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Academics

Landscape Architecture

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences


 

QUICK JUMP
  Landscape Architecture
  Requirements and Sample Courses
  Academic Facilities
  Careers in Landscape Architecture
  Scholarships and Financial Aid
  Campus Organizations and Activities
  Contact Information

Landscape Architecture

Landscape architecture is the profession that applies art and science of analyzing, planning, designing, and managing land—from gardens to cities to countrysides - that integrate people and the outdoor environment in a manner that meets human needs and desires while protecting or enhancing natural environments, systems, and processes. Site planning, park design, urban planning and design, landscape preservation, resource management, and “green” or sustainable ecological planning are examples of the range of activities in which a landscape architect participates in the process of solving problems concerning the human use and conservation of outdoor space and land.

• Offered at WSU: Bachelor of landscape architecture, master of science in landscape architecture, doctor of design
• Available at: Pullman, Spokane

Requirements and Sample Courses

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree

The landscape architecture program is located on the main campus in Pullman, providing exposure to a wide range of courses in the arts, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. This part of the curriculum emphasizes study in botany, chemistry, ecology, horticulture, and other sciences with a focus on design applications. In the fourth year, students complete a senior creative project of their own choice to further develop an area of specialized expertise.

NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.

SAMPLE COURSES
Landscape Architectural Graphics
Landscape Architectural Planting Design
Landscape Construction Materials and Methods
Ecological Applications in Design
Principles and Practices of Planning

GRADUATE PROGRAM
You may find information on the graduate program in landscape architecture by visiting this Web site.

HONORS COLLEGE
The Honors College offers international education opportunities, small classes with top faculty and highly motivated peers, and challenging interdisciplinary studies. Participation in the Honors College is a way to fulfill graduation requirements, and the four-year core curriculum works with any major. Students complete a substantial original project in their junior year. Contact the Honors College to discuss eligibility at 509-335-4505.

Academic Facilities

Washington State University’s dynamic learning environment offers lecture rooms that adjoin studios with individual drafting stations. These work stations provide access to drafting and graphic equipment, as well as a microcomputer laboratory with an extensive library of sophisticated graphic software.

In the fourth year of the program, students study in Spokane at the Interdisciplinary Design Institute, which is located on the newly constructed Riverpoint Campus. The Design Institute provides modern studio facilities and state-of-the-art computer labs, which support CAD and GIS applications in design and planning. The city of Spokane serves as an excellent living laboratory of studies in urban design and planning.

Resources from the University of Idaho, which is just eight miles away from the Pullman campus, broaden and enhance the learning experiences of our students. Several classes are taught jointly for credit, and specialists from both institutions share their knowledge on a regular basis. The Department also offers a Master of Science of Landscape Architecture degree.

Careers in Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architect, Landscape Designer, Landscape Contractor, Golf Course Design and Management, Park and Garden Designer, Arboretum or Botanical Garden Manager , Urban Planning and Design, Geographic Information System Planner, Sustainable and "Green" Designer

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Scholarships are available through the national Landscape Architecture Foundation.
• The College of Agriculture and Home Economics awards $50,000 in scholarships through an annual program.
• Departmental scholarships are available through associations such as the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs and the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association. Individuals and other private sources also provide departmental scholarships. The deadline for submitting departmental scholarship applications is usually mid-January.
• University scholarship and financial aid funds are available to entering freshmen as well as students already in residence.

Campus Organizations and Activities

• Many of the program’s students are active in the Washington State University Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Members participate in community service projects, exhibit their work, and enjoy social events. The chapter also sponsors visits by local and regional practitioners who participate in informal discussions. Once a year, students compete for national awards through ASLA and receive specialty awards for their designs through the Washington Chapter of ASLA.
• Through the Washington State University Landscape Architecture Alumni Association, students and faculty obtain information on professional activities and employment opportunities from alumni working in the field. Hort & LA News, the department’s alumni newsletter, is an important communication link. Alumni gatherings enable current and former students to become acquainted.

Contact Information
Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Johnson Hall, Room 149
PO Box 646414
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6414
509-335-9502
 
hobart@wsu.edu
 
holdenk@wsu.edu
 
Landscape Architecture at WSU Spokane
 

Strengths of the Program

  • WSU’s landscape architecture program is fully accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects.
  • Gain a professionally-oriented foundation in landscape design, construction, and planning that emphasizes ecologically- and socially-sound design.
  • WSU's faculty members have worked in private industry and public agencies nationally and internationally, working on community design, farmland protection, park design, and campus planning.
  • Learn from recognized experts in design implementation, computer applications, and the integration of ecology and behavioral sciences in design and planning.
  • Develop practical applications of landscape construction, facilities design, social sciences, computer technology, plant science, and land-use analysis.
  • Students work on a progression of projects that express personal solutions and help them learn to interact with clients in a professional manner.
  • Engage in valuable small-group experiences.
Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us