Course description
Landscape architecture is the profession providing landscape planning, design, and management services to enhance and protect natural and built environments. Landscape architecture as a discipline is devoted to understanding and managing the human and environmental forces that change the landscape.
Landscape architects plan and design places for the health, safety, and welfare of citizens through systematic decision-making that integrates science, art, and technology. Individual and community quality of life are enhanced by a design process to improve, protect, and create ecologically sustainable, socially equitable, and economically feasible landscapes. Landscape architects work in urban, suburban and wilderness environments. Our graduates have gained distinction for projects as varied in scale as private gardens, residential communities, urban plazas, college campuses, park facilities and regional conservation plans.
The Landscape Architecture Program at Texas A&M University is the oldest in the state and one of the oldest in the Southwest. It had its beginnings in the Department of Horticulture in 1913, as a degree option of Landscape Art.
The BLA curriculum offers a sequence of courses to prepare students for entry into (to) professional practice. By combining a broad general education and strong professional training, the curriculum emphasizes the acquisition and application of advanced knowledge to develop students' critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities. The program provides opportunities for students to develop special professional interests in a chosen area of concentration.
Graduates from the BLA program are prepared for employment with private practice firms in landscape architecture, engineering, architecture, or planning; and with federal, state, or local government agencies. Upon graduation students are qualified to pursue licensure in the profession or post graduate education in landscape architecture or a related field.
Course Descriptions
200. Introduction to Landscape Architectural Practice. (1-0). Credit 1. I
Explores and evaluates the diversity of landscape architectural practice; defines the traditional practice forms and examines evolving and boundary expanding opportunities for future practice; introduces the departmental curriculum and faculty.*
240. History of Landscape Architecture. (3-0). Credit 3. I
An introduction to the history of land use and design from prehistory to the present in areas other than the United States; emphasis on European and Asian planning and design precedent. Africa and Australia are also discussed. Prerequisite: Sophomore classification or higher.*
254. Landscape Architecture Communications I. (2-4). Credit 3.
Introduction to basic drafting and drawing required for landscape architecture projects, introduction to basic concepts, principles of graphic composition and pencil sketching techniques. Prerequisite: ENDS 115 or approval of instructor.
255. Landscape Architectural Communications II. (2-4). Credit 3. I
Advanced study in traditional and computer-based communication techniques in landscape architecture including studio explorations in concept and analysis graphics, color sketching, perspective drawing and rendering, desktop publishing, image capturing and manipulation, and compilation of graphic presentations; lecture, demonstrations and studio assignments. Prerequisite: LAND 254 or approval of instructor.*
310. Landscape Theory. (3-0). Credit 3.
Relevant theoretical discourse in landscape architecture and urban planning; urban theory, social and cultural theory; environmental philosophy and environmental aesthetics. Prerequisite: Junior classification or approval of instructor.
318. Landscape Design I. (2-7). Credit 4. I
Beginning studio course in land design; forces that produce usable three-dimensional site-space relationships; problems presented to give a basic knowledge of the scope of landscape architecture. Prerequisites: LAND 255; junior classification.*
319. Landscape Design II. (2-7). Credit 4. II
Continuation of LAND 318; basic design principles that combine natural systems (such as landform, water, vegetation, wildlife habitat, soils, climate) and man-built systems (such as roads, buildings, utilities). Prerequisites: LAND 318 and 329; junior classification.*
320. Landscape Design III. (2-9). Credit 5. I
Design process, synthesis and design refinement; problems to stimulate highly creative self-motivated results. Prerequisites: LAND 319 and 330.*
321. Landscape Design IV. (2-9). Credit 5. II
Continuation of LAND 320; land design projects of increased complexity with site scale problems used to demonstrate complete design thought. One or more field trips may be required as part of the course. Prerequisite: LAND 320.*
329. Landscape Construction I. (2-4). Credit 3. II
Aspects of land manipulation and consideration of earth bound elements in landscape development; contours, landform, grading design, drainage principles, cut and fill computations, basic hydraulics, drafting. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.*
330. Landscape Construction II. (2-4). Credit 3. I
Various construction elements typically found in landscape development; statics and mechanics of simple structures; wood, masonry, concrete construction procedures and techniques; drafting, lettering and clarity of details. Portfolio required. Prerequisites: LAND 318 and 329.*
331. Landscape Construction III. (2-4). Credit 3. II
Construction document preparation, working drawings, project layout and design; theory and principles of irrigation and lighting design. Field trips and portfolio required. Prerequisites: LAND 320 and 330.*
340. Development of Landscape Architecture in North America. (3-0). Credit 3.
The interaction between people and the land in North America from pre-European settlement to the present; trends and settlement patterns, resource exploitation, relationships of cultural, social, technological and political factors to land use, and on the growth and current roles of the profession of landscape architecture. Prerequisite: Sophomore classification.*
420. Landscape Design V. (3-9). Credit 6. I
Advanced site scale problems to include major design project supported with complete programming, design and project management components. Prerequisites: LAND 321 and
421. Landscape Design VI. (2-9). Credit 5. II
Advanced study and research designed to take the student beyond the core design experience; introduction of issues, methodologies, tools and techniques developing in professional practice. Prerequisite: LAND 420.*
442. Professional Practice. (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduction to the procedures, project management and ethical framework in which professional landscape architectural practice occurs including proposal preparation, fee structures, forms of practice, project management and construction documents.
461. Geographic Information System Application in Resource Management. (2-4). Credit 3.
Process of and planning for change in the urban environment and its infrastructure; Geographic Information System (GIS) tools introduced and used to support this work; GIS theory and resource management modeling. Prerequisites: Junior classification and approval of instructor.*
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 6. I, II, S
Special problems in various phases of landscape architecture assigned to individual students or to groups. Consultation and assigned collateral reading. Prerequisite:
