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Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment

Landscape Architecture

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Landscape Architecture encompasses the art and science of land design, planning, and management. Its science involves the conservation and management of natural resources. Its art is the creation of outdoor spaces that are enjoyable, comfortable, and safe. 

Landscape architects…

design public spaces such as parks, campuses, streetscapes, and urban gathering places that create community identity and public life

create sustainable and active communities with infrastructure for walking, bicycling, and other forms of transportation

improve air quality and lower urban temperatures with green spaces

solve infrastructure problems such as increased flooding from storm water and rising sea levels

collaborate with private clients to make memorable places for work, living and recreation

conserve natural and agricultural landscapes by working with communities on landscape stewardship

 

In this program, you will learn to create human environments that are sustainable, socially relevant, artful, and functional. 

You will gain a strong foundation for landscape architecture through a core curriculum including design studios, implementation, graphics and digital representation, plant identification, as well as soil science and ecology.  You will be able to explore topics such as design with plants, advanced graphics, advanced digital, regional land use planning, cultural landscape preservation, and/or Geographical Information Systems.

 

Where can LA take you?

Landscape architecture is a diverse and growing profession with opportunities in both the private and public sectors.

In the private sector, graduates may work in landscape architecture design firms, multidisciplinary firms or design-build companies.

In the public sector, landscape architects work with federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. State and local governments also employ landscape architects in planning, urban design, park and open space design, transportation, and community development.

 

Did you know?

Our college is home to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK). Through this service-oriented program, our students and faculty have worked with small towns and urban neighborhoods across the state of Kentucky on projects involving pop-up design studios, streetscape design, public space design, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, urban forestry, historic preservation and more.

 

 

 

 

Come See for Yourself 

To learn more about this program, campus life, and chat with an advisor, schedule a campus visit. Virtual visits may be necessary in some cases. 

 

In-State Tuition 

Thanks to special agreements through the Academic Common Market, residents from the following states may enroll in the University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture program at in-state tuition rates: 

  • Tennessee

These agreements are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information on the Academic Common Market, click here

 
Design education is a place where creativity and spontaneity should guide exploration and serve as a basis for learning. My goal as an educator is to create responsible and creative designers.

Ryan

Associate Professor

Courses You Will Take

Access Major Map

source: myUK: GPS

Landscape Architecture (BS) 124 - 127 hours
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
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»

Total Freshman Year Credit Hours : 30

Fall Semester
15 Credit Hours
UK Core - Comp. & Comm. I
3
LA 105
3
LA 105 - INTRODUCTION TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

LA 105

3 credit hours

A survey of landscape architecture examining how the profession responds to societal needs in providing services to various public and private clients. Students will become aware of the potential for landscape architecture to transform the environments in which humans live, work, and play. Contemporary landscape architectural issues, practitioners and work are presented. Lecture, three hours per week.

LA 111
3
LA 111 - LIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN

LA 111

3 credit hours

Students in this course will gain an understanding and awareness of creative strategies that may be used in future problem solving. These strategies will help encourage creative thinking that will lead to more innovative and novel solutions. Students will practice a metacognitive approach by reflecting on their own thinking in an effort to enhance self-regulation and ultimately realize creative potential.

PLS 220
3
PLS 220 - INTRODUCTION TO PLANT IDENTIFICATION

PLS 220

3 credit hours

An introduction to the techniques used for plant identification based on over one hundred plants encountered in daily life. Laboratory, two hours; lecture, two hours per week.

UK Core - Humanities
3
Spring Semester
15 Credit Hours
UK Core - Comp. & Comm. II
3
LA 121
6
LA 121 - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO I

LA 121

6 credit hours

Introduction to the fundamental elements and principles of design. Emphasis is on the application of design thinking and creative process to a variety of design problems. Observation, communication, and critique are stressed as components of process. Lecture, three hours; studio, nine hours per week. Field trips may be required. Prereq: Student must be accepted into the Landscape Architecture Program and enrolled in LA 161 (or previous completion of equivalent graphics courses).

Prereq: Student must be accepted in the Landscape Architecture Program and enrolled in LA 161 (or previous completion of equivalent graphics course).

LA 161
3
LA 161 - GRAPHICS I

LA 161

3 credit hours

A study of landscape architecture graphics including freehand sketching, plan, section, and perspective drawing. Rendering techniques in both black and white and color will be explored with a variety of media including pencils and markers. Lecture, two hours; studio, two hours per week. Prereq: Non-LA majors must have permission of instructor.

