Landscape Architecture, B.L.A.

Program Description

Landscape architecture is the art of design, planning, or management of the land and of the natural and built elements upon it. As an academic discipline, it embodies creative, cultural, philosophical, and scientific knowledge bases. As a professional discipline, the practice of landscape architecture includes site design, urban design, master planning, community planning, regional planning, resource conservation, and stewardship.

The program currently is a nine-semester curriculum leading to a professionally accredited Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. One semester of the curriculum is spent in a required semester abroad. The program prepares graduates for entry into professional offices or pursuit of advanced study in related disciplines. The curriculum develops both the creative insight and the technical skills essential to practice and fulfills the education requirement needed in all states to be eligible to take the professional licensing examination.

What is Landscape Architecture?

Landscape architecture is an important change agent design profession for the 21st century addressing both social and environmental challenges of our times. Landscape architects are licensed professionals who design places that have beneficial impacts on the health and resilience of our ecosystems, our communities, and ourselves—places of delight, of wonder, of comfort, and of respite that include parks, plazas, campuses, gardens, memorials, green roofs, interactive installations, commercial centers, transportation corridors, waterfront developments, and so much more. In their work, landscape architects are guided by commitment to social, environmental, and economic benefit. All of this makes landscape architecture "the most exciting 21st century design profession that you've probably never heard of." 

You Might Like This Program If...

• You are creative, active, involved.
• You want to be an agent of change and solve problems.
• You are passionate about sustainability.
• You are fascinated by people and cultures; inspired by history and traveling.
• You like technology and hands-on work.
• You enjoy working with a team and you want to design for the 'big' issues.
• You want to engage with art, nature, and design to unlock powerful solutions for the complex issues of today and tomorrow.

Entrance Procedures

Students interested in pursuing Landscape Architecture (B.L.A) should follow the appropriate first year, change of major, or transfer application instructions found under Landscape Architecture at https://arts.psu.edu/how-to-apply/#specific.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree in Landscape Architecture, a minimum of 139 credits is required:

21 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GA courses; 3 credits of GH courses; 3 credits of GS courses.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
SOILS 101	Introductory Soil Science	3
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
LARCH 60	Cultural History of Designed Places	3
LARCH 115	Design I: Intro Spatial Composition	3
LARCH 116	Design II: Spatial Design	3
LARCH 125	Landscape Architecture Orientation Seminar	1
LARCH 145	Ecology and Plants I	3
LARCH 155	Skills Lab I: Hand & Digital Graphics	2
LARCH 156	Skills Lab II: Hand & Digital Graphics	2
LARCH 215	Design III: Site Design	4
LARCH 216	Design IV: Expanded Use, Scale, and Context	4
LARCH 235	Design Implementation I: Grading	3
LARCH 236	Design Implementation II: Materials	3
LARCH 245	Ecology & Plants II	3
LARCH 246	Ridge & Valley in the Field	1
LARCH 255	Skills Lab III: Digital Graphics	2
LARCH 256	Skills Lab IV: GIS	2
LARCH 276	Human Dimensions of Design: History & Theory	3
LARCH 315	Design V: Expanded Use, Scale, and Context	4
LARCH 335	Design Implementation III: Planting Methods	3
LARCH 336	Design Implementation IV: Stormwater	3
LARCH 365W	Contemporary Trends in Landscape Architecture	3
LARCH 375	Human Dimensions of Design - Applied	3
LARCH 386	Professional Practice	3
LARCH 414	Design and Theory V: Advanced Landscape Architectural Design (5 per semester, maximum of 15)	15
LARCH 424	Design Theory Seminar	3
LARCH 499A	Design Theory Seminar	1
LARCH 499B	Design and Theory VI: Contemporary/International Landscape Architectural Design Issues	5
LARCH 499D	Contemporary/International Special Topics	3
Additional Courses
Select 6 credits of the following:		6
AGECO 121	Plant Stress: It's Not Easy Being Green
BIOL 127	Introduction to Plant Biology
BISC 1	Structure and Function of Organisms
BISC 2	Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution
EGEE 102	Energy Conservation for Environmental Protection
FOR 201	Global Change and Ecosystems
GEOG 115	Landforms of the World
GEOSC 303	Introduction to Environmental Geology
HORT 150N	Plants in the Human Context
METEO 122	Atmospheric Environment: Growing in the Wind
SOILS 71	Environmental Sustainability
Select 6 credits of the following:		6
AA 121	Design Thinking and Creativity
ARCH 100	Architecture and Ideas
ARCH 210	Ideas Across Time in Architecture and Urbanism
ART 20	Introduction to Drawing
ART 30	Introduction to Sculpture
ARTH 120	Asian Art and Architecture
ARTH 140	Introduction to the Art and Architecture of the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas
ARTH 201	Ancient to Medieval Architecture
ARTH 202
ARTH 308N	American Architecture
ARTH 315
ARTH 320
ARTH 330
ARTH 335	African Art
GD 100	Introduction to Graphic Design
Select 3 credits of the following:		3
AFR 191	Early African History
AFR 192	Modern African History
ASIA 100	What is Asia?
FR 137	Paris: Anatomy of a Global City
GEOG 122
GER 100	German Culture and Civilization
GER 200N	Contemporary German Culture
HIST 109	Introduction to U.S. Environmental History
PHIL 13	Nature and Environment
PHIL 118	Environmental Philosophy
Select 3 credits of the following:		3
AFR 110N	Introduction to Contemporary Africa
ANTH 120	First Farmers
CAS 222N	Foundations: Civic and Community Engagement
CED 155	Science, Technology and Public Policy
GEOG 320	Urban Geography: A Global Perspective
PLSC 22
RPTM 120	Leisure and Human Behavior
RSOC 11	Intro Rural Sociology
SOC 119N	Race, Ethnicity and Culture

