Undergraduate Degrees
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
By pursuing degrees in landscape architecture, students develop their ability to critically examine and creatively respond to the wide array of environmental problems. The development of young professionals who can take on the challenge of working in interdisciplinary fields, mediating between the goals and desires of diverse groups while soliciting their participation and pressing for creative solutions, requires certain fundamental skills. The program will encourage and develop the following skills and abilities in students so that they can flourish in a professional setting:
Knowledge of the physical world and the interrelationships between humans and the biological systems of which they are part.
The ability to delineate the critical issues affecting a site through an inventory and analysis of physical, social and cultural factors; and recognition of the hidden trade-offs inherent in such an evaluation.
The ability to use their knowledge and experience to creatively respond to the problems that confront them and to have the determination to make their ideas a reality.
The ability to effectively communicate with peoples of diverse backgrounds through both words and images.
The ability to deal with individuals, community groups, public agencies or large corporations, and to work in concert and manage conflict through development.
Familiarity with new technologies, their impacts and their potential for the profession of landscape architecture and land planning.
Awareness of the constant evolution of knowledge and a commitment to continually reexamine assumptions.
The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture is a four-year program of lectures, seminars and studio courses. Through academic research, personal participation and group endeavor, the program will introduce students to historic and contemporary issues in landscape architecture. Projects will concentrate on the design of spaces in the urban landscape. This emphasis derives from our location in Southern California, at the very heart of an exuberant and dynamic metropolitan area.
Each semester, the design studio will be paired with courses that develop technical skills, expand the students' working knowledge of plant materials and natural systems, and explore the history and theory of design. A component of each studio project will be performed collaboratively to develop the students' ability to work collectively.
Curriculum
| First Year, First Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 102aL | Architectural Design I | 4 |
| ARCH 105L | Fundamentals of Design Communication | 2 |
| ARCH 114 | Architecture: Culture and Community | 2 |
| General Education* | Social Issues | 4 |
| WRIT 140* | Writing and Critical Reasoning | 4 |
| | 16 |
|
| First Year, Second Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 102bL | Architectural Design I | 4 |
| ARCH 211 | Materials and Methods of Building Construction | 3 |
| General Education | 8 |
| | 15 |
| Second Year, First Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 202aL | Architectural Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 304x | Intensive Survey: Pre-History to the Present | 4 |
| ARCH 361L | Ecological Factors in Design | 3 |
| General Education | 4 |
| | 17 |
| Second Year, Second Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 260L | Landscape Architecture Design I | 6 |
| ARCH 362 | Landscape Architecture Construction | 3 |
| ARCH 363 | Plant Material Identification: Horticulture | 4 |
| ARCH 365 | History of Landscape Architecture | 4 |
| | 17 |
| Third Year, First Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 360aL | Landscape Architecture Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 364 | Materials and Methods of Landscape Architecture | 3 |
| GEOG 345 | Conservation of Natural Resources, or |
| GEOG 477 | Water Resources | 4 |
| WRIT 340 | Advanced Writing | 4 |
| | 17 |
| Third Year, Second Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 207a | Computer Applications in Architecture | 2 |
| ARCH 360bL | Landscape Architecture Design II | 6 |
| ARCH 463 | Plant Material Identification: California Plant Communities | 4 |
| General Education | 4 |
| | 16 |
| Fourth Year, First Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 366 | Nature Landscapes and Gardens in Non-Western Cultures | 4 |
| ARCH 460L | Landscape Planning Studio | 6 |
| PPD 100 | Los Angeles, The Enduring Pueblo | 4 |
| General Education | 4 |
| | 18 |
| Fourth Year, Second Semester | Units |
|---|
| ARCH 461L | Landscape Architecture Comprehensive Project | 6 |
| ARCH 522 | Professional Practice: Project and Office Administration | 2 |
| ARCH 523 | Professional Practice: Project Documentation | 2 |
| Electives | | 4 |
| | 14 |
| Total units required: | 130 |
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