LACP: Dual Masters of Community Planning (MCP) and Landscape Architecture (MLA): Landscape Architecture and Community Planning
Summary In the Spring of 2015, the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (MAPP) and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) created a dual degree master’s program enabling graduate students to obtain both the existing Master of Community Planning (MCP) degree and the existing Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree in an integrated format. The proposed program enables graduate students interested in community planning and landscape architecture to complete these complimentary degrees by using courses in the partnering programs to satisfy specialization and elective requirements. The dual degree program builds on the unique strengths of faculty in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) by bringing together expertise in sustainable design, landscape performance, environmental behavior, with expertise in physical, social and economic planning. The program promotes interdisciplinary education by providing advanced knowledge of planning to landscape architecture students and advanced knowledge of landscape architecture to students in planning. Degree Requirements and Program Features The dual master’s program in Community Planning and Landscape Architecture (LACP) combines key elements of the Master of Community Planning and the Master in Landscape Architecture. Student have two options for the Landscape Architecture portion of the dual degree. Those who did not major in landscape architecture as undergraduates will be enrolled the First MLA Professional Degree Curriculum. Those students who already have a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture will enroll in LARC’s Post-Professional degree program. The dual degree enables students to complete the MCP and either of the two MLA degrees in a shorter period of time that if they earned one degree first and then enrolled in the other degree program, as shown below. The current MCP degree requires the completion of 48 credit hours, while the current MLA degree requires 39 credits for a two-year post-professional degree and 70 credit hours (plus 6 credits at the 200 level) for a three-year first professional degree. This means that completing both degrees separately (one after the other) would require:
By participating in the dual degree program, the credit hour requirements would be:
The reduction in total credits from 87 to 60 credits for the 2 year MLA post-professional degree and MCP is achieved by counting courses towards both programs. 12 credits of the current MLA program would be satisfied by counting URSP or RDEV as courses. 15 credits of landscape architecture courses count as electives for the Master of Community Planning degree. This amount of double-counting for the proposed MCP/MLA program is possible because of the complimentary missions of the two underlying degrees. The same type of double counting applies to the dual degree for students in the post-professional MLA program. Curriculum for the LACP Dual Degree for students who majored in landscape architecture as undergraduate students (i.e. Post Professional MLA degree track for the LACP degree)(Note that the URSP 688L-Planning Technology class would not be required for students in the joint degree because of the MLA required course LARC 620-621.)
Curriculum for the LACP Dual Degree for students who did NOT major in landscape architecture as undergraduate students (i.e. the MLA First Professional degree program)(Note that the URSP 688L-Planning Technology class would not be required for students in the joint degree because of the MLA required course LARC 620-621.)
2 year MLA post-professional degree and MCP The reduction in total credits from 87 to 60 credits for the 2 year MLA post-professional degree and MCP is achieved by counting courses towards both program. 12 credits of the current MLA program would be satisfied by counting URSP or RDEV as courses. 18 credits of landscape architecture courses count as elective credits for the MCP degree. This amount of double-counting for the MCP/MLA program is possible because of the complimentary missions of the two underlying degrees. 3-Year First Professional Degree Curriculum and MCP The reduction in total credits from 118 to 91 credits for the 3 year MLA first professional degree and MCP would be achieved in the same was as for the 2 year MLA post-professional degree described above. Admissions and Retention Criteria Prospective LACP students need to apply and be admitted independently to both the MCP and MLA programs. If a student were only accepted to one of the two programs, he or she would only be permitted to pursue that specific program. Students would also have to meet the usual progress requirements for each of the two master’s programs to remain in the joint degree program. Administration The Director of the MCP program and the Director of MLA program oversee the administration of the dual degree program. MCP and 2-year MLA Post-Professional degree MLA Requirements 6 Credits: Courses in Theory and History
15 Credits: Courses in Studio Design and Planning
18 Credits: Courses in Electives, Independent Study and Research, with Thesis or Creative Design project
MCP Requirements 30 Credits in core courses in city and regional planning knowledge and skills development
MCP and 3-Year MLA First Professional Degree Curriculum MLA Requirements 12 Credits: Courses in Theory and History
30 Credits: Core courses in city and regional planning knowledge and skills development
| ApplyApplication information and deadlines can be found on the Graduate School's Admissions Requirements page. The program code is: LACP. Other helpful links: Graduate School CatalogCheck out the MLA program Catalog Listing! Are you a Prospective International Student?Check out the International Student & Scholar Services website!Ecological Analysis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
