Explore Our Landscape Architecture Programs
Our department is committed to providing a comprehensive education that equips students with the skills and knowledge to excel in the field of landscape architecture. Our program offerings include a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design/Landscape Architecture (BSENVD) and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture (MLA).
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design/Landscape Architecture (BSENVD)
Our BSENVD program provides a solid foundation in environmental design principles, blending creativity with technical expertise. Students in this program will:
- Develop a strong understanding of sustainable design practices.
- Gain hands-on experience through studio projects and fieldwork.
- Learn to integrate ecological, social, and cultural aspects into their designs.
- Prepare for a variety of career paths in landscape architecture, urban planning, and environmental design.
- Curriculum
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
The MLA program at NDSU is designed for those seeking advanced knowledge and skills in landscape architecture. This program focuses on:
- Advanced design techniques and methodologies.
- In-depth study of ecological and environmental systems.
- Exploration of innovative design solutions for contemporary challenges.
- Preparation for leadership roles in professional practice, research, and academia.
- Curriculum
Year 1: Students spend their first year developing an understanding of how designers make decisions and how landscape architecture determines the built environment via lectures, assigned readings, and design-related projects. At the end of year one, students are selected, based on their GPA and performance in first-year environmental design courses, plus additional submissions, for admittance to the landscape architecture program.
Year 2: Year two marks the beginning of intense landscape architectural design studio work that lays the foundation for successfully completing a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree. All classroom learning gets directly applied in the studio through individual and group projects. Students must buy a laptop in the fall semester of their second year.
Year 3: The third-year curriculum focuses on technical aspects of landscape architecture and early graduate-level work. Students are expected to apply these concepts in their studio projects. Students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 after completion of the third year apply to the NDSU Graduate School to complete their master’s degree coursework.
Year 4: Students develop their capstone project (LA 672 and LA 642) and begin full-time graduate-level coursework in preparation for a research and design thesis project. Landscape architectural knowledge, ability, and self-reliance reach their peak as students approach graduation.
Year 5: The fifth year of study is an intensive research and design year culminating in the development and implementation of an individual design thesis program, project, and report.