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Integrated B.L.A. in Landscape Architecture and M.S. in Landscape Architecture

Requirements for the Integrated B.L.A. in Landscape Architecture and M.S. in Landscape Architecture can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Sarah Watson
Stuckeman School Academic Adviser
121 Stuckeman Family Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-9511
seb246@psu.edu

Nate Schierman
Stuckeman School Academic Adviser
121 Stuckeman Family Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-9511
nxs541@psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Landscape Architecture, B.L.A. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

Additional Course for Major Selection (18 credits)
GA:  6 Credits Required
Select 6 credits from: AA 121 GA(3); ARCH 100 GA(3); ARCH 210 GA(3); ART 20 GA(3); ART 30 GA(3); ARTH 120 GA;IL(3); ARTH 140 GA;IL(3); ARTH 201 GA;IL(3); ARTH 202 GA;US;IL(3); ARTH 308N GA;US(3); ARTH 315 GA:IL(3); ARTH 320 GA:IL(3); ARTH 330 GA:IL(3); ARTH 335 GA:IL(3); GD 100 GA(3) (Sem: 1-2)
GH: 6 Credits Required
Select 3 credits from: AFR 191 GH;IL(3); AFR 192 GH;IL(3); ASIA 100 GH;IL(3); FR 137 GH:IL(3); GEOG 122 GH;US(3); GER 100 GH;IL(3); GER 200N GH;IL(3); HIST 109 GH;US(3); PHIL 13 GH(3); PHIL 118 GH(3) (Sem: 6-9)
GN: 9 Credits Required
Select: SOILS 101 GN (3) (Sem: 2)
Select 6 credits from: AGECO 121 GN(3); BIOL 127 GN(3); BISC 1 GN(3); BISC 2 GN(3); EGEE 102 GN(3); FOR 201 GN(3); GEOG 115 GN(3); GEOSC 303(3); HORT 150 GN(3); METEO 122 GN(3); SOILS 71 GN;IL(3); (Sem: 1-2)
GQ: 6 Credits Required
GS: 6 Credits Required
Select 3 credits from: AFR 110N GS;IL(3); ANTH 120 GS;IL(3); CAS 222 GS;US;IL(3); CED 155 GS(3); GEOG 130 GS(3); GEOG 320 GS;US;IL(3); PLSC 22 GS;IL(3); RPTM 120 GS;US;IL(3); RSOC 11 GS;US(3); SOC 119N GS;US(4) (Sem: 6-9)
GHW: 3 Credits Required

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Career Paths

Penn State Landscape Architecture graduates are well-prepared to join our distinguished professional alumni network with a clear path to licensure and making an immediate impact on the world. The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) program is designed to prepare graduates for either advanced study or professional careers. A B.L.A. degree provides students with a background in creativity, technical skills, and ethical considerations necessary for professional practice. Careers or graduate study can lead to a diverse array of focus areas, including sustainability, urban planning, research, social or environmental justice, design, ecology, social health and well-being, technology, construction, or community outreach.

Careers

The world is constantly changing, and landscape architects are skilled designers poised to shape, drive, and responsibly steward these changes. Penn State landscape architects are artists, ecologists, engineers, scientists, sociologists, conservationists, and often, leaders. The profession enables you to connect with your passion. Engage with art, nature, and design. Build spaces, places, and experiences. Collaborate. Solve problems. Design a better future. A B.L.A. will prepare you with leading-edge technical design principles and a deep foundation in technologies and design-thinking methods so that you can immediately enter professional practice with a wide range of opportunities.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

While the accredited B.L.A. prepares students for professional practice, graduates may opt to pursue advanced degrees to gain specialized expertise. Penn State's M.S. in LA is a research-focused degree in which students hone expertise in a targeted area of the profession. M.S. in LA applicants should hold an accredited professional degree in landscape architecture. Penn State also offers an online graduate certificate and a Master in Professional Studies degree program in Geodesign, an exciting, new, design and planning strategy that harnesses big data to ensure wise decisions grounded in the triple bottom line of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic good.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

Accreditation

The BLA undergraduate curriculum is accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB). The mission of LAAB is to evaluate, advocate for, and advance the quality of education in landscape architectural programs. LAAB establishes standards that ensure that current and future practitioners understand, obtain and maintain the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice landscape architecture in the future.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION OF THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

Professional Licensure/Certification

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
121 Stuckeman Family Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-9511
larch@psu.edu

https://arts.psu.edu/academics/department-of-landscape-architecture/