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Landscape Architecture

Overview
Major
Minor
Plan of Study

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

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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 and Theory 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 and Theory of Architecture I	3
Total Credits		40

Major Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
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 331	Graphics III: Design Communication	3
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	3
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		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