Landscape Architecture, Bachelor of Science College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Department of Human Ecology; 1303 Hart Hall; 530-752-1805; Landscape Architecture; Faculty
Landscape architecture is the planning and design of land areas where human use requires adaptation or conservation of the environment. Students who study landscape architecture are concerned about the welfare of the environment and the people who use and shape it. They are capable of solving physical problems and are able to visualize and think in terms of spaces and three-dimensional concepts. The program is fully accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB) which is the only organization professionally sanctioned to grant landscape architectural accreditations in the United States. The program was last reviewed in 2018.
The Program
The curriculum balances creativity and visual and spatial skills with technological expertise and a thorough background in physical, natural, and social sciences. Students develop proficiency at problem solving relating to design of parks, public spaces, energy-efficient neighborhoods, land reclamation projects, city and regional planning, and landscape planning for wilderness and scenic regions, coastal and riparian environments, and other sensitive land areas. The program stresses a process-oriented approach to design and emphasizes environmental and community values.
Preparatory Requirements
Students are admitted to the Landscape Architecture major after submitting an application for review and selection by the faculty; students may be admitted as Pre-Landscape Architecture or other majors; see Application Process.
Career Alternatives
Graduates may find jobs in private landscape architectural firms or public agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations employing landscape architects. The landscape architecture major provides the student with excellent preparation for graduate school or career development in a wide range of environmental and design-related fields.
Advising Center
Jana Krezo (Snjezana J Krezo); 530-752-9322; Galyna Erdman (Galyna Erdman); 530-752-2244; Jenniie Nguyen (Jennifer Nguyen); 530-752-4113; Hunter Lazar (Hunter Lazar) 530-752-4866
Lead Faculty Advisor. N. Claire Napawan
Graduate Study
Graduate-level landscape architecture courses are available to students pursuing graduate programs compatible with or directed toward landscape management, planning, and design issues. A Graduate Academic Certificate in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Design is an option for any graduate student; see Graduate Academic Certificates. Program faculty are active members of various graduate groups: Community Development, Geography, Transportation Technology & Policy, and Ecology. Faculty members have expertise in many areas, including landscape history, social theory, practice of public space design, historic landscape preservation, city and regional planning, community participation in urban landscape design, landscape ecology, conservation planning, resource management, bioregionalism, and regenerative landscape systems. Graduate students pursue more focused interests, expanding their professional expertise and/or conducting advanced research in landscape architecture correlated disciplines.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Requirements & College Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Landscape Architecture Bachelor of Science major is 145.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| BIS 002B | Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution | 5 |
| CMN 001 | Introduction to Public Speaking (Also counts toward English Composition Requirement) | 4 |
| or CMN 001V | Introduction to Public Speaking | |
| ENH 006 | Introduction to Environmental Plants | 4 |
| MAT 016A | Short Calculus (Discontinued) | 3-4 |
| or STA 013 | Elementary Statistics | |
| or STA 013Y | Elementary Statistics | |
| Choose one: | 3-5 | |
| General Chemistry | ||
| Concept of Chemistry | ||
| The Earth | ||
| Principles of Physics | ||
| Topics in Physics for Nonscientists | ||
| Soils in Our Environment | ||
| Choose two courses satisfying Social Sciences General Education requirement; may count toward both GE and the major. | 8 | |
| Choose two courses satisfying Arts & Humanities General Education requirement; may count toward both GE and the major. | 8 | |
| Landscape Architecture | ||
| LDA 001 | Introduction to Environmental Design | 4 |
| LDA 002 | Place, Culture & Community | 4 |
| LDA 003 | Sustainable Development: Theory & Practice | 4 |
| LDA 021 | Landscape Representation I | 4 |
| LDA 050 | Site Ecology | 4 |
| LDA 060 | Landform & Grading Studio | 6 |
| LDA 070 | Introduction to Spacemaking | 4 |
| LED 030 | History of Environmental Design | 4 |
| or LDA 030 DISCONTINUED | ||
| English Writing | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
Also counts toward English Composition Requirement | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
or ENL 003V | Introduction to Literature | |
| Introduction to Academic Literacies | ||
or UWP 001V | Introduction to Academic Literacies: Online | |
or UWP 001Y | Introduction to Academic Literacies | |
| Advanced Composition | ||
or UWP 101V | Advanced Composition | |
or UWP 101Y | Advanced Composition | |
| Writing in the Disciplines: Special Topics | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Biology | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: History | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: International Relations | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Engineering | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Food Science & Technology | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Environmental Writing | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Human Development & Psychology | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Ethnic Studies | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Fine Arts | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Sociology | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Film Studies | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | ||
or UWP 104AV | Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | |
or UWP 104AY | Writing in the Professions: Business Writing | |
| Writing in the Professions: Law | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Journalism | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Elementary & Secondary Education | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Science | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Health | ||
or UWP 104FV | Writing in the Professions: Health | |
or UWP 104FY | Writing in the Professions: Health | |
| Writing in the Professions: Internships | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Writing for Social Justice | ||
| Writing in the Professions: Technical Writing | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 73-76 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Landscape Architecture | ||
| LDA 119 | Landscape Representation II | 4 |
| LDA 120 | Landscape Representation III | 4 |
| or LDA 150 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| LDA 160 | Design & Build Studio | 6 |
| LDA 161 | Professional Practice & Construction Documents | 6 |
| LDA 170 | Site Planning & Design Studio | 6 |
| LDA 171 | Urban Design & Planning Studio | 6 |
| LDA 182 | Advanced Landscape Architecture Studio I | 6 |
| LDA 183 | Advanced Landscape Architecture Studio II | 6 |
| LDA 184 | Capstone Landscape Architecture Studio | 6 |
| LDA 190 | Proseminar in Landscape Architecture (Two quarters for 2 units total.) | 2 |
| Environmental Horticulture | ||
| ENH 105 | Taxonomy & Ecology of Environmental Plant Families | 4 |
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 56 | |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Choose 16 units of upper division courses in consultation with advisor. | 16 | |
| Total Units | 145-148 | |