Landscape Architecture, B.S.

Landscape architecture majors learn how to blend science, technology, and artistic expression to develop sustainable, livable, and inspiring environments. Our graduates are part of a community of visionary, creative, and influential professionals, who deal with important global issues including climate change, impending food shortages, and decreasing biodiversity.

Landscape architecture is the design, planning, research and management of our landscapes and it is everywhere around us.

Preamble

The Landscape Architecture Program at North Carolina A&T State University is rooted in the University’s unique legacy, which includes its history as the largest publicly funded Historically Black College or University within the State of North Carolina, as well as home to the A&T four who helped spark the civil rights movement in the south. The Program has produced more African American landscape architects than any other accredited degree program. As such, the A&T Landscape Architecture Program has been instrumental in supporting diversity within the profession. This social and geographical context provides a unique framework for studying landscape architecture, which is carried forward in service-based learning projects that often focus on underrepresented populations of the rural, urban, and suburban south.

Mission

The Landscape Architecture Program at North Carolina A&T State University prepares a diverse student body to become leaders within the field of landscape architecture. Students are instilled with the theoretical, technical, and life skills necessary to address the complex and continually changing ecological and social challenges of the 21^st century associated with the design, conservation, and management of landscapes. Educational emphasis is placed on developing creative and critical thinking skills, high moral character and ethical behavior, exposure to various geographies and cultures, and an independence of mind and freedom of spirit.

Goals

1. Support a strong undergraduate program focusing on the development of sound thinking skills, personal vision, and high moral character and ethical behavior through exposure to the broad range of landscape architecture activities and technical skills.
2. Recruit, retain and graduate high-caliber students in an effort to increase the diversity of leaders within the field of landscape architecture.
3. Foster well-respected faculty within the University and broader academic setting, who have the support network and skills necessary to succeed in teaching, research, community service, and/or creative works.
4. Offer high quality facilities, technology, travel, and internship opportunities, as a means to help ensure student success.
5. Make positive contributions to the broader social and ecological context, and develop a respected visible reputation, through community service based research and teaching activities.

Degree Offered

Landscape Architecture - Bachelor of Science

Admission and Degree Program Requirements

Admission to the Landscape Architecture Program is based upon the general admission requirements of the University. Students majoring in Landscape Architecture must complete 120 semester hours of University courses. Students must earn an average grade of “C” in all landscape architecture courses in order to meet the major field requirements for graduation. It is a university requirement that students complete 6 hours of written communication, 6 hours of mathematical, logical, and analytical reasoning, 7 hours of scientific reasoning, 6 hours of social/behavioral sciences, 6 hours of humanities/fine arts, and 1 hour of student success. Of the 12 total hours in social/behavioral sciences and humanities/fine arts, at least 3 hours must be completed in African-American studies courses and 3 hours in global studies courses. During summer vacations, internships are strongly recommended. During matriculation through the degree program, hands-on activities of any kind related to the field of landscape architecture is are strongly recommended.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board (LAAB). In order for program graduates to sit for the licensure examination in all 50 states, they must have graduated from an accredited institution. The landscape architecture program has been accredited by the LAAB since 1993.

Community Service Projects

Because this program is rooted in the unique legacy of North Carolina A&T State University, we are committed to community service design and planning projects that address the underserved communities of North Carolina.

Field Study

Landscape architects design, plan, manage, and research areas from small intimate spaces to large complex regions. The landscape architecture program student population varies greatly in its socio-economic backgrounds. It is essential that the landscape architecture students taste as much of the outdoor world as possible to experience the real-life needs of all parts of society. Experiential learning opportunities, as a means to ensure student success in the classroom and in the workforce, are necessary. Therefore, visitation to the beach, the mountains, a professional landscape architecture office, a planning or city office, presentations in front of a “client,” or travel to a diverse range of landscape architecture project sites such as parks, plazas, urban districts, campuses, etc. are all part of the experiential learning for landscape architects.

Career Opportunities

Students who successfully complete the program in Landscape Architecture are prepared for careers as landscape designers or consultants, environmental planners, golf course designers, community development professionals, and urban planners. Working with state and local government as city planners and federal governmental such as working with the National Park Service or Forestry Service are also careers for landscape architects. While the majority of landscape architects work for private landscape architecture firms or for governmental agencies, a full 20 percent of people in the profession are self-employed.

Program Requirements

Students majoring in Landscape Architecture must complete 120 semester hours of University courses. Students must earn an average grade of “C” in all landscape architecture courses in order to meet the major field requirements for graduation.