Master of Landscape Architecture
More than ever, the world needs more informed, more innovative, more critically involved landscape architects. Global population growth, changing climate, and continued depletion of natural resources question historical planning and design models. Landscape architects have emerged among design professionals to lead in the reclamation, organization, and understanding of our cities to meet these 21st century challenges. Among American cities, Chicago presents unique opportunities to test and celebrate the potential of urban environments to transform these conditions of crisis to promise, neglect to value, banality to beauty.
Chicago is geographically positioned within the Great Lakes Basin, where twenty percent of the world’s fresh water supply is both a vital natural resource and an economic catalyst for the mega-region. While Chicago enjoys the legacy of a world-class park system sponsored by the 1893 Columbian Exposition, it is steadily being transformed by a set of contemporary projects and urban policies that signal the emergence of Chicago's 21st century landscape as a rigorous laboratory for global cities.
Additional Admission Requirements
To be admitted without conditions to the Master of Landscape Architecture program, an applicant is required to have prior college-level coursework in freehand drawing, biology, and earth science (geology, physical geography, hydrology, etc.). Candidates lacking these prerequisites may be admitted on the condition that they complete the required coursework before enrolling. Candidates will be notified upon admission of their program of study, which is determined by prior academic training and professional experience, as well as portfolio content.
Master of Landscape Architecture
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | (75) | |
| LA 501 | History, Theory, and Criticism I: Landscape Architecture Theory | 3 |
| LA 502 | History, Theory, and Criticism II: Landscape Architectural History | 3 |
| LA 503 | History, Theory, and Criticism IV: Advanced Contemporary Theory -- Case Studies | 3 |
| LA 504 | History, Theory, and Criticism III: Landscape Architecture Research Seminar | 3 |
| LA 514 | Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture I: Entrepreneurship and Practice | 3 |
| LA 516 | Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture II: Landscape Architecture and Time | 3 |
| LA 525 | Design Media I: Drawing and Modeling the Landscape | 3 |
| LA 526 | Design Media II: Digital Media | 3 |
| LA 527 | Design Media III: Advanced Modeling and Fabrication-Dynamic Processes | 3 |
| LA 541 | Landscape Architecture Studio I: Processes | 6 |
| LA 542 | Landscape Architecture Studio II: Site and City | 6 |
| LA 543 | Landscape Architecture Studio III: Comprehensive Landscape Architecture | 6 |
| LA 544 | Landscape Architecture Studio IV: Site, City, and Region | 6 |
| LA 545 | Landscape Architecture Studio V: Metropolis | 6 |
| LA 546 | Landscape Architecture Studio VI: Metropolis | 6 |
| LA 565 | Ecology and Materials Workshop I: Plants and Planting | 3 |
| LA 566 | Ecology and Materials Workshop II: Earthworks and Infrastructures | 3 |
| LA 567 | Ecology and Materials Workshop III: Planting Design and Construction | 3 |
| LA 568 | Ecology and Materials Workshop IV: Constructing the Urban Environment | 3 |
| Elective Courses | (15) | |
| Select 6 credit hours of Landscape Architecture electives 1 | 6 | |
| Select 9 credit hours of Landscape Architecture/Architecture electives 2 | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 90 | |
| 1 | Electives may be chosen from any LA 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
| 2 | Electives may be chosen from any LA or ARCH 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
Master of Landscape Architecture with Advanced Standing
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | (45) | |
| LA 501 | History, Theory, and Criticism I: Landscape Architecture Theory | 3 |
| LA 503 | History, Theory, and Criticism IV: Advanced Contemporary Theory -- Case Studies | 3 |
| LA 516 | Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture II: Landscape Architecture and Time | 3 |
| LA 525 | Design Media I: Drawing and Modeling the Landscape | 3 |
| LA 541 | Landscape Architecture Studio I: Processes | 6 |
| LA 544 | Landscape Architecture Studio IV: Site, City, and Region | 6 |
| LA 545 | Landscape Architecture Studio V: Metropolis | 6 |
| LA 546 | Landscape Architecture Studio VI: Metropolis | 6 |
| LA 565 | Ecology and Materials Workshop I: Plants and Planting 1 | 3 |
| LA 567 | Ecology and Materials Workshop III: Planting Design and Construction 1 | 3 |
| LA 568 | Ecology and Materials Workshop IV: Constructing the Urban Environment | 3 |
| Elective Courses | (15) | |
| Select 6 credit hours of Landscape Architecture electives 2 | 6 | |
| Select 9 credit hours of Landscape Architecture/Architecture electives 3 | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
| 1 | Students with a B.L.A. may substitute Landscape Architecture/Architecture electives for LA 565 and LA 567. |
| 2 | Electives may be chosen from any LA 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
| 3 | Electives may be chosen from any LA or ARCH 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
Electives
Media
- GIS
- Flash
- Animation
- Parametric (Revit)
History and Theory
- Specific designers, periods, themes
Current electives
- Urban planning
Research
- As per individual student and faculty interests
Master of Landscape Architecture Curriculum
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| LA 501 | 3 | LA 502 | 3 |
| LA 525 | 3 | LA 526 | 3 |
| LA 541 | 6 | LA 542 | 6 |
| LA 565 | 3 | LA 566 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| LA 504 | 3 | LA 503 | 3 |
| LA 527 | 3 | LA 514 | 3 |
| LA 543 | 6 | LA 544 | 6 |
| LA 567 | 3 | LA 568 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| LA 516 | 3 | LA 546 | 6 |
| LA 545 | 6 | Landscape Architecture Elective1 | 3 |
| Landscape Architecture Elective1 | 3 | Landscape Architecture/Architecture Elective2 | 3 |
| Landscape Architecture/Architecture Elective2 | 3 | Landscape Architecture/Architecture Elective2 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credit Hours: 90 | |||
| 1 | Electives may be chosen from any LA 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
| 2 | Electives may be chosen from any LA or ARCH 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
Master of Landscape Architecture with Advanced Standing Curriculum
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| LA 501 | 3 | LA 503 | 3 |
| LA 525 | 3 | LA 544 | 6 |
| LA 541 | 6 | LA 568 | 3 |
| LA 5651 | 3 | Landscape Architecture/Architecture Elective2 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | Semester 2 | Credit Hours |
| LA 516 | 3 | LA 546 | 6 |
| LA 545 | 6 | Landscape Architecture Elective3 | 3 |
| LA 5671 | 3 | Landscape Architecture/Architecture Elective2 | 3 |
| Landscape Architecture Elective3 | 3 | Landscape Architecture/Architecture Elective2 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credit Hours: 60 | |||
| 1 | Students with a B.L.A. may substitute landscape architecture/architecture electives for LA 565 and LA 567. |
| 2 | Electives may be chosen from any LA or ARCH 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
| 3 | Electives may be chosen from any LA 400- or 500-level course with adviser approval, subject to 400-level course limit restrictions. |