Prereq: Non-LA majors must have permission of instructor

LA 205
3
LA 205 - HISTORY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

LA 205

3 credit hours

A study of landscape design through past civilizations and how these have influenced our present approach to dealing with our landscape.

Prereq: CIS/WRD 110 or consent of instructor.

Total Sophomore Year Credit Hours : 32 - 33

Fall Semester
16 Credit Hours
LA 162
3
LA 162 - DIGITAL REPRESENTATION I

LA 162

3 credit hours

This course provides students with a basic knowledge of computer-aided methodologies applied to site design and design articulation. It focuses on utilizing computer-aided drafting/design as a tool for producing the sequence of drawing commonly used in professional design offices. The interface of computer-aided drafting/design software with various other digital applications to produce representations of site information is also emphasized. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 2 hours per week. Prereq: LA 161.

Prereq: LA 161.

LA 222
6
LA 222 - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO II

LA 222

6 credit hours

LA 222 continues the core emphasis on process and design vocabulary from LA 121. The course is focused on the connections between landscape architectural design, place, and regional landscapes, along with the continued development of graphic, written, and oral communication skills. Lecture, three hours; studio, nine hours per week. Field trips may be required. Prereq: LA 121 with a minimum grade of "C" and enrollment in LA 162 (or previous completion of equivalent CAD course). This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.

Prereq: LA 121 with a minimum grade of "C" and enrollment in LA 162 (or previous completion of equivalent CAD course).

PLS 366
4
PLS 366 - FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE

PLS 366

4 credit hours

Study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and how these properties relate to plant nutrient availability and plant growth, land- use planning and management issues, and soil and water quality issues. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours.

Prereq: CHE 105.

UK Core - Social Sciences
3
Spring Semester
16 - 17 Credit Hours
LA 223
6
LA 223 - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO III

LA 223

6 credit hours

Design studio emphasizing design process applied to site programming, landscape analysis, and site planning. Use of actual sites to emphasize relationships between landscape analysis processes, landscape topology, and landscape ecology. Low impact site development practices are stressed. Field trips may be required. Lecture, three hours; studio, nine hours per week. Prereq: LA 121 with a minimum grade of "C", LA 105, LA 162 or equivalent CAD course; and PLS 366 or concurrent enrollment in PLS 366. This course is a Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course in certain programs, and hence is not likely to be eligible for automatic transfer credit to UK.

Prereq: LA 222 with a minimum grade of 'C', PLS 366 or concurrent enrollment in PLS 366, or consent of the instructor.

LA 271
4
LA 271 - DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION I

LA 271

4 credit hours

This course develops competency in solving problems relating to site grading, drainage systems, road alignment, and other aspects of site engineering and stormwater management. Field trips may be required. Lecture, two hours; studio, six hours per week.

Prereq: LA 162 or permission of the instructor.

LA 262
3
LA 262 - GRAPHICS II

LA 262

3 credit hours

Study and application of graphic communication methods with emphasis on integration of analog and digital multiple media and technologies. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, two hours per week. Prereq: LA 162.

Prereq: LA 162.

UK Core - Quantitative Foundations
3 - 4

Total Junior Year Credit Hours : 32

Fall Semester
17 Credit Hours
LA 324
6
LA 324 - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO IV

LA 324

6 credit hours

Studio design course emphasizing site selection and programmatic analysis in landscape master planning for complex site programs. Field trips may be required. Lecture, three hours; studio, nine hours per week.

Prereq: LA 223 with a minimum grade of "C", PLS 366, and concurrent enrollment in HRT 320.

LA 372
4
LA 372 - DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION II

LA 372

4 credit hours

A continuation of landscape architecture design implementation: construction materials, including wood, paving, and walls, along with their applications; preparation of working drawings and materials specifications. Field trips may be required. Lecture, two hours; studio, six hours per week. Prereq: LA 271 with a minimum grade of "C".

Prereq: LA 271 with a minimum grade of "C".

HRT 320
4
HRT 320 - WOODY HORTICULTURAL PLANTS

HRT 320

4 credit hours

A detailed study of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers occuring in the landscape; their systematic identification, hardiness, form, growth habit, size, culture, adaptation to environmental conditions, uses and outstanding horticultural characteristics. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, three hours.

Prereq: PLS 220.

UK Core - Community, Culture and Citizen
3
Spring Semester
15 Credit Hours
LA 373
6
LA 373 - DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION III

LA 373

6 credit hours

Advanced instruction and practicum in the development of design implementation drawings. Students will produce a comprehensive set of schematic design and construction drawings that apply the principles and techniques commonly used in the landscape architecture profession. Field trips may be required. Lecture, three hours; studio, nine hours per week.

