Landscape Architecture

Program Chair: Terry Clements
Professors: T. Clements and P. Miller
Associate Professors: D. Bork, N. Heavers, W. Jacobson, B. Katen, P. Kelsch, L. McSherry, and M. Kim
Assistant Professor: C. L. Bohannon
Adjunct Professors: S. Couchman, M. Ezban, D. Hays, D. Hill, and B. Johnson
Professor Emeritus: B. Johnson

Web: www.lar.vt.edu

Overview

Landscape Architecture encompasses the design, analysis, planning, management, and stewardship of sustainable environments. Landscape architects design across a wide spectrum of projects: parks and gardens, community design, urban design and planning, green infrastructure, and regional planning, as well as at the scale of watersheds and natural systems. The work of the profession is grounded in the natural and social sciences, draws inspiration from nature and the arts, and is implemented through innovative design, site engineering, construction, land management, and environmental technologies. The Landscape Architecture Program guides students as they address some of the most important challenges of our time: climate change; healthy living and empathetic design; urbanization; re-imagining water, food, energy and transportation; green infrastructure; remediation of spoiled and disturbed sites; and preserving critical natural resources. We believe the work of the profession, at the critical intersection of natural and cultural systems, will be the most consequential of the design arts in the 21st century.

The core of the academic program is a rigorous sequence of design studios that allows students to explore a broad range of landscape architectural issues, contexts, and project types. Studios are accompanied by discussion, lecture, and laboratory courses that provide systematic and comprehensive coverage of the emerging body of knowledge related to technology, design theory, landscape ecology, and human/environment interaction. Off-campus options include a summer travel studio, study at the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center, and exchange programs with Tongji University in Shanghai, or University College, Dublin, Ireland, as well as an independent semester abroad and professional internships.

The Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) is a five year first-professional degree program fully accredited by the Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Graduates have a wide range of employment and professional opportunities including work in private practice, multidisciplinary firms, public agencies and municipalities, non-government organizations and non-profits.

Degree Requirements

The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing the degree requirements information, always choose the year of your expected date of graduation. Requirements for graduation are referred to via university publications as "Checksheets". The number of credit hours required for degree completion varies among curricula. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.

The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.

Please visit the University Registrar website at http://registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/index1.html for degree requirements.

Satisfactory Progress

University policy requires that students who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree meet minimum criteria toward the General Education (Curriculum for Liberal Education) (see "Academics") and toward the degree in Landscape Architecture. Landscape Architecture majors must attain a C- or better in their studio courses and the technology courses to advance to the next courses in these sequences.

Satisfactory progress requirements toward the degree can be found on the major checksheet by visiting the University Registrar website at http://registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/index1.html.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (LAR)

1144: INTRODUCTION TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Overview of the profession of landscape architecture. Emphasis on the relation of people to the natural and built environment with particular attention to scale, forms, and space. (1H,1C)

1254: ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL SYSTEMS
Introduction to the environment, natural systems with emphasis on their relationship to urban sustainability and resilience: natural elements, structures, patterns, natural systems, ecology, and landscape ecology. Impact of human actions and decisions on the environment and natural systems from global to local scale. Application of relevant theories and methods related to the environment and natural systems in planning and design. (3H,3C)

1264: SEEING, UNDERSTANDING & REPRESENTING LANDSCAPE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Exploration of the natural and built environment through observation, interpretation and graphic representation of the landscape. Development of a range of graphic strategies and techniques with an emphasis on design thinking, iteration, and ethical issues expressed in the natural and built environment. (3H,3C)

2015-2016: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: PLACE AND PROCESS
Basic theory, principles, and methods of landscape design and site planning. 2015: Design theory involving two and three dimensional compositions. Mass/space relationships, principles of spatial design and techniques used to create landscape space. 2016: Design theory relating to landscape design and site planning. Design of small scale spaces in which the analysis of site, context and the requirements of human use are brought together in a creative synthesis. (1H,11L,6C)

2164: LANDFORM FUNCTION & AESTHETICS
Design principles and technology related to the creation of landforms for functional, aesthetic and environmentally sustainable purposes related to landscape design and construction process. Prerequisite: LAR 1264 or consent of instructor Pre: 1264. (2H,4L,4C)

2254: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPES
Introduction to experiential and cultural content of designed landscapes. Physiological, functional, and psychological factors that affect experience of the landscape. Study of cultural values, attitudes, and philosophies that have shaped historic and contemporary landscapes. (3H,3C)

2554 (FREC 2554) (NR 2554): LEADERSHIP FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
Leadership principles and humanities perspectives that help examine and engage global sustainable development challenges such as climate change, food-water-energy nexus, rising middle class, circular economy, and environmental justice. Topics include collaboration, stories, conflict resolution, self-awareness, bias, equity, religion, hubris, globalism, and moral naturalism. Examine trade-offs among economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainable development. Integration and application of disciplinary topics including ethics, ecology, evolution, anthropology, economics, religion, aesthetics, and risk management. (3H,3C)

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

3015-3016: INTERMEDIATE LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Development of intermediate site planning and design knowledge skills. 3015 focuses on site/project scale planning and design with emphasis on greenfield development sites and models of conversation oriented design/development. Pre: 2016 for 3015; 3015 for 3016. (1H,11L,6C)

