MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

The MLA degree is a three-year, first-professional degree designed to prepare individuals for practice in the profession. Full-time students normally complete this program in three years. The master's degree is awarded upon the completion of 110 credits, including a major graduating project. The core curriculum includes 39 required credits in the first year and an additional 56 required credits in the second and third years. In addition, all students must complete 15 credits of elective study.

Individuals already in possession of a design degree or advanced design education may receive advance standing subject to the approval of the faculty. Students with a UBC-recognized undergraduate degree in Architecture, Environmental Design, or Landscape Architecture may apply for admission to 72-80 credit variant of the professional M.L.A. Program. All students seeking this variant must contact his/her advisor upon acceptance into the M.L.A. program. This variant is comprised of approximately two years of M.L.A. design studio courses, as well as courses required for professional degree accreditation by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The particular course requirements will be determined by the graduate advisor for each student upon acceptance and entry into the program, based on prior experience and a portfolio review.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

FIRST YEAR

*LARC 523 may be an alternative to LARC 520 when it is offered

SECOND AND THIRD YEARS

*You only need to complete two courses of LARC 535B or LARC 535C or LARC 535D. 

**9 credits of electives must be landscape architecture [LARC] courses.

TEACHING FORMAT

The various teaching methods used throughout the program are designed to expose students to landscape architecture in its entirety and to open the possibilities for design solutions.

Visual Lectures
Design is highly visual. Therefore, slide presentations of built and conceptual landscapes, 2-dimensional drawings and 3-dimantional models used in lecture format allows students to understand design concepts, view precedents, and establish a standard by which to gauge their work.

The Design Studio
Studio projects involve analytical, critical, and creative thinking. While the scale and topic of studio projects varies from course to course, all studio projects involve a site and a program. Studios engage students in a design process involving drawing, model construction, digital media, researching, writing, oral presentations, and a critique of one's own and others' studio work.