West Virginia University

Program Information

Degree Offered

Master's in Landscape Architecture

Format: Campus

Program Description:

The Landscape Architecture Program of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design at West Virginia University has launched a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree program. For graduates entering landscape architecture careers, the entry-level degree is the first professional degree. This may be a BSLA or a BLA undergraduate degree or a MLA graduate degree from an accredited program.

The MLA focuses on environmental design and planning. The curriculum is flexible for students who may want to develop specialized knowledge in areas such as environmental restoration, community design, or environmental resource analysis methods.

What is Landscape Architecture?

Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, and/or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome.

The scope of the profession includes: urban design, site planning, town or urban planning, environmental restoration, parks and recreation planning, visual resource management, green infrastructure planning and provision, and private estate and residence landscape master planning and design, all at varying scales of design, planning and management.

A BS or a BA would be the academic pre-requisite for a first-professional MLA degree (65-hour program) and a BSLA, BLA, or Bachelors degree in a related design field would be the academic pre-requisite for a post-professional MLA degree (40-hour program). We will be seeking accreditation by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Our existing BSLA program is already fully accredited.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Small City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above