Landscape Architecture

An introductory course with the purpose to instill an understanding of the profession of Landscape Architecture, a profession defined as an art and science of planning or designing on the land-arranging and creating spaces and objects in a landscape for human use. Open to all students.

Inventory, analysis and evaluation of site development procedures; emphasis on landscape ecology.

Students will develop appropriate techniques in landscape architectural graphics, rendering and presentation formats. The course covers traditional drawing types such as plan elevation section, iso, axiomatic and perspective drawing.

This course builds upon the fundamental principles of design covered in previous studios to explore a range of landscape architectural issues. Site design problems incorporating a mixture of cultural, environmental, and historical topics provide a framework for students to develop their analytical skills, communication techniques, and general understanding of design.

Introduction to 2 and 3 dimensional computer-aided design with an express understanding of land form and the principles of grading.

Landscape Architecture is the art-and-science of arranging functions and spaces within the ecology of the land and the culture of the humans who inhabit it. Survey of the history of humans as it is expressed in such diverse areas as urban form, community planning, gardens, parks and recreational areas, agricultural patterns and land management. Open to all students. (H,I)

Exploration of the theories pertinent to the practice and study of landscape architecture. Addresses primarily aesthetic and cultural principles and values with related ecological aspects.

Application of basic site design principles on small-scale projects.

The planting design studio is designed to introduce the student to the planting design process, its relationship to the site planning, existing site conditions, project locale and client needs.

This course provides a hands-on skills-oriented overview of the computer modeling, imaging and communication applications used in landscape architectural design. The course will explore a range of advanced presentation and communication skills such as surface modeling, rendering and publishing.

Characteristics of land form and the effects of grading on drainage, soils and location of landscape architectural elements; pavings, low retaining walls; quantification skills.

Design and construction drawings for public and private landscape structures, landscape utilities, and irrigation system layouts; specifications, takeoffs and estimating.

Introduction to the principles and elements of design as it is related to planting design. Projects are to be residential in scale with emphasis on composition and aesthetics.

Survey of landscape management and contracting procedures with emphasis on residential, institutional and urban landscapes.

Preparation for professional practice and the understanding of the business of landscape architecture in private and public arenas.

This course is designed to introduce two- and three-dimensional understanding of differing urban areas to upper division and graduate students of the College of Design Construction and Planning. The course will explore issues of physical planning, public open space, and related development in modern international cities.

Design studio emphasizing the physical, social-behavioral, and civil factors involved with the design and planning of towns, cities and the public space found therein. Projects range in scale and complexity including the design of a new urban environment and/or existing urban development.

This course introduces students to the principles of golf course design. It includes the routing and layout of golf courses, construction documentation and contract documentation. Case studies will be presented and analyzed. This course can substitute for LAA 4353 and is intended for degree seeking students of landscape architecture with a specialization in golf course design.

A focus on proposal writing and information gathering to support the senior independent project.

Credits: 8; Prereq: Completion of all previous design studios and construction courses.

This final semester-long project allows students to expand personal interests and talents, to hone decision-making abilities, and to sharpen professional skills through well-rounded, comprehensive completion of individual projects. Project must be approved by the faculty.

This studio will introduce students to decision-making and the regional scale (county-scale and larger). It will build upon the principles and technologies introduced in LAA 4382 as well as all the previous design studios.

Instruction on the interpretation of landform including patterns of hydrology, physiography, soils and assemblages of plants and animals. Aerial photographic interpretation will teach these biological and physical factors using GIS systems.

Integration of the principles of construction with design. The class will be a combination of lecture and studio, complementing the instruction in the design studio class. Students will complete a full set of construction documents to support their design concept prepared in the beginning of the course.

The purpose of this course is to enhance a student’s appreciation and understanding of the field of recreational planning and management. The course will study typologies of parks and recreational facilities.

Studio investigations of special topics in landscape architecture adjusted to individual needs of advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

This course is intended to parallel the studio and to elaborate on the western influences of landscape architectural design. Topics will cover a variety of subjects around historic and current design methodologies. Extensive travel is expected.

An assessment and discussion of works of landscape architecture with emphasis on user evaluation, design trends and research directions. Open to all majors. (H, I)

Internship in a private/public sector office under the direction of a registered landscape architect; required for graduation.

Internship in a private/public sector office under the direction of a registered landscape architect.

Design studio part of the University’s Vicenza Italy Program. Studio covers classical and ecological design methodologies as represented in Europe utilizing cities and regions as case studies.