Landscape Architecture
Coordinator: David Hays (M.L.A.), D.F. Ruggles (Ph.D.)
101 Temple Hoyne Buell Hall
611 East Taft Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-0176
E-mail: LADept@illinois.edu
Major: Landscape Architecture
Degrees Offered: M.L.A., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentrations: Medieval Studies (available to all degrees)
Joint Degree Program: Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Urban Planning
Degrees offered: M.L.A. and M.U.P.
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Landscape Architecture offers work leading to the Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.) degree and the Ph.D. The programs enable students to gain fresh insights and to conduct new research pertaining to land and its use by people. Courses and faculty research activities range from on-site to regional scales, and include environmental planning and design as well as community design, cultural heritage, and history. The M.L.A. is an accredited first professional degree. Three areas of specialization - ecological design and technology, community and urban landscape design, and cultural heritage design - are offered. A joint M.L.A./M.U.P program is available. The Ph.D. program is jointly administered with the School of Architecture and emphasizes both interdisciplinary study and cross-disciplinary inquiry. Areas of concentration include history and theory; technology and environment; and behavioral and cultural factors in design. Before submitting an application, students should consult the department website for information regarding the specific areas of study and the time needed to complete the requirements.
Several faculty members in the department also participate in the doctoral program administered by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. See the program description under the Department of Urban and Regional Planning for more information.
Admission
The Graduate College admission requirements apply, except that higher Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required for international students. All students are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. Students are admitted on an individual basis according to a review of their prior accomplishments with an emphasis on academic achievement. MLA candidates from undergraduate design programs must submit portfolios with applications to the M.L.A. program. Candidates without undergraduate preparation in landscape architecture will be admitted on limited status and must complete undergraduate prerequisite courses in addition to graduate work. The doctoral program prefers candidates with master’s degrees: M.L.A., M.Arch., or related fields such as art history, ecology, geography, or planning. All graduate students must begin their studies in the fall semester.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Programs of Study and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Landscape Architecture
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| LA 450, 470 and 501 | 9 |
| Specialization area coursework | 31-44 |
| Additional undergraduate coursework will be required of students without a BLA. These prerequisites do not count toward the graduate degree. | |
| Thesis Hours Required – LA 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 |
| Total Hours | 48 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
24 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
18 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Internship required | 5 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Specific courses to be taken are determined in consultation with an adviser. These courses culminate in a master's thesis (LA 599) that permits the student, under the approval and supervision of a faculty committee, to pursue independently an in-depth work of particular relevance for landscape architecture.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Elective coursework in major field | 28 |
| ARCH 589 (twice) | 2 |
| Outside study (courses outside of Landscape Architecture and Architecture) | 8 |
| Language Requirement: Required for all students in the History/Theory option and for some Social and Cultural Factors students | |
| Thesis Hours Required – LA 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 32 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
24 (not including 599) |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| All students are required to enroll in the PhD colloquium during the fall of their first year of course work. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but Masters level requirements must be met (32 hours min) |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Joint Degree Program
Master of Landscape Architecture and Master of Urban Planning
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Urban Planning core capstone and area requirements | 40 |
| LA 450, 470 and 501 | 8-9 |
| Specialization area coursework | 31-44 |
| Additional undergraduate coursework will be required of students without a BLA. These prerequisites do not count toward the graduate degree. | |
| Thesis Hours Required – LA 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 |
| Total Hours | 80-88 |
Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: |
24 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
18 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Internship required | |
| Enrollment in each program for at least 2 semesters | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
*For additional details and requirements refer contact the department.
Up to 8 hours of UP coursework may be applied to the LA degree at the department's discretion. The thesis committee chair must be full-time in Landscape Architecture and one committee member must be from Urban Planning.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Financial Aid
Students compete for fellowships, tuition and service fee waivers, and assistantships. Selection is based on the academic achievement and qualifications of the student.