3044: LAND ANALYSIS AND SITE PLANNING
Concepts, principles, and processes of land analysis and evaluation for physical planning and design. Approaches to spatial problem solving with an emphasis on data collection, evaluation, and synthesis using applicable technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Analysis and synthesis of natural and socio-cultural systems at varying scales in the site planning and design process using Geodesign method. (3H,3C)

3154: WATERSHED SENSITIVE SITE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Examines soil and water resource issues related to landscape architectural site planning and design. Key topics include watershed sensitive site design, estimation and management of storm water runoff, rainwater conservation, design of open channel conveyances for site planning applications, and erosion and sedimentation control. Prerequisite: LAR 2164 or consent of instructor Pre: 2164. (2H,4L,4C)

3164: MATERIALS STRUCTURES DETAILS
Landscape construction theories and practices involving the selection of materials, design and placement of structures in the landscape and details critical to the creation of space and form. Addresses health, safety and welfare; sustainable materials and construction processes; and environmental performance. Pre-requisite: LAR 3154 or consent of instructor Pre: 3154. (3H,3L,4C)

3264: PEOPLE, COMMUNITY AND PLACE
An advanced course focusing on landscape/behavior interactions and implications for the design of outdoor environments. Study of factors that affect social interaction in community and public spaces; perceptions and needs particular to various sub-populations; ecological, social, and cultural approaches to theories of place and place attachment. Pre-requisite: LAR 2254 or instructor’s permission Pre: 2254. (3H,3C)

3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

3984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4004: HISTORY AND THEORY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE II
This course studies theoretical and practical developments in landscape architecture and related arts through investigation and analysis of design theory and philosophy, and built form. Pre: 2004 or permission of instructor. Pre: 2004. (3H,3C)

4014: LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
Links landscape architectural design and construction documents through integrating site design from schematic design through design development to construction documentation drawings and technical specifications. Landscape design and technology covered in preceding design and technology courses is combined with construction principles and practices in preparation of site design and set of construction documents. Prerequisites may be waived with permission of instructor. Pre: 3016, 3164. (1H,11L,6C)

4034: EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE
Examine and interpret physical changes in the rural and urban landscapes of the United States as they reflect cultural values; technologic innovations; immigration patterns; the roles of diverse professions over time; changing views of use, conversation and preservation of national resources; and expectations for places of live, work and play using an iterative writing process and reflective course discussions. (3H,3C)

4084: LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND PLANNING STUDIO
This course is an advanced studio that enables students to address landscape architectural design and planning issues in various contexts and at a range of scales. Pre: 3016 or permission of instructor. Landscape Architecture majors must take minimum of 6 credits. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 credit hours. Pre: 3016. (1H,11L,6C)

4094: SENIOR PROJECT
A capstone of a five-year design studio sequence, the senior project is a comprehensive landscape architecture design project selected and completed by the student under the direction of a faculty advisor. Senior projects are reviewed and evaluated by the program faculty. Repeatable with a maximum of 12 credits. Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4124 (ARCH 4044): PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Introduction to scope and diversity of the building enterprise, addressing private and public macroeconomic, industrial, technical, professional, and regulatory institutions. Analysis of historic evaluation of professional roles and practices; emergence of new modes of practice, including innovative facilities procurement methods. (3H,3C)

4254: THEORIES OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Critical examination of theories relevant to landscape architectural design and the inter-relationship between theory and practice. Evolution of theory with respect to built works. Overview of concurrent design theories and philosophies in the related arts. Pre-requisite: Senior standing or instructor’s permission. (3H,3C)

4304: TOPICS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Topics in landscape architecture history, theory and design methods is an advanced course focusing upon issues facing the professional practice of landscape architecture today. Special emphasis on methods of analysis and interpretation including application of creative techniques, analogous thinking, computer-aided procedures and information handling in landscape architecture design and practice. Pre: 3015 and 3016 or permission of instructor. May be repeated with different content for a maximum of 12 credits. Pre: (3015, 3016). (3H,3C)

4324: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE TECHNOLOGY III-CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
This course provides the link between landscape architectural design and construction documentation. Landscape technology covered in preceding technology courses is combined with information on construction principles and practices in the preparation of landscape architectural construction drawings and technical specifications. Pre: 4244. (2H,4L,4C)

4554 (BSE 4554) (FREC 4554) (HORT 4554) (SPIA 4554): CREATING THE ECOLOGICAL CITY
Multidisciplinary, team oriented, problem-solving approaches to creating cities that foster healthy interconnections between human and ecological systems. Analysis of problems from practical and ethical perspectives in the context of the diverse knowledge bases and values of decision-makers. Formation and utilization of integrated design teams to solve complex urban design and planning problems at a variety of scales. Senior standing. Pre: HORT 2134 or FREC 2134. (3H,3C)

4705-4706: LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND PLANNING
Theories, methods, techniques, and tools relating to the planning and design of sites, communities, and regional landscapes. 4705: Emphasis on the development of design ability through the study of: two- and three-dimensional design, principles and elements of spatial composition, and theories and techniques for planning and design of small sites. 4706: Emphasis on the evaluation of land resources and the allocation of land uses within large complex sites and regional landscapes. Theories and techniques of site planning and community design are explored. (1H,8L,5C)

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.