Academy of Art University

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Landscape Architecture

Undergraduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Design Proposals

• Design beautiful and functional outdoor environments of all scales that respond to specific user/client needs and programmatic requirements
• Produce defensible planning and design solutions that reflect knowledge of the cultural, historical, ecological, and climatic factors of a given site

Research and Design Process

• Conduct a thorough observation and analysis and/or a post-occupancy evaluation of a site in order to determine how people use the space
• Work effectively with the natural forms, processes, and elements of an indigenous landscape during the entire planning and design process
• Apply the basic principles and elements of design to landscape architecture planning and design proposals
• Explore sufficient concepts and alternative proposals as part of the planning and design process

Natural Systems

• Identify the indigenous components and processes found on any site (soil types, individual plant species, plant communities, wildlife, climatic conditions, and hydrology) and determine the resultant planning and design opportunities and constraints
• Effectively use trees, shrubs, grasses, annuals, perennials, and bulbs in their planting designs in order to provide year-round seasonal beauty and function

Technical Systems and Materials

• Design technically accurate and ecologically sensitive grading and drainage plans
• Select materials that will enhance the aesthetic and ecological qualities of a given site as well as provide for the programmatic requirements of the client and/or user group
• Develop construction details that solve structural, functional, aesthetic/environmental issues
• Recognize the design opportunities and limitations of building and construction codes

Historical Precedent

• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of historical precedents, including cultural and geographic forces that have shaped major historical gardens, public parks, and urban open spaces in their design projects

Graphic/Visual Communication

• Visually communicate their ideas and proposals (perspectives, axonometrics, plans sections, and elevations)
• Successfully use a range of visual media to communicate their ideas and proposals (freehand and computer drawing, drafting, three-dimensional models, rendered presentation illustrative)

Verbal Presentation Skills

• Successfully communicate design proposals and key objectives of their projects
• Articulate rationale for design decisions throughout the design process

Professional Readiness

• Produce a professional portfolio demonstrating their skills and design process
• Collaborate effectively with other members of a project team

Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:

• Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
• Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
• Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
• Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
• Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
• Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
• Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.

Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your future landscape architecture career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your chosen profession. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring landscape architects with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the industry.

Landscape Architect

As a landscape architect, you'll analyze, plan, design, and implement natural as well as built environments of all scales. Design and plan the restoration of disturbed natural places and systems such as stream corridors, wetlands, forested areas, and mines.

Garden Designer

As a garden designer, you'll be responsible for planting, irrigation, and some hardscape design for residences and estates, Work with other designers and staff to create a holistic vision of urban spaces in this exciting career.

Landscape Designer

Working with the landscape architect, the designer helps with planning, design, management, and stewardship of natural and built environments.

Environmental Planner

As a regional and environmental planner, you'll be responsible for land use analysis, planning, zoning, and infrastructure as well as the analysis, design, and restoration of ecological systems. Help improve our parks and recreation areas in this important and fulfilling career path.

Landscape Renderer

Landscape renderers are responsible for the creation of drawings, plans, elevations, perspectives, and axonometric to communicate design intent and the spatial experience.

Master Planner

Abstract an idea in spatial forms as a master planner. You'll envision and design large-scale communities and lead the design process from conception to final construction.

Planting Designer

Create a planting designer based on site analysis, concept, and horticultural possibilities as a planting designer. You'll use plants in a creative and sustainable way to design projects at various scales.

Urban Designer

Responsible for the design or redesign of existing urban spaces, the urban designer crafts unique and usable apices for the public. Revitalize existing amenities, or create new physical connections in this unique and inspiring career path.

Urban Strategist

As an urban strategist, you'll develop strategies to improve underutilized urban sites to improve social impact. Urban strategists and typically landscape architects, designers, or urban designers looking to create a behavioral and social impact in urban environments.

Unit Requirements

Degree Requirements

• A minimum grade of C- in all core courses, major courses, and the following Liberal Arts courses:
  • LA 107 Writing for the Multilingual Artist
    or LA 108 Composition for the Artist
  • LA/LAN 115 The Natural World 1
  • LA/LAN 117 Survey of Landscape Architecture
  • LA/LAN 177 Pre-Industrial Urban Open Spaces
  • LA 255 College Math
  • LA 271 College Algebra with Geometry
  • LA/LAN 277 Post Industrial Urban Open Spaces
  • LA/LAN 297 Landscape Social Factors
• Minimum 2.0 GPA and the following general education requirements:
  • 1 History of Landscape Architecture: Pre-Industrial Urban Open Spaces
  • 1 History of Landscape Architecture: Post-Industrial Urban Open Spaces
  • 1 Written Communication: Composition
  • 1 Written Communication: Critical Thinking
  • 1 Written Communication: Context & Style
  • 1 Landscape Social Factors
  • 1 Historical Awareness
  • 1 Fundamental Math
  • 1 Applied Math
  • 1 Cultural Ideas & Influences
  • 1 Employment Communications & Practices

After the above general education requirements are met, take Liberal Arts electives as needed to fulfill the Liberal Arts unit requirement.

Curriculum

Semester 1

• FND 149: Introduction to Design Thinking (Core)
• LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience (Liberal Arts)
• LAN 115: The Natural World 1: The Base Layer (Major)
• LAN 193A: Landscape Drawing & Drafting - A (Core)

Semester 2

• ARH 110: Studio 1: Conceptual Design Studio (Core)
• IAD 210: Digital Imaging (Core)
• LA 148: The Classical and the Contemporary (Liberal Arts)
  Recommended for summer
• LA 255: College Math (Liberal Arts)
  Recommended for summer
• LAN 117: Survey of Landscape Architecture (Major)
• LAN 193B: Landscape Drawing & Drafting - B (Core)

Semester 3

• LA 108: Composition for the Artist (Liberal Arts)
• LA 271: College Algebra with Geometry (Liberal Arts)
• LAN 180: Plants in the Landscape 1 (Core)
• LAN 223: Digital Graphics for Landscape Architecture (Major)
• LAN 235: Site Inventory & Analysis (Core)
• LAN 250: Landscape Design Studio (Core)

Semester 4

• ARH 230: Color, Perception, and Space (Major)
  Recommended for summer
• LA 177: Pre-Industrial Urban Open Spaces (Liberal Arts)
• LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion & Argument (Liberal Arts)
• LA 291: Designing Careers (Liberal Arts)
• LAN 260: Site Engineering (Core)
• LAN 277: Post Industrial Urban Open Spaces (Major)
  Recommended for summer
• LAN 300: Design of Urban Places Studio (Core)

Semester 5

• LA 110: Writing the Short Story (Liberal Arts)
• LA 297: People & the Environment (Liberal Arts)
• LAN 240: Planting Design (Core)
• LAN 323: Advanced Landscape Graphics (Major)
• LAN 330: The Technical World 2: Materials & Details (Major)

Semester 6

• FA 220: Watercolor (Elective)
  Recommended for summer
• LA 462: Power of Myth and Symbol (Liberal Arts)
  Recommended for summer
• LAN 350: Sustainable Designs & Practices Studio (Major)
• LAN 360: Landscape Architectural Construction Documents (Major)
• LAN 375: Sketching for Idea Development (Major)
• LAN 391: Portfolio Preparation (Major)

Semester 7

• COM 208: Dynamic Aerial Imagery (Elective)
• LA 359: Urban Sociology (Liberal Arts)
• LAN 392: Professional Practices (Major)
• LAN 400: Regional Planning Studio (Major)

Semester 8

• ARH 240: Site Design & Mapping (Elective)
• LA 125: The Creative Process (Liberal Arts)
• LA 254: Human-Centered Design (Liberal Arts)
• LA 306: Creatively Speaking: Presentation for Designers (Liberal Arts)
  Recommended for summer
• LAN 135: The Natural World 2: Climate & Plant Communities (Major)
  Recommended for summer
• LAN 450: Advanced Design Studio (Core)