Department of Landscape Architecture

Professor Thomas A. Musiak, Chairperson.

Associate Professors Billing and Kavanagh; Assistant Professors Baird, and Hamed.

This department offers study in the following graduate degree program: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, Master of Landscape Architecture. The department also participates in the interdisciplinary LAND-USE PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, AND DESIGN program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. (See the "Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Study" section of this catalog.)

The M.L.A. degree is designed as a first professional degree for students with a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than landscape architecture and an advanced professional degree for students with the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree or its equivalent. The advanced professional degree requires a minimum of 34 credit hours. The first professional degree requires 34 hours and in addition up to 35 hours of leveling courses.

The M.L.A. provides the flexibility to meet a variety of professional interests such as universal design, therapeutic landscape design, land use and regional planning, geographic information systems, and cultural landscape design.

Individual needs and career objectives are fully considered within the flexible degree programs, and the department welcomes qualified students with bachelor's degrees in a wide variety of fields.

Multidisciplinary environmental and outdoor recreation research within the department has had support from federal, state, and local agencies. Participating agencies have included the National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Office of the Governor, and southwestern cities and counties.

All of the admission requirements established by the Graduate School must be met. In addition, the department requests a letter of intent, which addresses how the program fits the applicant's career goal, transcripts of all previous course work, and a portfolio of graphic work, if available.

Nonresident tuition is waived with half-time assistantships. Students having this support have special responsibilities in research projects.

Courses in Landscape Architecture. (LARC)

5001. Problems in Land-Use and Resource Planning (V1-4). Selected problems based on student's needs and interests not included in other courses. May be repeated for credit with approval of department.

5100. Contemporary Issues in Landscape Architecture (1:1:0). Seminar that focuses on design theory, design philosophy, aesthetics, and environmental policies as influenced by contemporary diversity of the profession of landscape architecture.

5202. Landscape Architecture as a Profession (2:2:0). An overview of the profession of landscape architecture including practitioners and their work.

5205. Planting Design (2:1:2). The characteristics of plants and their forms in landscape space. Special emphasis on preparation of planting plans.

5300. Graphic Techniques in Landscape Architecture (3:1:4). The study and development of professional plan, section, isometric, and perspective graphic techniques necessary to communicate design concepts, ideas, and solutions in both color and black and white formats.

5301. Vegetation Theory (3:3:0). Understanding plant types, regional patterns, and native plant communities as they influence human habitats and outdoor environments.

5302. Advanced Environmental Planning for Sustainable Development (3:3:0). An introduction to environmental planning issues with emphasis on the integration of related disciplines to attain environmentally and socially sustainable development.

5303. Advanced Environmental Management for Sustainable Development (3:3:0). Theory, principles, and strategies for public and private landscape protection.

5305. Landform Theory and Design (3:2:2). The study and application of principles, practices, and considerations associated with the aesthetics and engineering of designed and natural landforms; including grading and drainage, earthwork calculation, horizontal and vertical circulation alignment, and layout.

5308. Computer-Aided Design in Landscape Architecture (3:1:4). Hands-on introduction to computer-aided design technology that is currently most applicable to the needs of the profession of landscape architecture.

5309. Advanced Computer-Aided Design in Landscape Architecture (3:1:4). Prerequisite: LARC 5308. Advanced application of CAD in landscape architecture.

5310. History of Landscape Architecture (3:3:0). Investigation of the issues, work, and personalities in landscape architecture as expressed through design and their relationship to and influence on society and nature.

5315. Landscape Architecture Design Implementation (3:2:2). The study and integration of landscape architecture construction systems including the properties and products of materials as well as their exterior application to man-made landscape settings.

5316. Landscape Architecture Design Implementation III (3:1:4). Prerequisite: LARC 5315. Complex grading and drainage, drainage structures, and horizontal and vertical circulation alignment in large scale site development.

5410. Landscape Architecture Studio I (4:1:6). An accelerated course exploring the visual and cultural basis for landscape design. Focus is on the landscape as art and on the vernacular or cultural nature of landscape design.

5420. Landscape Architecture Studio II (4:1:6). Prerequisite: LARC 5410. Exploration of the ecological basis of landscape design, including current and historical stewardship values. Focus on how to integrate human and social desires on the land with natural systems.

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6). Prerequisite: LARC 6203.

6102. Administrative Aspects of Landscape Architecture (1:1:0). The methods, procedures, and organizational structure of professional practice in landscape architecture.

6203. Thesis Research, Preparation, and Organization (2:2:0). Prerequisite: ARCH 5365. The initial preparation of a detailed proposal outlining the nature of the thesis project, the selection of the student's thesis committee, and the submission of the proposal to the Graduate Studies Committee for review and approval.

6301. Research Methodology for Planning and Design (3:3:0). Introduction to the research process and methods used in the design-planning field.

6304. Regional Land Resource Analysis (3:1:4). Principles and techniques of the environmental systems approach to inventory, analysis, and determination of land capability and suitability as a key determinant in the land use planning process. Identification of ecologically sensitive resource areas and sites desirable for open space, conservation, and recreational use. Methods of regional economic, transportation, governmental structure and operation, public services and communication systems analysis will be related to the land use planning process.

6306. Special Problems (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Methods of interpretation of planning and designing projects that influence the historical, ethnic, and cultural aspects of a region.

6401. Advanced Landscape Architecture Studio (4:1:6). Essential to the development of advanced land planning concepts is the ability to ferret out fundamental facts, analyze this data, and make critical accurate judgments for sound decisions and subsequent action. Predictive consequences of planning and design decisions is stressed.

6402. Advanced Land Planning and Design (4:1:6). The advanced student, through analysis and interpretation, develops comprehensive long-range plans for land development. Recreational needs, conservation, recreational economics, policies, and legislation are incorporated into this research and planning. Predictive consequences of planning and design decisions is stressed.

7000. Research (V1-12).


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