesis (Capstone) A grade of "C" or better is required) | 8 |
| LA 581 | Professional Practice | 3 |
| LA 590 | Seminar | 2-3 |
| or ARCH 789 | Professional Topics in Architecture | |
| LA 590 | Seminar | 2-3 |
| or ARCH 789 | Professional Topics in Architecture | |
| Degree Electives: | ||
| Potential of 19 credits to reach 130 for B.S. | 19 | |
| Potential of 25 credits to reach 160 for B.L.A. | 25 | |
| Total Credits | 160-162 | |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A student must complete at least 60 semester credits of professional level course work in his/her program while in residence and enrolled in the college. Students transferring into the college from programs with professional accreditation are exempt from this residency requirement but are subject to the residency requirement of NDSU.
- Transfer courses with grades of ‘D’ will count towards total graduation credits but will not satisfy specific degree requirements.
Minor Requirements
Landscape Architecture Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 19
| Core Courses | ||
| LA 231 | Landscape Architecture Graphics | 3 |
| LA 271 | Introduction to Landscape Architecture Studio | 6 |
| Electives: Select ten credits of the following: | 10 | |
| Design Technology | ||
| Parks & Open Spaces Studio | ||
| History of Landscape Architecture | ||
| Site Development and Detailing I | ||
| Site Development and Detailing II | ||
| Site Development and Detailing III | ||
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
- Architecture majors may substitute 6 credits of other LA courses in the core area. A substitution form signed by the LA department chairperson will be required to submit to the Office of Registration and Records for these substitutions.
- The studio is not required for architecture majors.
