Landscape architects design gardens, building grounds and outdoor spaces.
Landscape architects work to ensure that the environment of a park, outdoor space, or land surrounding a building is aesthetically pleasing. They work on diverse projects including parks, sports centers, schools, homes, office buildings and urban green spaces. While passion and skill are definite prerequisites to becoming a landscape architect, formal education and training provides prospective landscape architects with the foundation needed to implement professional design and execution.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg is one of the top landscape architecture and design programs in the nation. In 2010, the American Society for Landscape Architects--which acts as an accreditation body--rated Virginia Tech's program the #1 undergraduate program and #2 master's program. Bachelor's degrees take the standard four years; master's degrees take two years for students with an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture and three years for those without. Students can expect intensive study in evolution of the American landscape; environment and natural systems; social and cultural landscape; land analysis; physical geology; and plant taxonomy; much of the curriculum includes studio and laboratory work. Virginia Tech offers internship and exchange programs on six continents and has an extensive network of domestic internship opportunities to ensure students get the hands-on experience they need. It also offers public school tuition which is especially beneficial to Virginia residents.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University in College Station has been teaching landscape architecture since 1913, making it the oldest landscape architecture school in its state. Although the field has changed considerably during that time, the university remains focused on preparing graduates for careers in private practice firms, landscape architecture, engineering, architecture, and public planning. The Best Colleges ranked Texas A&M the #2 landscape design program while the American Society of Landscape Architects ranked both its undergraduate and master's programs #8 in the nation. Texas A&M offers related degrees in land planning, urban development and urban and regional sciences. Texas residents can benefit from in-state tuition at this large, public university.
Ohio State University
Travel, seminars, hands-on experiences and the latest approaches to the field are points of focus at Ohio State University. The program strongly encourages students to make use of their summers to get supplemental and enriched experience outside the classroom, and has an established network of international exchanges and programs to foster that. In the classroom, students can expect core curriculum in landscape architecture survey, outlines of landscape architecture, basic design, landscape studio, design on the land, design communication, site planning and landscape plants. The Best Colleges ranked Ohio State #1 in the country while the American Society of Landscape Architects gave its undergraduate program a #9 ranking.
Cornell University
Cornell is the only Ivy League school that offers an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture. Located in Itaca, New York, Cornell has a landscape architecture program that's been around since 1904 and emphasizes conservation throughout its coursework. Cornell also offers undergraduate students opportunities to participate in research and teaching for credit. The Best Colleges ranked Cornell's landscape architecture program at #4 in the country while the American Society of Landscape Architects placed only the master's program in its top ten with a #9 ranking.
Tags: landscape architecture, American Society, American Society Landscape, Society Landscape, State University, Best Colleges, Best Colleges ranked
