Masters of Landscape Architecture

Dual Degree 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 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). As a graduate student, you will learn to combine expertise in:

• Sustainable design

• Landscape performance

• Environmental behavior

• And 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.

LACP Graduate Catalog

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:

• 87 credits hours for the MCP and the 2 year MLA post-professional degree; or

• 118 credit hours for the MCP and the 3 year MLA first professional degree.

By participating in the dual degree program, the credit hour requirements would be:

• 60 credit hours for the MCP and the 2 year MLA post-professional degree; or

• 91 credit hours for the MCP and the 3 year MLA first professional degree.

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.

Admission and Retention Requirements

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.

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

25 Credits: Courses in Studio Design and Planning

15 Credits: Courses in Graphic Communication and Practice Technology

3 Credits: Courses in Ecology and Plant and Soil Sciences  

15 Credits: Courses in Electives, Independent Study and Research, with Thesis or Creative Design project

MCP Requirements

30 Credits: Core courses in city and regional planning knowledge and skills development

2-Year Curriculum for LACP Dual Degree

A Post Professional MLA degree track for the LACP degree

If you studied landscape architecture at the undergraduate level and received a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture, you qualify for the 2-Year Curriculum track. We reduce the total credits from 87 to 60 credits 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.  

(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.)

3-Year Curriculum for LACP Dual Degree

The MLA First Professional degree program

If you studied in another discipline at the undergraduate level, then you qualify for the 3-Year Curriculum track. We are able to reduce the total credits from 118 to 91 credits through the same method as used for the 2 year MLA post-professional degree described above. 

 (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.)

Dual Degree Summary

In the Spring of 2018, 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 Historic Preservation (MHP) degree and the existing Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree in an integrated format. The program enables graduate students interested in historic preservation 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

• And historic preservation.

The program promotes interdisciplinary education by providing advanced knowledge of planning to landscape architecture students and advanced knowledge of landscape architecture to students in historic preservation.

HPLA Graduate Catalog

Degree Requirements and Program Features

The Dual Degree in Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation emphasizes the connection between the studies of Historic Preservation and Landscape Architecture in the study and practice of cultural landscapes. Our program will prepare students for employment with longstanding programs in preservation and landscape architecture like the National Park’s Service’s Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) and the Cultural Landscape Foundation and other state and local parks facilities like the NPS Olmsted Plantation. 

Historic Preservation offers four other dual degree options and the Landscape Architecture Program offers a dual degree with the Community Planning Program in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. The dual HPLA master’s degree reflects the hybrid relationship of professional practice that frequently engages professionals from both fields. The dual degree provides students the opportunity to increase their professional opportunities in both academic and non-academic career fields, an increasingly important benefit in an expanding and demanding job market that value employees with multiple skill sets. 

The dual degree program allows students to complete both degrees, the MHP and the 2-year MLA in as little as five semesters and the MHP and 3 year MLA program in eight. Each program requires students take electives in complimentary fields. The dual degree permits students utilize the elective credits in each degree to meet requirements of the other degree. Upon completion of the program and the accompanying internship students will possess a diverse resume with experience in both the Historic Preservation and Landscape Architecture professional communities. 

Applicants to the dual MHP and MLA degree must meet all of the application requirements for admission to both the MHP degree and the MLA degree.

Prospective HPLA students would need to apply and be admitted independently to both the MHP 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.

Admissions and Retention Requirements

Applicants to the dual MHP and MLA degree must meet all of the application requirements for admission to both the MHP degree and the MLA degree.

Prospective HPLA students would need to apply and be admitted independently to both the MHP 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 MHP program and the Director of MLA program oversee the administration of the dual degree program.

 MHP 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

MHP Requirements

33 Credits 

MHP and 3-Year MLA First Professional Degree Curriculum

MLA Requirements

12 Credits: Courses in Theory and History

25 Credits: Courses in Studio Design and Planning

15 Credits: Courses in Graphic Communication and Practice Technology

3 Credits: Courses in Ecology and Plant and Soil Sciences  

15 Credits: Courses in Electives, Independent Study and Research, with Thesis or Creative Design project

MHP Requirements

33 Credits: 

2-Year Curriculum for the HPLA Dual Degree 

A Post Professional MLA degree track for the HPLA degree.

For the 2-year MLA/MHP Dual Degree, nine credits of electives required of the MHP shall be completed by the required courses of the MLA degree. Likewise, six credits of the MLA degrees shall be met by the completion of the required courses in the MHP degree.

3-Year Curriculum for the HPLA Dual Degree

The MLA First Professional degree program.

For the 3-year MLA/MHP Dual Degree, nine credits of electives required of the MHP shall be completed by the required courses of the MLA degree. Nine credits of the MLA degrees shall be met by the completion of the required courses in the MHP degree.

Additionally, both programs require a final capstone project.  The Landscape Architecture capstone project meets the requirements of the Final Project in HISP, the 3 credits of HISP 710 and 711 are met by the completion of the LARC 799 Thesis or Capstone Project. A historic preservation faculty member shall be a member of the Thesis or Capstone committee and the project shall have a historic preservation aspect.