Prereq: LA 372 with a minimum grade of "C", PLS 320, or permission of instructor.

LA Topical Studies Course
3
LA Topical Studies Course
2
UK Core - Global Dynamics
3
LA 398
1
LA 398 - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I

LA 398

1 credit hours

This course focuses on formally documenting and communicating competency relative to the knowledge, skills, and abilities developed in the landscape architecture major. The course will help students prepare for professional work experience opportunities as well as learn more about additional educational opportunities in graduate school. Private, government, and non-profit sectors are discussed. Field trip(s) may be required.

Prereq: LA 105 and LA 324.

Total Senior Year Credit Hours : 30 - 32

Fall Semester
15 - 16 Credit Hours
LA 425
6
LA 425 - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO V

LA 425

6 credit hours

Studio design course with emphasis on urban design and development, and associated public spaces. Field trips may be required. Lecture, three hours; studio nine hours per week. Prereq: LA 324 with a minimum grade of "C".

Prereq: LA 324 with a minimum grade of "C".

LA Topical Studies Course
3
Specialty Support
3 - 4
UK Core - Global Dynamics
3
Spring Semester
15 - 16 Credit Hours
LA 426
6
LA 426 - LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO VI

LA 426

6 credit hours

Application of landscape architecture design process to address issues at a variety of scales with emphases on form generation, community engagement, and communication. Field trips may be required. Lecture, three hours; studio, nine hours per week.

Prereq: LA 425 with a minimum grade of "C".

Specialty Support
3 - 4
LA Topical Studies Course
3
UK Core - Natural, Physical and Math
3

Please login to http://myUK.uky.edu to access your major map and personalized degree audit via the myUK Graduation Planning System (myUK GPS).

Apply for Our Scholarships

In addition to automatic and competitive scholarships from the University of Kentucky, our students are also eligible for a variety of awards from the college. With one of the largest college-based scholarship programs, we awarded nearly $1 million to our students during the 2022-23 academic year. These awards are based on a variety of criteria such as hometown, major, career goals, high school extracurriculars, and more. 

For CAFE first-semester freshmen, the scholarship application is now open and will close January 16, 2024.
For CAFE transfer students and current students, the scholarship application opens in January and will close on March 1.

 

Freshmen Housing Program

Live where you learn: 

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Living Learning Program (CAFE LLP) is open to all first-semester freshmen at the University of Kentucky.

Through field trips, professional development workshops and service programs, students in our LLP apply their knowledge and passion to global issues at the intersection of food, economics and environment.  All students in this program will also enroll in connected courses, share study groups and have an assigned peer mentor - all to help with the transition to college life. 

Click here for more information on the CAFE LLP. 

International Opportunities

Should you choose, you can gain international experience while earning credit towards your degree. We offer a variety of study, research, intern, and service abroad programs for all budgets and comfort levels. Some students have even earned grants and scholarships to fully fund their international experiences.

These programs are designed to broaden your mind and introduce you to unfamiliar ways of thinking and living. Ultimately, these experiences will make you a more competitive applicant in the global workforce. 

Pre-Med? Pre-Vet? Pre-Law?

Each year, many of our graduates attend professional schools in areas such as veterinary medicine, law, pharmacy, dentistry, and more. If you are interested in pursuing a similar path, we offer pre-professional advising services. 

Our pre-professional advisors will assist you with: 

  • Listing required courses for respective professional schools 
  • Scheduling pre-professional courses alongside your major requirements 
  • Suggesting supplemental coursework 
  • Connections to student organizations, volunteer work, shadowing experiences, etc.
  • Preparatory information for admission tests
  • Navigating the application process

Click here for more information.

Clubs & Organizations

Students can join organizations and clubs to learn outside the classroom, gain valuable work experience and develop their leadership skills. Many of our Landscape Architecture students are involved in:

American Society of Landscape Architects
participate in organized trips, tour professional offices and visit landscapes and projects across the nation  

Horticulture Club
provides the means for students to gain additional knowledge, experience and friendship centered around horticulture

Environmental Science Club 
join like-minded students that share a common interest in all things environmental

Learn more about Clubs & Organizations in our college.


Imagine Your Future

Landscape Architects

Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$79,320

per year in 2023

Number of Jobs

23,600

in 2023

10 Year Job Outlook

200

new jobs (average)


Imagine Your Future

Urban and Regional Planners

Urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities in cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and other jurisdictions.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$81,800

per year in 2023

Number of Jobs

44,700

in 2023

10 Year Job Outlook

1,700

new jobs (average)