Landscape Architecture is the art and science of designing and conserving land and water for human use and enjoyment. As a profession, Landscape Architecture is concerned with two scales of planning and design.

The first scale is with the development of specific sites for residential, recreational, institutional, commercial and industrial projects. The second scale pertains to the regional landscape where the issues include management plans for forest, park and recreation areas, agricultural lands protection, gravel pit mining and restoration, hazard land studies, and visual resource analysis.

Program Information

Objectives of the Program

Landscape Architecture is a diverse and rewarding design profession. Landscape architects play an important role in shaping our environment, working in collaboration with other design professionals, specialists and the public.

Students in the B.L.A. program attain professional knowledge and skill that prepares them to deal with problems that concern the interface between people and the environment. Program emphasis is on core professional knowledge domains that include landscape analysis, design, implementation, communication, history and professional practice. Additional required and elective courses in the arts and sciences provide a well-rounded education.

Graduates of the program have exciting careers in the public and private sector. As landscape architects, they design memorable places that are attractive, functional and sustainable and that affect the way our cities, suburbs, rural and wilderness areas are planned, designed and managed.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program is accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Council (LAAC) of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA). This accreditation is also recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Graduates of accredited landscape architecture programs have the educational qualifications to apply for membership in provincial and state professional associations in Canada and the United States after completion of the required number of years of professional practice and successful completion of required examinations.

Admission to the Landscape Architecture Program

Students wishing to enter the program of study leading to the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree should consult Section IV--Admission Information.

Degree

The degree granted for the successful completion of the program is the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.).

Selection of Electives

All electives may be chosen independently although counselling with the BLA Program Counsellor is highly recommended. In selecting electives two approaches may be followed:

1. electives may be chosen from a variety of disciplines to achieve breadth of knowledge or,
2. all or most electives may be chosen in a subject area in order to pursue a particular field of interest in depth.

Some of these fields might include agricultural and biological sciences, environmental studies, studio arts, geography, philosophy or sociology.

Students wishing to elect a permissible substitute shall do so in consultation with the BLA Program Coordinator and BLA Program Counsellor. A substitute course will normally be in the same academic area as that listed in the Landscape Architecture Program.

Academic Advising

Students can consult the BLA Coordinator who is a faculty member that can address program issues and individual curriculum queries.

It is highly recommended that students consult with either the BLA Coordinator or the BLA Program Counsellor before any changes are made to the student's schedule of studies. Failure to do so may have severe implications for the time of program completion or a student's ability to graduate.

Computers

Expertise in many aspects of computer application is now a fundamental skill for the profession. It is expected that students will have their own personal computer.

Field Trips

Participation in organized visits to site study areas and project sites is obligatory for all students taking certain courses in landscape architecture. To the extent that it is possible, students will be informed of the dates, destinations and cost of field trips prior to registration. Students who have reason to seek exemption from the requirement may apply to the director prior to registration for permission to substitute papers on appropriate topics.

Pre-Professional Experience

It is considered highly advisable that the prospective graduate prepare for later professional practice through summer employment in the landscape industry. Two summers spent in landscape related work followed by 1 summer in a professional office is considered to be a desirable sequence of employment.

Continuation of Study

Students are advised to consult the regulations for continuation of study within the program which are outlined in detail in Section VIII--Undergraduate Degree Regulations & Procedures.

Conditions for Graduation

In order to qualify for graduation from the 8 semester Honours B.L.A. program, the student must successfully complete all of the courses approved for the program (20.00 credits) and maintain a minimum 60.0% cumulative average.

Minor

A minor is a group of courses which provides exposure to and mastery of the fundamental principles of a subject. A minor consists of a minimum of 5.00 credits (normally 10 courses). It may also require certain other prerequisite courses from other areas to be taken along with the specified courses of the minor.  

A maximum of 2.50 credits in the BLA may be applied to meet the requirements of a minor. 

Schedule of Studies

Major (Honours Program)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Semester 1
BIOL*1500	Humans in the Natural World	0.50
LARC*1100	Introduction to Design and Communication Studio	0.75
LARC*1950	History of Cultural Form	0.50
0.50 electives		0.50
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
ANTH*1150	Introduction to Anthropology	0.50
PHIL*1010	Social and Political Issues	0.50
PSYC*1000	Introduction to Psychology	0.50
SOC*1100	Sociology	0.50
Semester 2
LARC*2020	Foundational Design Studio	0.75
LARC*2230	Planting Design	0.50
LARC*2420	Materials and Techniques	0.50
PHIL*2070	Philosophy of the Environment	0.50
0.50 electives		0.50
Semester 3
LARC*2100	Landscape and Site Analysis	0.50
LARC*2240	Plants in the Landscape	0.50
LARC*2410	Site Engineering	0.50
LARC*3040	Site Design Studio	0.75
0.50 electives		0.50
Semester 4
LARC*2820	Urban and Regional Planning	0.50
LARC*3050	Urban Design Studio	0.75
LARC*3430	Introduction to Landscape Construction	0.50
0.50 Social Science elective 1		0.50
Semester 5
LARC*3060	Landscape Rehabilitation Design Studio	0.75
LARC*3440	Landscape Construction and Documentation	0.75
LARC*4610	Professional Practice	0.50
0.50 electives		0.50
Semester 6
Select one of the following options:		2.00
Option 1
2.00 electives		2.00
Option 2
LARC*4620	Landscape Architecture Internship	1.00
1.00 electives		1.00
Option 3
Exchange Program		2.00
Semester 7
LARC*3070	Urban and Community Design Studio	1.00
LARC*3320	Principles of Landscape Ecology	0.50
LARC*4510	Honours Thesis	0.50
0.50 electives		0.50
Semester 8
LARC*4090	Seminar	0.50
LARC*4710	Capstone Design Studio	1.00
1.00 electives		1.00

¹

A "Social Science" elective can be any course in the following areas: Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Women's Studies, International Development, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology.