Thomas W. Schurch, ASLA, AICP, Director and Graduate Liaison
162 Gould Hall
Norman, OK 73019-6141
Phone: (405) 325-0358
FAX: (405) 325-5956
Internet: http://www.ou.edu/architecture/dla/idland.htm
e-mail: schurch@ou.edu
Professor Schurch; Assistant Professors Coffman and Loon.
As described by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), “landscape architecture is the art and science of analysis, planning, design, management, preservation and rehabilitation of the land.”
“Landscape architects design the built environment of neighborhoods, towns and cities while also protecting and managing the natural environment, from its forests and fields to rivers and coasts. Members of the profession have a special commitment to improving the quality of life through the best design of places for people and other living things.”
“ln fact, the work of landscape architects surrounds us. Members of the profession are involved in the planning of such sites as office plazas, public squares and thoroughfares. The attractiveness of parks, highways, housing developments, urban plazas, zoos and campuses reflects the skill of landscape architects in planning and designing the construction of useful and pleasing projects.”
“Depending on the scope of the project for clients, ranging from a local developer to the federal government, landscape architects may plan the entire arrangement of a site, including the location of buildings, grading, stormwater management, construction and planting. They may also coordinate teams of design, construction and contracting professionals.”
“Already, federal and state government agencies ranging from the National Park Service to local planning boards employ a large number of landscape architects. More and more private developers realize that the services of a landscape architect are an integral part of a successful, more profitable project.”
Further information about the profession of landscape architecture may be found by visiting the ASLA web site: www.asla.org or that of the Landscape Architecture Foundation at www.laprofession.org..
The Division of Landscape Architecture offers graduate students an interdisciplinary setting in which to learn and think critically and creatively in addressing environmental issues. The program’s primary mission is the professional education of future landscape architects who will be able to contribute to the profession at any level typifying practice in the field. A secondary mission of the program is to successfully offer a post-professional degree for those students who already have the first professional degree at the undergraduate level who are interested in advanced study in landscape architecture.
Two program options are offered: the First Professional Master of Landscape Architecture (0204M) is for students who do not have a previous professional degree in landscape architecture and who may come from fields as diverse as English literature, drama, wildlife management or nursing; and the Post-Professional Master of Landscape Architecture (0204N) which is only for students who have already completed an accredited professional degree in landscape architecture. The First Professional Master of Landscape Architecture is fully accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board (LAAB) and The American Society of Landscape Architects.
In both program options, the graduate student is expected to focus the professional electives requirement on an area of specialization such as urban design, rural and small town design, sustainable and ecological design, environmental issues, or computer technologies. The student is encouraged to consider offerings in allied departments such as Anthropology, Architecture, Art, Botany, Construction Science, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Communications, Geography, Geology, Health and Sports Sciences, Human Relations, Political Science, Regional and City Planning, Sociology, and Zoology.
All graduate students are required to develop a graduate advisory committee that will guide the student through the selection of a graduate project topic and its sequence as reflected in theprogram curriculum. All master’s programs are subject to approval by the program director and/or the graduate liaison.
To be admitted to the Master of Landscape Architecture program, a student must first be admitted to the Graduate College of the University. In addition to the application requirements of the Graduate College, the following additional materials must be submitted directly to the Division:
1. Evidence of creative activity or ability in any field of endeavor (such as portfolios or essays)*:
2. Three letters of recommendation, preferably from former professors;
3. A statement of intent that discusses in detail the applicant’s background, and explains the interest in graduate study as well as in a professional degree in landscape architecture.
*Applicants are encouraged to contact the division to discuss the portfolio In certain circumstances, the portfolio requirement may be requirement if it seems inappropriate to the applicant's previous background. waived.
GPA Requirement: All students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to remain in good standing and to fulfill the requirements of this degree.
The first professional degree curriculum includes technical as well as theoretical courses and design studios that utilize urban and rural settings in the state and region as learning laboratories. The students will be prepared to design and manage landscapes that are environmentally sound and socially responsible. Design projects are a balance of real and theoretical programs ranging from small to large scale.
The objectives of the first professional degree are to produce graduates who:
Studio Sequence: LA, 5515 Design I; 5525, Design II; 5535, Design III; 5545, Design IV; RCPL 5525, Comprehensive Planning.
Technical Sequence: LA 5243, Landscape Technology-Materials; 5343, Landscape Technology-Site Issues.
Graphics and Communication Sequence: LA 5513, Drawing and Graphics; 5613, Computer Applications.
Planting Design and Technology Sequence: LA 5713, Plant Materials and Technology; 5924, Planting Design Studio.
History and Theory: LA 5943, History and Theory; 6643, Urban Design Theory.
Environmental Requirement: one course selected from approved list.
Professional Practice Requirement: one course selected from approved list.
Research Methods Requirement: L A 5403, Research Methods in Landscape Architecture.
Professional Electives: Minimum of three courses; nine credit hours.
Graduate Project Sequence: LA 5950, Proposal Development; 6950, Applied Research; 6596, Graduate Project.
Graduate Hours Required: For those entering the program with a degree outside of the design fields, this program will take three years and approximately 77 credit hours to complete as a full time student. For those entering the program with an undergraduate or professional degree in architecture or a pre-professional degree in landscape architecture, this program may take two and a half years as a full time student to complete and may consist of as few as 60 credit hours if equivalent coursework was completed as part of the previous degree. Equivalent coursework will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
International students who enter with an undergraduate landscape architecture degree may be required to take some of the first year courses depending on GPA, portfolio and language ability.
The Post-Professional Master of Landscape Architecture presumes that students already holding the first professional degree are qualified to enter the profession. The post-professional degree allows students to examine in depth advanced ideas, innovative techniques, and other issues relevant to the field of landscape architecture. The unique multi-disciplinary opportunities available across campus for this focus include architecture, regional and city planning, geography, geosciences, botany, environmental science, health and sports sciences, human relations, management and public administration, and fine arts.
Students entering this option will have an accredited undergraduate first professional degree in landscape architecture from a North American university. On a case by case basis, depending upon review of transcripts and portfolio by the Program Director and the Graduate Liaison, the student may be required to take courses which may not have been offered as part of the undergraduate professional degree; or to take courses whose content was covered in the undergraduate degree because grades and/or portfolio reveal weaknesses. Many of these students are likely to be required to take the environmental advised elective unless they can demonstrate equivalent course content and hours.
Specific objectives of the post-professional degree are to produce graduates who:
Students in this program will be required to take a minimum of three studios and five professional electives.
Studio Sequence: LA 5535, Design III; 5545, Design IV; RCPL 5525, Comprehensive Planning.
Environmental Requirement: one course selected from approved list.
Theory: LA 6643, Urban Design Theory.
Research Methods Requirement: L A 5403, Research Methods in Landscape Architecture.
Professional Electives: five courses, minimum of 15 credit hours.
Graduate Project Sequence: LA 5950, Proposal Development; 6950, Applied Research; 6596, Graduate Project.
Graduate Hours Required: For the majority of students in this program option 49 credit hours will be required. Under special circumstances, the student may petition to be released from up to two studios. The petition process must be accompanied by a formal presentation of work and portfolio to the Division Director and the Graduate Liaison as well as a written statement of professional and program goals.
September 2006