Landscape Architecture, M.L.Arch.

TYLER SCHOOL OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE

About the Program

The Master of Landscape Architecture has an emphasis in ecological landscape restoration. Program objectives are to educate students to become capable practitioners with knowledge of a specialty area of the discipline; to educate practitioners who are trained to think critically and creatively about each ecological situation; and to develop a body of knowledge through research, long-term monitoring of restored landscapes, and comparison of methods upon which current and future professionals can draw.

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) describes landscape architecture as a profession encompassing “the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments.” Landscape architecture is a professional discipline focused on the promotion of environmental balance and human well-being through sustainable design. Ecological landscape restoration, the emphasis of this M.L.Arch. degree, has emerged as a critical dimension of landscape architecture over the past few decades. Landscape restoration increases local and regional biodiversity and mitigates potentially dangerous consequences of degradation through projects such as stream bank stabilization, created wetlands to help infiltrate stormwater, mine reclamation, industrial brownfield remediation, and reforestation of urban land. Understanding the ecological processes and natural history that constitute a site is fundamental to the design process.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 6 years

Campus Location: Temple University Ambler, with some courses offered at the Main and Center City campuses

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: The program is interdisciplinary and allows students to enroll in classes from allied disciplines. In addition to the courses in Landscape Architecture, the program builds on the field courses in Horticulture related to the woodland and riparian habitats at the Ambler campus. The program can also draw from the repository of local ecological landscape restoration examples and practitioners in the Philadelphia region.

Affiliation(s): The Department of Architecture and Environmental Design is a member of the American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS), the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), and the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER).

Accreditation: The Department of Architecture and Environmental Design offers two accredited programs in Landscape Architecture. The first professional Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.Arch.) degree and the undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (B.S.) are both accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

Areas of Specialization: The focus of the M.L.Arch. degree program is ecological landscape restoration, which emphasizes understanding of ecological processes and plant communities. This understanding is applied in a sequence of design studios. The design application results in connecting theory and scientific principles to creative application in the natural setting. The program educates practitioners skilled at designing beautiful landscapes that are also ecologically appropriate to their locale.

Job Prospects: Prepared with the knowledge to make informed and creative environmental design decisions, graduates are highly marketable and have the skills required of professional landscape architects, including design, computer graphics, horticultural knowledge, technical competence, and knowledge of restoration. While the U.S. Department of Labor cited landscape architecture as a top growth profession through 2016, projecting a needed increase of 16%, organizations related to the profession indicate that the number of graduates from professional degree programs is insufficient to meet current or projected demand. Temple University's location in the tri-state region supports professional opportunities for graduates. This area has a very high concentration of prominent landscape architecture firms, public agencies, and ecological restoration professionals.

Licensure: Graduation from an accredited program is a requirement for taking the licensure exam and practice as a landscape architect.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: A maximum of 9 graduate credits can be taken at Temple University prior to applying to the program.

Financing Opportunities: Inquiries about funding should be directed to the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 6
Spring: November 1

Applications are reviewed as they are received up through the deadline. Late applications may be considered for admission. See the Tyler School of Art and Architecture website for the most up-to-date application information.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members, employers, and others who can evaluate the applicant's past work and/or ability to do graduate work. The letters should be submitted with the application at https://apply.temple.edu/Tyler/, along with the statement of goals.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: All applicants apply directly to the M.L.Arch. program, not to a specific curricular track. Admitted students are placed in the appropriate track based on a thorough review of all application materials.

For students who have an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture, this program is a 44-credit post-professional degree. The program is also open to students without a degree in Landscape Architecture, but students without the appropriate prerequisite coursework need a maximum of 26 additional credits.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University. Official transcripts from all universities/colleges attended, whether or not a degree was awarded, must be sent to the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Graduate Admissions Office, 2001 N. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6016.

Statement of Goals: Approximately 500 to 1,000 words include your reason for pursuing an advanced degree in Landscape Architecture; your interest in Temple's program in particular; and your aspirations and future career goals.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE/GMAT: Required. A waiver of this requirement may be requested if the applicant has at least four years of experience in the field; OR has an undergraduate cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25; OR a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 in 9 credits of graduate work from an accredited institution completed prior to applying to the M.S. program; OR a graduate degree from an accredited institution in a related discipline.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 79
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 53

Resume: Current resume required.

Portfolio: Applicants have the option of submitting a portfolio. Portfolios from students with prior academic experience in Landscape Architecture should include design work done in academic settings. Portfolios may also include work in the visual arts or in visual communication. In addition, work completed in practice may be included but should clearly articulate the applicant’s role in the project. Papers, research, or other materials (preferably dealing with the built environment) are invited as evidence of scholarly, academic, or creative work. Work chosen for inclusion in a portfolio should best represent the applicant's knowledge, aptitudes, interests, creative ability, and experience relative to the discipline of Landscape Architecture. The portfolio may include up to 20 images or other items.

Portfolios are to be uploaded at https://temple.slideroom.com, as instructed on the website. SlideRoom requires an additional fee for this service. Original work, slides, CD-ROMs, catalogs, photographs, books, and/or binders are not acceptable substitutes for the SlideRoom portfolio and will not be reviewed or returned.

Transfer Credit: The Landscape Architecture Admissions Committee recommends the awarding of transfer credits on a case-by-case basis as applications are reviewed. The student may not receive transfer credit for coursework taken as part of any other awarded graduate degree. The maximum number of transfer credits a student may receive is 9.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required to Earn the Degree: 44 for students with an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture seeking a post-professional degree; 44-70 for students without an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture seeking a first professional degree

Required Courses:

Post-Professional Degree (for students WITH an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture)

First Professional Degree (for students WITHOUT an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture)

Internship: All students work with a local or regional client as part of the Capstone Course (LARC 9995 Capstone Restoration Design Project).

Culminating Events:
Capstone Course:
All students must complete LARC 9995 Capstone Restoration Design Project, which involves undertaking a project in cooperation with a local or regional client. Students synthesize the knowledge gained from previous courses in developing an integrated approach appropriate to their project.

Contacts

Department Contacts: